Reputation Changer Announces Massive Surge in Graduates Seeking Online Reputation Defense

WEST CHESTER, PA, May 01, 2013 (Press-News.org) With college graduation season at hand, many recent or pending graduates are already deep into the job search process--and according to Reputation Changer, many of these job seekers are concerned with how they are portrayed online. In a new statement to the press, the industry-leading reputation management firm says that more students than ever before are seeking to take control over how they are presented on the Internet. In fact, Reputation Changer has announced a 300 percent increase in contacts from college graduates or soon-to-be graduates.

According to Reputation Changer President Michael Zammuto, this trend is hardly surprising. "These days, more and more recruiters and hiring managers are using the Web to help them find desirable job candidates--so a job-seeker's online reputation is truly make-or-break for his or her career prospects," he states. "Graduates and soon-to-be graduates know this. They are aware that what the Web reveals about them is what ultimately decides their career chances--and frankly, the job market is tough enough without the added complication of an adverse online reputation."

Zammuto explains that online reputation is important because Google, Bing, LinkedIn, and even Facebook have emerged as the most relied-upon tools for recruiters seeking out qualified applicants. "Because the job market is so competitive these days--because employers are getting swamped with dozens upon dozens of applications for a single open position--they are looking for whatever means are available to easily and efficiently separate the really qualified and desirable applicants from the rest," he says. "As such, they are turning to online search engines and to social media pages to help weed out the red-flag applicants."

The Reputation Changer president notes that there are several things that can cause a job-seeker or soon-to-be-graduate to emerge as a worrisome or undesirable job candidate--including any kind of slovenly, embarrassing, or compromising photo from a frat party or a particularly wild spring break. "That one crazy night in college can really hurt your career prospects, if evidence of it ever finds its way onto the Web," Zammuto offers.

Even college graduates without these obviously-troublesome online listings can find themselves in peril, however. "What if a potential employer Googles your name and finds basically nothing?" Zammuto asks. "For some graduates, the problem is not that online listings are bad; it's that they are non-existent. An online search reveals an individual to have no real accomplishments or noteworthy achievements at all--which leads to a loss of competitive edge."

As problematic as the Internet can be for individuals, and new college graduates in particular, the Web can also be a useful platform for building a strong, authoritative online reputation--which is why so many of these new or pending graduates are turning to companies like Reputation Changer. "Instead of just cutting their hair and buying a new suit, college students are choosing to take control over how they are presented on the Web," Zammuto affirms. "They should review the ReputationChanger.com, case studies so they can build their online brand. More and more graduates are availing themselves of our reputational clearing plans, brand enhancement, and social media management offerings."

The bottom line for Zammuto is that students and graduates can take action to repair whatever damage has been done to their online reputations--and they can brand themselves as job candidates of choice. "It has never been more important for job seekers to seize control over their online listings, and thankfully, recent trends indicate that today's students and graduates are taking this seriously."

ABOUT:

Reputation Changer was founded in 2009 by a group of direct response marketing veterans, united behind a zeal for providing brands and individuals with greater control over their online reputations. The company stays true to that passion to this day, but has expanded significantly in recent years; it now operates myriad offices across the company and employees a large team of committed ORM professionals, among them SEO technicians, content marketing aces, and social media specialists. Reputation Changer reviews the reputation management and brand enhancement needs of corporate clients ranging from fortune 100 companies to small business start-ups; the company assists individuals, as well.

Website: www.reputationchanger.com