A massive 64% of HR managers think it is appropriate to look at online profiles of candidates for work and 41% have rejected people as a result.

Jobseekers are warned to keep control of their details online to make sure they do not miss that dream job. Research released by Microsoft describes the professional risks people take if they fail to keep their online reputation up to date.

Online services such as social media can have benefits for jobseekers, but they need to manage information about them to avoid it becoming out of date or irrelevant. Microsoft recommends that people keep their online profiles up to date and accurate. Responsibility for managing the information is with the owner.

David Bloxham, director of Recruitment Services at recruitment company GCS, said websites such as linkedIn in are becoming the first stop for recruitment companies. "There is a huge shift in the way recruiters work. There are tools today that mean a recruiter can scan the web for a person's profile as soon as they get an email," he added.

Bloxham said you have to work hard to increase your online profile. This can be done in a number of ways:

- Join as many online groups as possible

- Get as many recommendations as possible

- Affiliate with hubs in your network

(Karl Flinders, 2010, www.computerweekly.com)