How to Secure Your Resume Against Fraud

Whenever you post your personal information online, there is a potential threat for fraud. The same can be true when posting your resume on one of the many job search sites. Below we will examine how you can secure your resume against online fraud to ensure that your information remains intact so that you can utilize this helpful resource in your job search. While fraud is prevalent online, it tends to remain focused on companies that rely on online purchases for their business to remain fruitful. As job search sites tend to be free services, the information contained in your resume (which can be easily found other places, like in a phonebook) is not enough to put you at risk. That being said, you should still be mindful about the type of information you include in your resume and other job search documents. For instance, to keep yourself protected from fraud and to avoid releasing personal information unnecessarily, you should never include your social insurance number, driver’s license number, bank account information, credit card information, or date of birth on your resume. You should not be sharing any of this information with a potential employer until you are confident about the employment opportunity. If you still have reservations about posting your resume publicly on job search sites, you have the option of limiting your resume’s visibility. When posting your resume on one of the many sites like Monster or Workopolis, you have the flexibility to choose who can view your resume. For instance, if you are currently still employed, you will want to be more discreet in your job search. You don’t want to risk your present employer seeing that you are actively seeking a new job. That could have dire consequences for you. On the other hand, you will want potential employers to still know that you are out there and be able to find you. When posting your resume, you can choose from posting it publicly or having it confidential or even private from viewers. These different options give you varying degrees of visibility so that you can find the perfect fit for your current job search situation. The public viewing option is straightforward. It allows employers to find you when they conduct a resume search. Having your resume searchable will allow you the widest access to job opportunities, as many employers will do a resume search instead of, or before, posting a job listing. You can also choose to keep some of your important information confidential. Although your resume will still be searchable to employers, your contact information along with your references and even your current employment information will be kept private. This is a perfect option if you are concerned about fraud, or if you are currently employed. Lastly, you can make your resume private which means that it will not be searchable by employers. You can still, however, use your posted resume to apply for jobs or when contacting potential employers. No matter which way you choose to post your resume online, remember that online job search sites are a generally secure and safe tool in your job search. As long as you remain cautious and refrain from including certain confidential information on your resume, you will effectively secure yourself against fraud.