You might be aware that powerful “career marketing” in the form of a masterpiece resume and cover letter is a must for a leadership role. However, don’t forget that employers WILL look in one other place for information about you: the Internet.

Here are three key reasons that many employers are turning to online sources as a substitute for references (whether you want them to or not!):

1) Personal websites are growing by leaps and bounds.

It’s not news that many people are turning to personal and social networking websites in droves. The popularity of MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other sites has exploded in recent years.

What you might not know is that, search engines frequently find your online profile first, since it uses your name as an identifier.

2) Press releases can make their way onto the Internet with astonishing speed.

I’ll use a case study here to make my point perfectly clear: Roy, a former client, learned a valuable lesson when he embarked upon a job hunt and wondered why he wasn’t approached for leadership positions.

I did an online search for his name and discovered that his previous achievements were “spun” the wrong way inside press releases. We rebuilt his online profile, counteracting this effect by presenting his own version of events.

The lesson? You never know what someone else considers important about YOUR career.

3) Personal life or opinions have become fair game.

Have you posted to a blog lately? As with other hot information, blogs can rocket their way around the Web. Don’t forget about published articles, project lists, and any other sources in which you’ve been quoted.

A well-known CEO of a major corporation in Colorado was caught flagrantly posting his opinions on a company merger to a public group on Yahoo late last year. While the merger went through (barely), his reputation suffered significantly, and the press had a field day with it. Can you imagine what a potential new employer would think? Enough said!

To prepare my clients for these scenarios, I have developed a special report entitled “When Employers Google You, What Will They Find?” that covers key strategies for managing online identity.

To sum up, consider that the information you provide on your career might NOT be the only data employers see... and that you should check your online identity often to avoid surprises.

A unique resume authority with a 98% success rate winning interviews for six-figure professionals, Career Management Coach and Certified, published Resume Writer Laura Smith-Proulx is the Executive Director of An Expert Resume, a career services company that caters to professionals targeting a $100K+ position.

If you're ready to make a key change in your leadership career, get our FREE 7-Part E-Course on "The 7 Biggest Resume Mistakes That Can Keep You From a $100K+ Job... And How to Avoid Them."