‘Digital dirt’ may nix that job you were counting on getting

In 2006, when CareerBuilder first began tracking whether employers were making social media checks, just 12 percent of companies were using them as a screening tool. By 2010 that figure had grown to 25 percent and now stands at 70 percent.

And based on the survey, the scrutiny continues after you’re hired: 48 percent of respondents say they monitor current employees’ social media activity.

This is not to say you should avoid having an online presence altogether: 47 percent of hiring managers said the absence of one has actually made them back off interest in a job candidate. Just remember that if you make something publicly available on any site, a prospective employer might see it.