Posting resumes online threatens privacy

Job hunters open themselves to data mining, identity theft

Even though you may get a job by posting your résumé with an online recruiter, you may lose some of your privacy.

The Privacy Foundation, a consumer-advocacy group based in Denver, has issued a report on the privacy practices of Monster.com, an online career site. Monster.com has a Canadian counterpart, Monster.ca. Along with that report comes a warning that job seekers may be opening themselves up to problems when they make their résumés available online.

One of the biggest threats is identity theft. Thieves wishing to impersonate someone, usually to commit fraud, have access to a wealth of personal information from posted résumés.

Online career firms deny any intention to the sell the information available from posted résumés. Moreover, they have employers who access résumés sign an agreement not to use the information other than for recruitment purposes. The firms acknowledge, however, that it may be difficult to ascertain exactly what happens to the information in a résumé once it’s accessed.

To read the full story, login below.

Not a subscriber?

Start your subscription today!