One of the most interesting trends in recruiting, especially for mid-level managers and above, is the "googling" conducted on prospective candidates.

Recruiters and employers are using the results of a search on your name to help determine whether you are a viable candidate for the position you are seeking.

Don't believe it? According to a study by ExecuNet, three out of four recruiters conduct Internet searches on candidates -- and one in four has dropped candidates based on the results of the search. "Smart hiring managers will always Google their prospective people," says Allison Hemming, president of the Hired Guns, a New York interim-staffing company, in an article on CareerJournal.com.

Do you know your Google rating? Go to our search page and find out! For best results, use quotation marks around your name, such as "Randall Hansen" -- and if you have an extremely common name, try also using a middle name or initial, such as "John R. Smith"

Next up -- strategies for enhancing your brand!