Following up on the recent news, suggesting many recruiters use search engines to pre-screen job candidates, business social network Viadeo reports 20% of employers find information about candidates online and 59% are influenced by what they find.

As we pointed out, sharing your drunken exploits on MySpace, could come back to haunt you.

Examples of online information that has been shown to create negative information include MySpace pages that reveal excessive drinking or disrespect for work. One survey respondent said his company rejected a candidate based on activities found online that “did not fit ethically” into the organization.

However, it’s not all bad news. Having a good online presence can actually do a lot to help you get a job.

Computer World takes a look at how a lack of a web presence can hurt a candidate’s chance of getting a job interview, let alone the actual job. While we’ve probably all tried “Googling” a date or famous celebrity, employers are using the search engines to “check you out” before they schedule a meeting with you.

In a 2006 survey by executive search firm ExecuNet in Norwalk, Conn., 77 of 100 recruiters said they use search engines to check out job candidates. In a CareerBuilder.com survey of 1,150 hiring managers last year, one in four said they use Internet search engines to research potential employees. One in 10 said they also use social networking sites to screen candidates.

While it may be mostly confined to technology careers, not having an online identity can place a question (or black) mark against a potential job candidate.

In today’s job market, turning up missing on the Web may not be a fatal flaw, and it’s probably better than having a search result in a photo of you in a hula skirt. But over time, the lack of a Web presence — particularly for IT professionals — may well turn from a neutral to a negative, says Tim Bray, director of Web technologies at Sun Microsystems Inc.

The article goes on to suggest ways to create an online identity. Here are some of my own tips…

paidContent is reporting social media monitoring company Cymfony has been acquired by UK-based research firm Taylor Nelson Sofres.

No details on the value of the deal – paidContent estimates double digits based on Cymfony’s $24m raised in VC – and we don’t have any official word yet.

Without knowing much about either company, I’d guess this is a smart move for TNS, and a poor decision by Cymfony. We’re only just starting to see companies wake up to the concept that they need to monitor and engage social media, so Cymfony likely sold way too early. Then again, Cymfony may have gotten triple digits and smiling all the way to the bank!

This is sad to read. It appears Anna Nicole Smith paid a lot of attention to the search results associated with her name.

“She always had a laptop and she Googled her name, and she would read these articles that spoke badly about her,” said the bodyguard, who goes by the name of Big Moe. “She was just, was sad about that.”

It’s amazing how, in just a few short years, the public perception of someone can be greatly influenced by what appears on the first page of Google.

If you’re anywhere near Raleigh on Wednesday February 21st, be sure to drop by the Exploris center for a TIMA panel on Social Media Marketing/Reputation Management.

I’ll be joined by Lenovo’s David Churbuck, Crossroad PR’s Cindy Akus and moderator Nathan Gilliatt. It’s an informal panel discussion, so we’ll have plenty of opportunities to answer your questions. In the meantime, you can brush-up on the topic, with my beginner’s guide.

Here’s the info:

Where – Exploris

When – Wednesday, February 21, 11:30am to 1:30pm

Cost – $10 for Members, $30 for non-Members

More info and registration here.