Jobseekers urged to be security savvy when applying for jobs online

Watch out … identity theft could be one keystroke away.

WE buy the firewalls, delete the phishing emails and add random capital letters to our passwords but when it comes to online job boards, security measures often are overlooked.

Hays Australia and New Zealand managing director Nick Deligiannis said security was 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,” he said.

“When job searching, people don’t always stop to question why someone may be asking for certain information.

“They want to prove themselves and be liked by a potential employer, which from a social engineering perspective is a risk.

“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.”

Recruiter and author Rebecca Fraser. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Recruiter and author Rebecca Fraser. Picture: Paul LoughnanSource:News Corp Australia

Career coach Rebecca Fraser, of Rebecca Fraser Consulting, said some job advertisements were placed solely to gather applicants’ details for another purpose.

“The job may not be real,” she said.

“We do not see this as much in the more common job boards, however there are a lot of online advertising methods that mean some job adverts may be what they determine as bait advertising.”

To be a savvy jobseeker online:

DON’T share more than you have to.

Fraser said information such as date of birth and address were not mandatory, so it was best to leave it out.

“Generally this information can be captured through formal online e-recruitment tools but if you get to this stage you then will have a greater understanding of who you are sharing your information with,” she said.

APPLY through reputable websites.

Deligiannis said well-known recruiters and organisations used the latest online security measures.

“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,” he said.

STICK to genuine connections.

Fraser said jobseekers, and people in general, should be careful who they connected with on LinkedIn.

“Look into their background and who else they are connected with in your network,” she said.

“If their profile is incomplete or they are not connected to anyone, question why they are connecting with you.”

Hays managing director Nick Deligiannis interviews a candidate in person.

Hays managing director Nick Deligiannis interviews a candidate in person.Source:News Limited

Deligiannis said if a potential employer asks for LinkedIn or other social media login details to verify employment history, jobseekers should always decline.

GO through a recruiter.

Deligiannis said all dealings with a recruiter were confidential.

Although jobseekers had to provide information such as their CV, they would never be asked for banking details or other sensitive data to apply for a job.

READ the terms and conditions.

Fraser said it was important to know what you are agreeing to.

“It will be too late to complain if you have actually accepted the terms and conditions without realising that you are giving complete permission for your information to be shared,” she said.

DON’T pay for recruitment services or background checks.

Deligiannis said recruitment services were free for jobseekers.

“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,” he said.

Source: news.com.au

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