JOB SEARCHING ONLINE
HOW TO STAY SAFE

Social engineering, viruses and other threats: follow these tips to protect yourself when job searching

When looking for a job on the internet these days, you should be aware of potential threats. Many people are used to take appropriate safety measures for online shopping or social media activities. But when applying for jobs they often forget to protect themselves.

As we all know, security is a growing concern for individuals as well as businesses. Jobseekers may have adequate security protection on their PCs, such as a firewall and antivirus software, but they still need to keep their personal details safe.
When job searching, people don’t always stop to question why someone may be asking for certain information, as they want to prove themselves and be liked by a potential employer.
Don’t make this mistake, because you could quickly fall victim to a social engineering attack. Your security software won’t protect you if you willingly give away sensitive personal information, so use common sense to protect your personal and financial details when job searching.

5 tips on how best to protect yourself

To be alert to security threats and help protect yourself when looking and applying for jobs online, take note of this advice:

1. Never reveal confidential information on the internet

2. Apply only to notable and reliable companies

3. Keep passwords confidential

4. Don’t get charged for a recruitment service as an applicant

5. Do not bear the costs for background checks

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1. Never reveal confidential information on the internet

All dealings with a recruiter are confidential whether you are an employer or candidate. This is one of the benefits of working with an agency as you can engage in confidential searches. Of course, you have to provide personal information such as the pertinent details of your CV or the specifics of your hiring needs, but you’ll never need to provide banking details or other sensitive data to apply for a job.

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2. Apply only to notable and reliable companies

Well-known recruiters or organisations should use the latest online security measures. Such companies have processes and procedures in place to keep your information secure. Never submit your CV to a site that does not provide a privacy policy, contact details such as a physical address, or is not well-known. Only send your CV to reputable organisations.

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3. Keep passwords confidential

You will likely have your own logins to the systems, portals or tools of a recruiter or job board. These are your personal logins and you never need to provide these to anyone. Similarly, if a potential employer asks for your LinkedIn or other social media account login details in order to verify your employment history then always decline. Keep all login details private.

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4. Don’t get charged for a recruitment service as an applicant

As a jobseeker you do not pay for the services of a recruiter; it is the employer who pays the recruiter to find the right person for their role. As a jobseeker our commitment to you is to help you put your best foot forward and source opportunities that match your experience and career goals. There is no charge to you for this service.

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5. Do not bear the costs for background checks

As a jobseeker you do not pay for background checks or any other review of your qualifications and experience. If someone claims that you need to pay for a background check as part of the recruitment process, question it and seek the advice of a third party recruiting expert.

Hopefully, you already take many of the aspects mentioned for granted. Nevertheless, you should always remember to be cautious and aware of possible risks, even if you think you are safe. Security should also have top priority when looking for a job on the internet. So, take these tips to heart.

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