Job Search and Networking

Staying safe online

Always remember to exercise your best judgement online, especially when looking for a job. The Internet is a powerful resource for finding new opportunities, but not every job posting you'll find is genuine. Many of these fake postings are actually an attempt to steal money and sensitive information from job seekers. The following tips can help you guard your privacy and avoid potential scams during your job search.

Protecting your identity and avoiding scams

• Never share sensitive information online, such as your Social Security Number, birth date, or credit card number. If a potential employer asks you to send this kind of information, the odds are high that the employer is simply trying to steal your identity rather than offer you a job.
• Be wary of anyone who asks you to pay for something like training or a background check before offering you a position.
• Avoid jobs that seem suspicious or promise a high salary for a minimal amount of work. Any job that sounds too good to be true probably is. Legitimate job postings will usually contain the name of the company, specific details about the job, and information about who to contact and how to apply for the position. Some of this may vary by field, though. For example, government jobs in the US do not always have a specific contact person listed.
• If you feel uneasy or suspicious about a job posting, follow your instincts and research it for more information. If the posting turns out to be a hoax, you'll keep yourself from wasting a lot of time and energy on the application.

Check out our tutorial on Internet Safety or go to www.onguardonline.gov for more information about staying safe online.