FACEBOOK PROFILE "KILLS JOB PROSPECTS"

London: Your profile on Facebook may become a cause of worry when looking for a job, as employers are increasingly checking on networking sites to know more about the people they intend to recruit, a new study claims.

The survey has found that one in 10 were refused job for boasting about drinking and drugs online. Similarly, 13 per cent were vetoed for making racist comments and nine per cent were overlooked for placing racy photos.

Big Brother employers reported the most common mistake that job seekers made was putting information of their qualification on line. A total of 38 per cent of job seekers were rejected for boosting up their qualifications on their resume and then getting caught on Facebook.

"More employers are now using social networking sites to uncover any digital dirt," the Telegraph quoted Career Builder president, Farhan Yasin, as saying. He added: "Job seekers are urged to be mindful of the information they post online. They are indirectly communicating with potential employers.

"Social networking is a great way to make connections with potential job opportunities in 2010 and to promote your brand across the internet. "Make sure you are using this resource to your advantage by conveying a professional image and underscoring your qualifications.

"Clean up digital dirt before you begin your job search. Remove any photos content, and links that can work against your in an employers'' eyes.

"Consider creating your own professional group on sites like Facebook to establish relationships with business leaders, recruiters and potential referrals."

He advised: "Keep your gripes offline. Keep the content focuses on the positive, whether that relates to professional or personal information. Make sure you highlight specific accomplishments inside and outside work," he said.

"Don''t forget others can see your friends, so be selective about who you accept as friends. Monitor comments made by others and consider using the block comments feature or set your profile to private so only designated friends can view it."