Thanks to the ubiquitousness of the internet, job hunting today is easier than ever. You don’t have to mail applications, which was the norm just a couple of decades ago. However, the internet also comes with privacy concerns for job seekers.
Building an online presence has become a crucial part of being part of the modern workforce. Recruiters and prospective employers can easily access candidates’ social media profiles to get a better understanding of who they are.
Job seekers can also use social media to connect with hiring managers and recruiters as well as to spread the word that they’re currently looking for a job.
There’s no doubt that increased connectivity over the internet and social media comes with plenty of benefits for both job seekers and employers. However, there’s a risk of confidential personal information often included in resumes, job-search boards, and social media profiles falling into the hands of unscrupulous characters
While privacy concerns are valid, don’t let that discourage you from seeking employment online. With some care, there are strategies you can employ to keep your confidential personal information from online scammers.
1- Limit Personal Information in Your Resume
In the past, when job applications were mostly sent through trusty old mail, it was required for applicants to include private personal information such as phone numbers and home addresses.
Today, you can safely eliminate this data from your resume. Your home address should never be available anywhere online.
All that recruiters and employers need to reach you is your email address. It’s advisable to set up an email specifically for your job search to further limit unwanted solicitations. Avoid using your work email (one that includes the name of the company) as your job search email address.
2- Don’t Share Your Real Birthday on Job Boards
When filling out online forms, such as on job boards, it’s not required to use your real birthday. Your real birthday is only legally required when filling out official forms on government websites.
On that note, you are also not required to include your age or birthdate on your CV. Including such information might invite age-related discrimination.
If a form requires you to fill in your birthday, it’s safer to use a fake one. Choose a different year, month, and year. Doing this isn’t likely to have any negative effect on your job search but it will frustrate the efforts of online scammers.
In the same vein, check if your birthdate is publicly accessible on your social media profiles. If it is, either remove it, use a fictitious one, or make it private.
3- Share Your Resume Selectively
In today’s highly competitive job market, landing a job is more of a numbers game. The more jobs you apply for, the more likely you are to get interviews and job offers.
However, that doesn’t mean you should share your resume with all and sundry. Even without the inclusion of details such as a home address and phone number, a resume still contains plenty of personal information.
Exercise caution when sharing your resume online. It’s advisable to only post your resume on reputable websites that have a privacy policy. When it comes to your privacy while job hunting, it’s better to post your CV on a few high-quality sites rather than canvassing dozens of poorly-managed ones.
4- Remove Your Resume Once You’ve Found a Job
Once you’ve found a job that satisfies you, it’s advisable to delete your resume from job boards – especially the ones that might have privacy issues.
To do so, you need to keep track of all the sites you posted your CV. Go through these websites and delete your resume.
5- Beware of Employment Scams
Have you received a job offer from a company despite never applying? It’s probably a scam.
Educate yourself on common employment scams to avoid falling prey. If the job description and quoted salary seem too good to be true, it probably is. Before you click “Apply”, make sure that the recruiter’s profile or company website is genuine.
The most common job types scammers use include work-from-home gigs such as writing, data entry, shipping management, and forms processing.
Check our jobs and internships board for legitimate opportunities.
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