[saket77]

This is so relevant. We upload/ include a lot of personal information in our resume and post that to so many web portals. Any one registered as an employer on those portals has access to our resume. Many of them are fraudsters as they download the resume and then call the prospective candidate telling that they have so many openings of <insert top company names> and all you need to do is register on their website paying XXXX rupees for an interview to be lined up. Plus, obviously they will try to misuse ones personal information like phone, address, name etc. If nothing else, they can create and sell a database of name & contact coupled with your demographics.

Some common stuff to avoid while drafting the resume:

1. I have seen many resume, esp from freshers who include their PAN/ Adhar information in the same which obviously is not required by any employer, at least in the initial screening stages. So, please refrain from sharing such information.

2. Another thing I would try to highlight is not to use the phone number registered with your banks in the resume. Always use any alternate number if you have it. Same goes with email IDs.

3. You need not share your postal/ residential address to the 'T' in the resume. A more generic address like your locality or society name is totally fine. No need to include your house number in the resume, which is used for initial screening. You can always share your precise address with the employer when you move to the later stages of selection.

4. Never use the same password for your job portals and email IDs. A lot of people, for the sake of remembering passwords, use one common password across websites. So, use a good note editor on your phone and store your passwords there with a password/ pin lock. Just remember that password. For eg. people on Apple ecosystem can always use 'Notes' app which can be locked, and is cloud-based which means that your updated notes are always available across your devices.

In today's connected world, that too prone to data leak/ hacks; privacy is a contrary concept. Basically you trade certain levels of your privacy for service, discounts, convenience etc. These points above ensure that even if your resume gets into wrong hands, at least your core personal information is not compromised and you remain comparatively safe.

Regards,
Saket.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by for_cars1

Once the profile is out on career websites, it is often picked up by unscrupulus/fake job agencies who generally call and ask for a payment in the name of "paid/premium" services. Some of them while on the call to the extent of asking the person to open their website and guiding them to make the payment. A common modus-operendi and have experienced it personally and there are numerous such reports online.

Not just fake job agencies, even Naukri agents do the same. I don't know if the agent gets some commission for getting an immediate payment. I always respond by saying that I am not in front of a system and asking them to email me the details.

[iamahunter]

Originally Posted by Jaguar

Not just fake job agencies, even Naukri agents do the same. I don't know if the agent gets some commission for getting an immediate payment. I always respond by saying that I am not in front of a system and asking them to email me the details.

The resumes/information which one uploads to the Job portals are sold in lots, based on various aspects - technology, experience, location, organizations worked etc.

And these resumes are not just brought by consultancies or hiring firms, there are many customers for this information. And the job portals do not hesitate to share it with anyone.

To give an example, I know for sure from a friend who works as a Business Development Associate in one of the Job portals - One of their "major" client is a recovery agency.
Other non-significant clients include smaller firms, such as tele-callers, home brokers etc. These are for targeted marketing.

[Raghu M]

Our personal information is all over. You won't believe to what extent they are being used. Complex algorithms help big companies market their products easily. For example, the other day, I was watching Angels & Demons on OTT and the next day when I am browsing some sites for information, the book 'Angels & Demons' is constantly appearing on the ads bar. Can you believe it? Also, even small restaurants and hotels ask for mobile nos. I never share my no. with them. Malls, super markets, small stores everyone wants your no. I simply tell them that I don't have a no. A restaurant in Chennai said they will refuse my order if I don't share my mobile no. (pre-Covid times). I said, I am fine and was ready to leave when they asked me to be seated. There are too many innovative ideas out there to which we need to be careful about.

[sukhbirST]

Good topic and thanks for sharing. I fail to understand, that in spite of warning , every year there are cases at my location where job seekers have paid money. Same modus operandi - fake letter heads offering jobs. Just sharing an RBI booklet on other similar frauds as well.

BE(A)WARE - A Booklet on Modus Operandi of Financial Fraudsters

[iamahunter]

Originally Posted by Raghu M

Our personal information is all over. You won't believe to what extent they are being used. Complex algorithms help big companies market their products easily. For example, the other day, I was watching Angels & Demons on OTT and the next day when I am browsing some sites for information, the book 'Angels & Demons' is constantly appearing on the ads bar. Can you believe it?

True that.

Infact, we, the Software guys, are the ones developing such algorithms. Not just that, you might even encounter location based target advertisement, where-in you'll get a specific ad based on your choices over the period of time.
For example - If you have ordered Biryani over a couple of weekends in your home town and you travel to a new town, you might get an ad of a Biryani center at that town, and this ad will be at approximately
you lunch/dinner time. That's the level of complexity the programs are developed at, and we are not talking about just one individual.

We are actually facing the consequences of our own making.

Originally Posted by Raghu M

Also, even small restaurants and hotels ask for mobile nos. I never share my no. with them. Malls, super markets, small stores everyone wants your no. I simply tell them that I don't have a no. A restaurant in Chennai said they will refuse my order if I don't share my mobile no. (pre-Covid times). I said, I am fine and was ready to leave when they asked me to be seated. There are too many innovative ideas out there to which we need to be careful about.

Mobile number security is a joke. Even the building's watchman or the guy who washes your car, will give out the list of resident's mobile numbers at just Rs 50.