The Dos and Don'ts of Posting Your Resume Online
Kim Boatman
In
this uncertain job market, there’s at least one sure thing. The process
of submitting your resume to apply for a job opening is as easy as
clicking the mouse on your computer.
However,
flooding cyberspace with your resume may not always be the safest move.
It can place your confidential information at risk and expose you to
scam artists and identity thieves. “I think people let their guard
down,” says Susan Joyce, owner and publisher of free online job search
guide Job Hunt. “They just don’t want to let anything get between them
and an opportunity.”
Cybercriminals
are taking advantage of the tough job market, and pinning many of their
latest scam tactics on job-related angles. “I think most of them are
going for identity theft,” Joyce says. “They’re looking for the kind of
information you have on your resume, and they’re hoping they can weasel
your social security number out of you.
Before you post your resume online, review these do’s and don’ts:
•Don’t
share personal information. The sort of private information you would
routinely post on a paper resume can put you at risk when posting a
resume online. Certainly, never include your social security number,
your driver’s license number, your age, your address or financial
information, says Jason M. Hill, managing partner of Sound Advice, a New
York-based staffing and recruiting company.
So,
be vague about personal details, advises Hill. For instance, list
simply your city or region for an address. If you don’t want your
current employer to know you’re looking for a job, don’t list the
employer by name. Simply offer a generic explanation, such as an
“international software company.”
Be
aware that some legitimate employers now ask for social security
numbers and run credit checks, Joyce says. She doesn’t like the
practice. There’s no real reason an employer would need your social
security number until you’re hired and filling out tax forms, she says.
•Do
set up a job search email address. Establish an email address that you
use solely for job hunting. This way, you won’t expose your personal
email to the spam you might receive after posting your resume, and
you’ll be able to track emails related to your job search more easily.
•Don’t
post your resume indiscriminately. Hill figures there are about 10,000
job boards on the Internet. He points out that there are 1,500 staffing
agencies just in the state of New York. Posing as a job board is a
simple way for thieves to troll for personal information, Hill says.
Some job boards aggregate resumes so they can sell your data, he points
out. You’re better off tailoring your resume and cover letter to
specific job opportunities, Joyce says. “Pick and choose the
opportunities you’re after, customize your response and be really
careful of your identity,’’ she advises.
•Do
track where you’ve posted your resume. Maintain a spreadsheet or even a
simple Microsoft Word document that tracks when and where you’ve posted
your resume. Be wary of email blasting services that distribute your
resume to hundreds of job boards. With such broad distribution means
“you’ve widely distributed your information to the world, and you have
no control over it,’’ Joyce says.
•Do
limit reference information. If someone is nice enough to provide a
reference for you, don’t repay the favor by placing his or her personal
information at risk. Limit contact information for your references as
well.
•Don’t
overlook the fine print. Review the privacy policy of job sites, and
understand what will happen with your personal information. Find out how
long a site or board will hang onto your resume.
•Do
be wary of job solicitations. The trend in this tight job market is for
nefarious sorts to prey on job seekers. Watch out for unsolicited
emails offering work opportunities. Many play on familiar scams, such as
asking you to deposit a check and then wire money using Western Union.
Of course, the check is no good, and you’re out the cash.
Look
out for bogus jobs and recruiting sites as well. Joyce recommends
visiting Domain tools if you’re suspicious of a web site. You’ll be able
to review registration information about the site. “Be especially
careful if it’s a new domain name just a few days old,’’ she says. “If
it looks legitimate, Google the phone number.”
Posting
a resume and clicking might be simple enough, but you owe it to
yourself to invest more effort in protecting your information. “You
really need to make sure you’re talking to a real company, a real
business,’’ says Joyce. “There are just so many angles these days.”
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