5 Tips for a Safe Online Job Search
by Teena Rose of Résumé to Referral http://www.resumebycprw.com
Teena Rose is a certified and published resume writer and
author of "20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer" and "Cracking the Code to
Pharmaceutical Sales" (available at CareerEpublications.com).
Conducting a job search using the Internet has definitely
transformed how jobseekers contact hiring companies. The availability of copying
and pasting a text version resume into a form at a company's Website has laid
the foundation for an easier and more convenient process. No longer does a
jobseeker need to spend hours with the traditional method of printing and
mailing his resume to countless recipients.
With the Internet's convenience, a breeding ground for
scam artists continues to grow each year, as well. Identity thefts have
increased to an overwhelming 10 million cases per year, and many of them are the
result of phishing--not surprisingly, the employment industry is under attack as
well.
Phishing is an attempt to extract personal information
through what appears to be authentic emails. If you are job searching, an email
from a seemingly interested recruiter, for example, may not raise a red flag
with you. You may think that the contact person and company listed are
legitimate, yet looks can be deceiving.
Knowing what to look for and how to spot fraud (or potential areas for abuse)
can be the best deterrent to ensuring you have a safe experience while
conducting your job search.
1. Be leery of submission invitations.
Scammers and spammers follow the same patterns. Mass
emails are sent to an enormous list of recipients. Not everyone on the "hit
list" is searching for a new job; however, only a small number of people need to
be convinced, or tricked into believing, the email is authentic in order for the
scam to be deemed successful.
Receiving an email from a recruiter who states, "We saw your resume on the
Internet, and we find your skill set to be perfect for one of our clients.
Please complete our online application through the below link."
Ask yourself a series of questions:
- Did you send your resume to this recruiter?
- Visit the company's website (type the Web address into your browser, avoid clicking the link in the email); upon further examination
are they reputable?
- How did they hear about you?
Call the company if necessary. Always proceed with caution
when you receive a cold-contact email from someone.
2. Avoid responding to requests for personal information,
such as a social security
or credit card number.
Let's say you receive an email from what appears to be a
well-known job bank. The email states that your account needs your contact and
payment information to be updated in order for service renewal. You click on the
link and you're taken to a page that looks, feels, and "smells" right. You
proceed by submitting the requested information.
The link appeared safe, but you were taken to a site
designed to defraud you. Reputable companies will rarely ask for personal
information via email so examine every incoming email for validity.
3. When purchasing from a resume writing or resume submission service, for
example,
ensure information is encrypted upon hitting submit.
Encryption, in short, ensures the private information you
submit online is kept safe. When at your browser, you can recognize an encrypted
form when the root URL starts with "https:" instead of "http:" or seeing the
padlock present in the bottom right corner of your screen. Purchasing from
companies having added security measures in place can ensure your private
information avoids the hands of ill-willed people. Learn more about encryption
by reading Jeff Tyson's article titled, "How Encryption Works," at
http://www.howstuffworks.com.
4. Read and understand the privacy policy of sites you
patron.
The Better Business Bureau possesses a strict policy for
members who do business online. A privacy statement must be displayed on the
company's website, no exceptions. High business practices are a necessity for
maintaining the trust of online buyers; and the BBB understands the critical
importance of trust among consumers.
A privacy statement outlines what type of customer
information is collected and how it's used. Alliances and partnerships, for
example, arrange for Company A to sell or pass on client information to Company
B. The information transferred or sold could be basic, like name and email
address, or far more in-depth like name, address, social security number, and
phone number. No matter how basic or detailed the information, the company must
have the logistics spelled out in their privacy policy.
5. Tell!
Reports show an estimated 80% of online fraud goes
unreported. If the proper authorities aren't aware of the magnitude of fraud
that actually exists on the Internet, then getting the much-needed funds to
battle the problem will take more time. The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (ifccfbi.gov)
has an online complaint feature for individuals to report phishing attacks. The
IFCC report process requires basic information, including information on the
perpetrator and type of fraud.
In addition to filing a complaint, forward the fraudulent
email to the legitimate company. Phishing is smearing the good names of
countless companies, and notifying the company about the scam can also help the
fight. Companies being brought onboard will ensure well-rounded efforts to this
epidemic.
Avoid giving your information out freely. Whether you're
at the end of a phishing attack or the job application requires more information
than you're willing to provide, proceed with caution. Much like you'll analyze
job opportunities; intensely examine each person who receives your personal
information. With safe online practices, you'll get the best return from your
job-search efforts--instead of spending hours filing a police report and calling
credit bureaus and credit card companies.
by Teena Rose of Résumé to Referral http://www.resumebycprw.com
Teena Rose is a certified and published resume writer and
author of "20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer" and "Cracking the Code to
Pharmaceutical Sales" (available at CareerEpublications.com).
Conducting a job search using the Internet has definitely
transformed how jobseekers contact hiring companies. The availability of copying
and pasting a text version resume into a form at a company's Website has laid
the foundation for an easier and more convenient process. No longer does a
jobseeker need to spend hours with the traditional method of printing and
mailing his resume to countless recipients.
With the Internet's convenience, a breeding ground for
scam artists continues to grow each year, as well. Identity thefts have
increased to an overwhelming 10 million cases per year, and many of them are the
result of phishing--not surprisingly, the employment industry is under attack as
well.
Phishing is an attempt to extract personal information
through what appears to be authentic emails. If you are job searching, an email
from a seemingly interested recruiter, for example, may not raise a red flag
with you. You may think that the contact person and company listed are
legitimate, yet looks can be deceiving.
Knowing what to look for and how to spot fraud (or potential areas for abuse)
can be the best deterrent to ensuring you have a safe experience while
conducting your job search.
1. Be leery of submission invitations.
Scammers and spammers follow the same patterns. Mass
emails are sent to an enormous list of recipients. Not everyone on the "hit
list" is searching for a new job; however, only a small number of people need to
be convinced, or tricked into believing, the email is authentic in order for the
scam to be deemed successful.
Receiving an email from a recruiter who states, "We saw your resume on the
Internet, and we find your skill set to be perfect for one of our clients.
Please complete our online application through the below link."
Ask yourself a series of questions:
- Did you send your resume to this recruiter?
- Visit the company's website (type the Web address into
your browser, avoid clicking the link in the email); upon further examination
are they reputable?
- How did they hear about you?
Call the company if necessary. Always proceed with caution
when you receive a cold-contact email from someone.
2. Avoid responding to requests for personal information,
such as a social security
or credit card number.
Let's say you receive an email from what appears to be a
well-known job bank. The email states that your account needs your contact and
payment information to be updated in order for service renewal. You click on the
link and you're taken to a page that looks, feels, and "smells" right. You
proceed by submitting the requested information.
The link appeared safe, but you were taken to a site
designed to defraud you. Reputable companies will rarely ask for personal
information via email so examine every incoming email for validity.
3. When purchasing from a resume writing or resume submission service, for
example,
ensure information is encrypted upon hitting submit.
Encryption, in short, ensures the private information you
submit online is kept safe. When at your browser, you can recognize an encrypted
form when the root URL starts with "https:" instead of "http:" or seeing the
padlock present in the bottom right corner of your screen. Purchasing from
companies having added security measures in place can ensure your private
information avoids the hands of ill-willed people. Learn more about encryption
by reading Jeff Tyson's article titled, "How Encryption Works," at
http://www.howstuffworks.com.
4. Read and understand the privacy policy of sites you
patron.
The Better Business Bureau possesses a strict policy for
members who do business online. A privacy statement must be displayed on the
company's website, no exceptions. High business practices are a necessity for
maintaining the trust of online buyers; and the BBB understands the critical
importance of trust among consumers.
A privacy statement outlines what type of customer
information is collected and how it's used. Alliances and partnerships, for
example, arrange for Company A to sell or pass on client information to Company
B. The information transferred or sold could be basic, like name and email
address, or far more in-depth like name, address, social security number, and
phone number. No matter how basic or detailed the information, the company must
have the logistics spelled out in their privacy policy.
5. Tell!
Reports show an estimated 80% of online fraud goes
unreported. If the proper authorities aren't aware of the magnitude of fraud
that actually exists on the Internet, then getting the much-needed funds to
battle the problem will take more time.
In addition to filing a complaint, forward the fraudulent
email to the legitimate company. Phishing is smearing the good names of
countless companies, and notifying the company about the scam can also help the
fight. Companies being brought onboard will ensure well-rounded efforts to this
epidemic.
Avoid giving your information out freely. Whether you're
at the end of a phishing attack or the job application requires more information
than you're willing to provide, proceed with caution. Much like you'll analyze
job opportunities; intensely examine each person who receives your personal
information. With safe online practices, you'll get the best return from your
job-search efforts--instead of spending hours filing a police report and calling
credit bureaus and credit card companies.
Teena Rose operates a prominent and
professional resume writing service, Resume to Referral.
She’s authored several career
books, including "20-Minute
Cover Letter Fixer"
"How
to Design, Write, and Compile a Quality Brag Book"
and "Cracking
the Code to Pharmaceutical Sales."
Teena Rose, CPRW, CEIP, CCM
Resume to Referral
7211 Taylorsville Road, Office 208
Huber Heights, OH 45424
Phone: (937) 236-1360
Fax: (937) 236-1351
http://www.resumebycprw.com |