This is the second post in a two-part interview with Jeremy Miller of Kroll Fraud Solutions about the increase in identity theft among job seekers. Friday’s post covered trends in identity theft and what to watch out for. Today, Jeremy shares how to protect yourself from online thieves.
Kristi Daeda: Before providing any information to a third-party site like a job board or online networking site, how can we verify our private information will be secure?
Jeremy Miller: Job seekers can’t afford to just put their information out there and hope for the best anymore. It’s true that businesses of all types have a responsibility to safeguard the data they retain, but do they own up to that responsibility through sound security policies and procedures? That is left to the job seeker to determine. Do a little research into just how well these third-party sites protect personal information:
Read the privacy policy and user terms and agreements of a site before you post your resume. Understand the options the site provides to protect your information, such as masking your name and contact information or choosing who can and cannot view your information.
Check to see if they offer advice on protecting your personal information. Most sites that recognize the importance of protecting user privacy will provide best practice tips for keeping posted information secure and will also provide a good mechanism for users to alert them to suspicious activity.
You should also keep a good record of your job search. Keep a list of accounts where your information is on the Web, and check each periodically even if you are no longer an active user. Also, keep track of who you’ve talked to in person and over the phone, businesses that have called or emailed you, etc. The tried and true paper trail will be invaluable in the event your information is somehow compromised or if someone contacts you and can’t tell you how they obtained your information.
Remember: no one can guarantee what happens to your resume after it has been downloaded by a recruiter or potential employer. The best way to secure information is to carefully screen it yourself before you post – never provide information like Social Security Number, date of birth or driver’s license number.
KD: If someone believes their identity has been stolen, what should they do?
JM: Appropriate action is best determined by the details of an individual’s specific case, but in general the following steps are recommended for most types of identity theft:
- Contact the companies or entities involved in the event (e.g., credit card company, bank, court, etc.).
- Place a fraud alert with the three national credit repositories.
- File a police report with your local police.
KD: And for companies that collect this kind of data from their users, what do you consider to be the major best practices for keeping data secure?
Oddly enough, many companies do not fully understand their responsibility to keep job applicant data safe. Not only does a breach of this type of information put people’s information at risk, but it also has a negative impact on a company’s recruitment efforts, reputation and profitability. To minimize the risk of a data breach and put the minds of job applicants at ease, organizations should know the organization’s data “hot spots,” — where resumes and other applicant data are stored – and secure them against misuse, loss or theft. Such information should only be accessed when necessary and on a “need to know” basis.
Other important steps include establishing a privacy policy and standing behind it, being sensitive to the concerns of job applicants about the use and storage of their personal information, understanding the laws governing recordkeeping and disposal of information, and having a plan in place in the event an applicant’s data is breached.
Related posts:
- Identity Theft and the Job Seeker: What to watch out for
- Five job boards you must use for your job search
- Career Trends and Career Change: Interpreting Employment Trends in 2010
- Job search over 50: Unique challenges, unique opportunities
- Facebook’s new privacy settings make managing your personal brand easier
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