As the internet becomes a fixture in daily life, your presentation online becomes just as important as your presentation face to face. Social media sites such as Facebook and MySpace are ubiquitous - Facebook alone has over 200 million users worldwide - but the casual tone of social media means people forget that what they post online is visible to everyone, especially employers. Career consultant Bob Bilanich advises readers to manage their online presence at all times. Do not post anything that doesn't make a good impression of you and especially do not post anything hurtful or demeaning to another person. It is increasingly common for a prospective employer to search your name using Google or Bing, and Bilanich recommends making sure that what turns up is the first impression you want a stranger to have of you. A recent article on HRGuru.com called the 15 Stupidest Ways to Lose Your Job illustrates the dangers of forgetting that what you do online can cost you your career. Among the stories are those of people who lost their jobs due to unprofessional behavior, in words or pictures, they posted on social media sites such as YouTube and Facebook.  |