Employers like Facebook, too

September 12, 9:18 PMJobs and Careers ExaminerKristina Cowan

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If you're looking for a new gig, you might want to streamline the social-networking side of your life.

According to a CareerBuilder.com survey, 22 percent of hiring managers use social-networking sites to research job candidates, up from 11 percent in 2006. Of the managers who have relied on the sites to screen potential hires, 34 percent said they landed on details that prompted them to drop the candidate from consideration. The biggest red flags for employers was information about drugs or drinking, followed by inappropriate pictures or other content, poor communication skills and bad-mouthing former companies or co-workers.

Of course, social-networking sites can also be a big boon for workers. I wrote about how you can use the sites to your career advantage on my PayScale blog earlier this summer.

To avoid the gaffes that destroy some candidates' job prospects, use common sense. Steer clear of posting lewd photos or other suggestive content you wouldn't want revealed to a future employer. We live in the age of information, where the lines of privacy can easily be eroded, particulary online. Maintaining that privacy is for your career's own good.