Although the Internet is certainly a great resource for searching for and applying for jobs, there are several things you need to keep in mind in order to make sure your personal information remains safe and protected. The reality is that many people make assumptions regarding online job searches that are simply not true. By keeping the following things in mind, however, you will be far less likely to make a potentially costly mistake.

Not All “Job Sites” Can Be Trusted

Even if it looks legitimate, the job site you are using may not be legitimate and may be nothing more than a spoof site that is designed to trick people into giving up personal information. Therefore, make sure the site you are using is a legitimate site before you start providing information.

Not All Job Postings are Legitimate

Even if you are using a legitimate job site, you can’t assume that every job opening listed on the site is real. Although the most reputable sites do their best to filter out the bogus job ads, some will still manage to get through the system. Therefore, when sending out a resume through one of these web sites, make sure it doesn’t contain any personal information and to use an anonymous email address. If the opportunity is legitimate, you can exchange personal information at the appropriate time.

Offering Free Resume Access Does Not Benefit You

It may seem as if a website that offers free resume access is beneficial to you, but the reality is that this can be a major drawback. A site that doesn’t take steps to protect your identity or that allows anyone to view your resume does not have your best interest in mind. Not only does offering free resume access put you at a greater risk of becoming the victim of identity theft, it also increases the chances of your current employer finding your resume. This, of course, could potentially get you in a whole lot of trouble at work.

Privacy Policies Won’t Necessary Protect You

If a job website has a posted privacy policy, you might automatically assume it is safe to use. Unfortunately, this isn’t true. First of all, even if the site has a privacy policy, it isn’t necessarily a good one. For example, the privacy policy may actually say that the site has the right to sell your resume and its information to anyone that it likes. Even those sites with a solid privacy policy, however, may not be implementing it in the way it claims. Therefore, you should never assume that your information will not be used in a way other than what you expected.

Keep Your Social Security Number Protected

If you are in the practice of putting your social security number and date of birth on your resumes, it is time for you to stop – particularly when posting resumes online. Never give out this type of information to people you don’t know, as it makes it far too easy for them to steal your identity. Even if the job website asks for your social security number, don’t give it out. A legitimate job website would not ask for this information and has no reason to need it.

Furthermore, if you are contacted by a potential employer who asks for your drivers license, date of birth, social security number, bank account number, mother’s maiden name or credit card number as part of the “pre-interview” screening process, politely refuse. Most of this information is not something that an employer needs to know and other information, such as your social security number, shouldn’t be provided to an employer until a job offer has been secured. A legitimate employer won’t ask for this information upfront.

Your Resume Might be Shared

Even if you post your resume to only a specific employer’s website, it is possible that more than just that employer will see it. This is because some employers use an outside company to handle the employment section of its website, which means your resume may become part of a larger database that can be accessed by a number of different employers. Some sites even sell resumes to other sites, so never assume that only the employer you are applying to will see your resume.

Your Email May Not Be Received

When you send an email to a potential employer, there is always the possibility that it will never arrive and that you will not be notified. If your email gets caught up in a spam filter, it might not ever make it to its intended destination. Similarly, if your email does make it through, you might not receive the reply from the employer because it might get caught in your spam filter. Therefore, it is best to follow up on an email with a phone call in order to make certain your email was received.

You Can’t Always Trust the “From” Address on Emails

When receiving an email from an employer, the “From” address may appear legitimate, but this isn’t necessarily true. With the help of email software, a scammer can easily make an email appear as if it is coming from a legitimate company. Before clicking on the link within one of these emails and providing personal information, contact the organization to make certain the email is legitimate.