How to Protect Your Data and Privacy When Job Hunting

When you decide to look for a new job, where’s the first place you go? If you’re like most people, you go online. Gone are the days of poring over the newspaper classifieds and circling the jobs you’re interested in. Instead, jobseekers use online databases, social networking and company websites to look for and apply to jobs.

There are certainly conveniences associated with online job hunting, but there are also risks, especially when it comes to your personal information. While many job sites are legitimate, there are just as many that don’t do enough to protect users’ personal information, use submitted information for their own nefarious purposes or are just outright scams designed to collect your information to steal your identity. As a jobseeker, it’s up to you to ensure that the information you share as part of a job search doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Considering that with just a minimal amount of information, such as your name and your college, hackers can unearth even more information, it’s vital that you take precautions. This begins with using robust internet security software to help prevent phishing attacks, malware and other problems but also includes being selective about the information you share and with whom.

Theft-proof Your Resume

Your resume is the cornerstone of your job search effort, but it is chock-full of personal information that can be used to steal your identity if it’s publicly available online. Consider the contact information section: It’s likely that you’ve included your home address, phone number, cell number and email address, all information that can be used by identity thieves. Combine that with information about your schooling, work history, interests and everything else in your resume, and it’s an absolute trove of information.

Therefore, to protect your identity, take a few key steps, including:

• Limit personal contact information. Establish an email address specifically for your job search and keep your personal email private. Avoid listing your home phone number, but rather use your cell phone number, which is more likely to be unlisted. Don’t include a home address; if you need to receive mailed correspondence, rent a post office box to maintain privacy.
• Use privacy settings. Legitimate job sites allow job seekers to determine how much information is visible. For example, you may be able to hide contact information and employer names from employers, who must contact you via secure email to request that information. You can also make your resume completely private to prevent anyone from seeing it (which may be helpful if you are still employed) unless you apply for a job, but that does keep employers from reaching out to you.
• Be selective. Looking for work may feel like a numbers game, with the more places you contact the more likely you are to find a job, but by putting your resume on every single job site you find, you’re opening yourself up to risk. Stick to well-known sites and do some due diligence to determine that employment sites are legitimate.
• Keep track of where you post. Once you find a job, remove your resume from the sites where you posted it. If you don’t keep track, this is much more difficult.

And remember, never include your date of birth or Social Security number on your resume — or add it to an online profile. Employers do not need that information until it’s time for a background check or you have been hired. There is never a reason to send that information via email.

Apply With Caution

The fact is that not every job listed on the internet — even those on well-known sites, unfortunately — is a legitimate job. And not every job you’re contacted about it legitimate either. Identity thieves prey on jobseekers, using information gathered from online resumes to send fake job listings with the intent of collecting more information.

Therefore, it’s important to use caution when applying. Before submitting a resume, search the company to determine whether it’s legitimate. Check the company’s human resources or jobs page to see if the position is real, and if possible, apply directly via their online jobs portal. If something seems off or suspicious, follow your gut and do not apply. A company that is interested in you will use the proper channels to contact you.

Even if you are eager to find a new job, it’s not worth taking chances with your identity. The impact that identity theft can have on your finances will be much worse than being out of work, so be cautious and protect your personal information while you look for your dream job.