Anyone who’s ever prepared for an interview knows the importance of a good first impression. But in today’s Google-dominated world, that crucial first impression could be made before your shiny new shoes even set foot in the office.

It’s a tough market out there but FOXBusiness.com is here to help. Careers is our “On Topic” subject for May, so check often for tips on everything from landing that dream job to how to recession-proof your job.

A recent survey by Vault.com found that 44% of employers use social networking sites to snoop the profiles of job candidates – leaving the newest generation of job seekers to worry about more than just their resumes. In fact, experts believe a person’s online personal is just as important as whatever other qualities the candidate brings to the table. And it’s expected to become more so as time goes on.

So how can you ensure the Internet – your virtual publicist – is getting you good press? Experts offer job seekers this advice.

Snap out of it

While college students are slowly becoming more mindful of what their online personas are saying to potential employers, they aren’t quite yet where they should be, those in the industry say.

“I think it’s a developing awareness,” said Matt Berndt, director of career services in the College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin.

Lee Svete, director of the career center at the University of Notre Dame, said he has seen a growing awareness in students about to enter the workforce, but said he’s concerned sophomores and juniors applying for internships are still too naïve.

“Interviewing for an internship is just like interviewing for a full-time job – sometimes even harder,” he said.

And Svete knows from experience. A representative from one of the consulting firms that recently recruited at Notre Dame told Svete she was torn between two candidates – and ended up choosing the candidate with the stronger Google hits.

Become self-absorbed…and get Google to love you, too

Googling your name and e-mail address should become a ritual if you’re in or entering the job market, experts say.

According to a 2006 survey by Execunet, 77% of the surveyed recruiters used search engines to research job applicants, with 25% having eliminated a candidate because of the results.

“Hiring managers who are [tech] savvy are going to Google you,” said Norma Gaffin, director of content at Monster.com. “If you have skeletons, there’s a good chance of them being uncovered.”

But being searched doesn’t have to be scary. Job seekers should be using search engines to their advantage by making sure the information they want employers to find appears on the first page of search results, said Ross McKillop, creator of Simplehelp.net, a Web site that provides step-by-step tutorials for those seeking computer help. McKillop suggests creating profiles at professional networking sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, Naymz or Ziki – all of which are ranked highly by Google and are thus more likely to make their way to the front page of your search results.

“By joining [these sites], you’ve proactively made yourself look good to a potential employer,” McKillop said.

There are a number of other ways to create an attractive online image. McKillop suggests creating your own site – especially if you’ve been sitting on the domain name for awhile, as it will appear higher up in a Google search. Job seekers should consider starting a blog (though they should tread carefully, as this could be viewed as a deterrent depending on the potential employer), or simply leaving an intelligent or helpful comment on a popular site to boost their image, McKillop said.

Start seeing the world through your mother’s eyes

Technology has certainly played a role in the younger generation’s comfort with the public sphere; but for the sake of their careers, up and comers might want to start taking a cue from their parents.

Experts urge candidates to think twice before posting pictures of themselves in which they appear drunk or scantily-clad. Even a casual suggestion of one’s political affiliation – for example, posting a picture in which you’re wearing a Barack Obama shirt – could play a role in an employer’s intangible selection process, said Monster.com’s Gaffin.

And don’t be surprised if an employer mentions what they saw saw online, experts said. “If you [the employer] see something that sparks concerns, it really is up to you to seek clarification,” said Mary Massad, managing director of recruiting services for Administaff, a small business human resources firm.

But in this day in age, where it’s normal to share information on the Internet, is anything forgivable?

“As a boomer, I do give a lot of rope to the Y Generation,” said Peggy Klaus, leadership coach and author of BRAG: The Art of Tooting Your Horn Without Blowing It. Klaus said it’s probably not the end of the world for someone to be holding a beer in a picture, but to look inebriated is our of the question.

“For many in the millennium Y Generation, they don’t understand the repercussions. They think everybody’s cool. In reality, no – everybody’s not cool,” she said.

Do damage control

When a Google search starts serving up things you’d rather forget, it’s time to do some serious repair work. If you can’t personally remove a scandalous piece of information, Simplehelp’s McKillop suggests sending an e-mail – or better yet, a typed or handwritten letter – to the company or person who own the site, asking them to remove it.

“If you’re polite in that e-mail or letter, you’ll usually get really far,” he said.

Depending on the type of content, you may even be able to ask Google not to indext that page, McKillop said. If all of your efforts fail, you can try filing a complaint under the Digital Millenium Copyright Act [DMCA].