Do you have a blog, Facebook page, or other online presence? Most people use social media to some extent, whether to post pictures, air opinions, stay in touch with family and friends, or get involved in communities of people with similar interests. Of course, some people also use social media to air offensive views, post pictures of themselves drunk or naked (or both), or show off their extensive weapons collections.

The opportunities the Internet offers for self-expression can become a problem once you embark on a job search. The news is full of reports of employers turning down applicants based on online posts; some employers even ask applicants to supply their Facebook or other online passwords, to allow access to information that they’ve tried to keep private.

What Employers Are Doing

According to surveys, about three-quarters of recruiters check out applicants on the Internet when hiring, and almost half of all employers do the same. Employers report rejecting job applicants when they find references to drug use, heavy drinking, sexually offensive materials, violent imagery, and so on.

In recent months, some employers have started asking applicants to provide their passwords and log-in information for social media sites as part of the interview process. Even if an employee has used a site’s privacy settings to protect certain information from public view, an employer with access to an employee’s password can bypass these protections and see material the employee intended to make available only to chosen viewers.