Keeping Your Private Information Private

Protecting the privacy of your personal information while searching for a job is very important. Not everyone that posts a job opening is actually looking to hire someone. Unfortunately, there are scammers out there that are looking to get personal information to use fraudulently. It is important to keep this in mind during your job search, but there are several things you can do that will minimize your risks and still allow you to circulate your resume and build your professional network.

WorldPrivacyForum has published a guide to help job seekers prevent their information from being stolen by would-be identity thieves and scammers.

Here are some of the tips:

Use a disposable email address and P.O. Box- Until you are dealing with a company you know, don't give out your street address or your everyday email address. When posting copies of your resume to open job boards or as part of your LinkedIn profile, this information isn't really necessary and only serves to give the information to people who may be looking to misuse it. A legitimate employer won't rule you out because you don't list this information on your resume.

Don't include references or your school name- It is a good idea to leave of the references until the interview. I hadn't thought about the school name until it was mentioned, but according to the report, anyone can contact your school and request “directory information” in order to find out your contact details. It is better to leave off the school name when you are posting your resume online or sending out blind copies.

Not every job offer is real- some are scams- The more vague the job offer is, the more likely it is to be a scam. Does the ad seem to not ask for any specific skills? Do they mention that they have many job openings? These are both questions that should make you be more cautious when applying. Here are some tip-offs that a job offer is a scam

• Does the job ask you to scan your ID or drivers' license and send it in?
• Does the job ask you to transfer money as part of your duties?
• Does the job description mention e-Bay, Pay Pal, or Western Union money transfers?
• Does the potential employer ask you for bank account numbers, or your Social Security number?

Use Job Boards that allow you to keep your resume private- It is a good idea to use job boards that allow you to keep your resume private and only have it seen by companies that either you select or have been verified. This will keep your information out of easy reach of scammers, but it won't fix the problem entirely. But, it is a good first step.
 

If you are worried about a job offer, think that your information has been misused or have been taken advantage of by a scammer, you can you may file a consumer complaint with the FTC by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP or by using the FTC’s online filing system, located at http://www.ftc.gov/ . Click on “File a Complaint Online.”

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a freelance writer and regular contributor to several websites and other publications, a volunteer, a full time mom and an active job seeker.