Now there are two ways to search for a job: actively or passively. Although passively searching by posting an online resume is a good way to attract attention, actively job searching will increase possibilities. Networking is a vital part of the active search. This allows for inside knowledge of openings. Talk to your friends, family, past and current colleagues, and alumni through Career Connection to actively get your availability known. Practice in clubs, internships and volunteer positions in order to increase your network. Take advantage of Career Services too: have your resume reviewed, attend job fairs and peruse JobShop.
If you still want to post your resume online while actively searching, here are some safety tips:
Step One: Research job sites and choose the one that best fits your needs.
First of all, don't post on every job site in hopes that more people will see your resume. This will look desperate and/or indecisive. It will also increase the chance for identity theft. The higher number of times you put your information on the Internet for anybody to see, the higher the chance that someone will use that information in a negative way. Besides, some sites are specifically catered towards certain career areas. Make sure you know what kind of employers will be looking at your resume. If you plan to be a teacher, you probably wouldn't want to post your resume on an automotive technicians site.Next, make sure to read privacy policies. Sites that offer to "blast" or sell your resume should immediately send up red flags in your mind. These types of sites should be crossed off your list of potentials. ny sites that ask for social security numbers or bank information can be ruled out as well. Furthermore, don't trust a site that asks for your information prior to letting you looking at possible job openings.
Step Two: Replace convenience with safety.
Create a new email address that is professional, but not connected to personal information. For example, AOL users have profiles including their personal information, whereas Hotmail or Gmail do not. This not only helps to protect your identity (a theme I will constantly revisit), it may also prevent employers from learning too much about you, such as political views, marital status or sexual orientation.Remove any contact information other than your email address. This may be inconvenient for the employer, but safety is more important and will hopefully be seen as cautious, not careless.
If you are currently employed, but searching for something new, you might also want to modify your employment history. For example, tweak your exisiting job title and place of employment to be more generic: "major cable provider" instead of Time Warner Cable. This will protect your current job and, again, protect from identity theft.
If right now you're thinking that these steps seem unnecessary, consider that although emploers have to pay some sites to see your resume, once it is downloaded onto their computers, they can do whatever they want with it. This should not deter you from using online resume sites because they could be phenomenal for your job search; however, it is something people don't always think about.
Step Three: Regulate your resume over time.
Update your resume biweekly. This will ensure that it continues to show up at the top of the list. Furthermore, if you have no responses after two months, the site is clearly not beneficial for you and different site may yield better results. (Or, perhaps your career field may not advertise openings online as these positions are mostly technology-based.)Finally, delete all resumes you have posted online when your job search is over. Your new employer would not be happy if he/she say your resume still attracting offers online!
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