Identity Theft and the Job Hunt

With more and more being done online, it only stands to reason that those searching for jobs online should also be aware of identity theft during the job hunt.  Hackers and those looking to steal identity information have kicked it up a notch over the last several years, with many of them gathering information any place they can grab it from, including your online resume!

While you may not think that a hacker can do anything with your information posted during a job hunt, that is far from the truth.  These thieves are incredibly patient and will collect all kinds of data about you, then will piece it all together to go in for the kill.  You must take precautions to prevent your information from getting into the wrong hands.  Here are a few tips to help you protect your personal information:

• It may seem like a great idea to post your entire resume online.  Thinking that it will give potential hiring managers everything they need to hire you, when in fact, you are giving a potential hacker all of your detailed information about you and your life.  Do not post your entire resume online, but instead use statements to showcase your skills.  Only send your full resume via a secure connection with a potential employer.
• It is safer to apply directly through an employer’s website.  While there is still a slight chance that their site has been compromised, it is still safer than putting all of your information on an unsecured site.
• Make sure that you are being smart about the security of anything you do online.  When asked to create a user name and password, make sure that it is unique and not something that you “use for everything” just to remember it.  Write down your information.  This will give potential bad guys a harder time to hack your info.
• Never ever give out your social security number over the internet.  Always give in person after the interview.  There are many phishing schemes that prey on job seekers, asking for information that should never be given until you meet the employer face-to-face.

Be smart about how you conduct your online job search.  You can prevent identity theft during your job hunt by following these simple guidelines.


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