Whether you’re a seasoned social networker or only just getting into the game, you should know that prospective employers are on the look-out for you — and that may not always be a good thing. According to a recent survey from CareerBuilder.com, 22 percent of 3,169 hiring managers have visited potential employees’ social networking profiles as part of the hiring process and nine percent plan to start.

Before you brush off these latest findings, here’s one more fact to chew on: 34 percent of managers who viewed Internet profiles removed the applicant from their list of prospective hires, while 24 percent found that they had made the right choice. What’s the difference? It’s all in how you present yourself.

Amongst the many factors cited as make-it-or-break-it with companies hiring, CareerBuilder.com pointed to communication skills and a professional image — two things anyone with a social networking profile can improve upon by ditching the AIM-acronyms and switching that pic of your latest party with a more presentable photo of yourself. To make sure that you’re doing everything you can to sell your career-self in the best possible light check out: “10 Ways to Protect Your Online Persona.”

– Genevieve M. Blaber