For this year’s crop of college graduates, most of whom are familiar with the Internet search engine Google, some sage advice might be: think twice about posting those party pictures on Web sites or writing embarrassing entries on blogs.

That’s because a recent Harris Interactive poll showed that 23% of people search the names of business associates or colleagues on the Internet before meeting them – which probably means many employers are doing the same with job applicants, said Andrea Kay, a career consultant and author of “Interview Strategies That Will Get You the Job You Want.”

This means that job seeking isn’t just about polished resumes and firm handshakes these days. It’s growing more common for employers to search applicants’ names on the Internet, and some college seniors – mere high schoolers when “google” started becoming a verb – have pictures and written material all over the Web that conceivably could hurt their chances of getting hired.

“It’s a wake-up call: You better be careful what you say and do, because it is your reputation. You’re developing it early on,” Ms. Kay said.

Many employers hire companies to conduct background checks, but googling serves as an additional tool. It makes sense, especially when young applicants have few references and a job involves responsibility for people’s health or finances, said Charles Fleischer, an employment lawyer and author of “The Complete Hiring and Firing Handbook.”

What should a young job seeker do? Be sure to google yourself to see what pops up, and set up a Google Alert on your full name so you can stay updated, Ms. Kay said.