Protecting Your Identity While Job Hunting Online

By Heather Eager

If you’ve conducted online job searches, you know that in the application process you will have to provide some level of personal information to complete the preliminary screening process.
If you are a part of the growing club that feels incredibly uncomfortable giving out your personal information over the Internet, don’t let it slow you down. There are ways to conduct your online job search without exposing yourself to hackers and identity thieves.

Limit Personal Details on Your Resume

As you may know, many online job searches require that you submit your resume electronically so that employers can simply sort through them. In most cases, your resume probably lists your home address and phone number, along with an email address and any other personal details you decide to include. While disclosing this information makes you easier to contact, posting it on a website can leave you very vulnerable to predators of all kinds.
One way to avoid the danger of leaving too many personal details out there for whomever may be lurking on the other side of the computer, is to provide temporary contact information. For instance, you can rent a post office box just during the time of your search. Also, you can get a temporary cell-phone number and email address, both dedicated to the search. By listing this temporary information on your resume, or submitting it with an application, you can increase your privacy and lower your risk of identity theft.

Apply Directly to Employers

It’s not uncommon that, as a part of their online job search, people sign up with job banks that allow them to post their resume on the site. Many jobseekers take this route because of the benefits it offers, including allowing hiring managers and headhunters to locate them more easily.
The only problem with this type of job search is that it leaves your personal information just sitting out there for the world to see. For this reason, some experts suggest that instead of posting your resume on a job site that allows employers and headhunters to find you, you consider searching for jobs on your own and applying to them directly. This can be done by contacting the company and asking if there is a way to email the hiring manager directly for the position. That way, you don’t have to post your resume online – and you don’t have to worry about entering personal details through online forms that get sent who-knows-where.

Take Advantage of Privacy Features

Increasingly, job sites that allow you to post resumes provide privacy features that limit your exposure. By blocking contact information from the general search, you can make it possible for employers to reach you only through a confidential email address created on the site.
Since so many employers require electronic job-application submissions, it’s a good idea to figure out your submission options sooner rather than later. That way, you won’t miss out on any great opportunities because you feel nervous about spilling too many beans.

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