Job Search and Employee Privacy

It's important to protect your privacy when job searching online. Here's information on how to keep your personal information confidential and how to protect your privacy.

Social media, including sites like Twitter and Facebook, can help you find a job and connect with people who can assist you with growing your career. However, it works both ways. Social media when used the wrong way can backfire and jeopardize a job offer or even your current job.

There have been more than a few stories in the news about employees being fired because of what they posted online. Posting company business (good or bad), posting that you hate your employer, posting inappropriate information on Facebook, tweeting that you have a job offer while still employed, are just a few examples.

There are so many scams and so much fraud when it comes to online job searching, it can be hard to tell what's legitimate and what's not. How can you tell if a job is a scam? What can you do to protect your identity when job searching? And what can you do if you get scammed? Here's how to protect your identity when job searching.

Poll: Are you concerned about a prospective employer finding personal information about you online?

When you don't want your current employer to find out that you're job hunting, there are steps you can take to keep your job search is confidential. Here's how to keep your job search confidential and how to protect your privacy.

In today’s world of fast-developing technology, in which the click of mouse can dispense a plethora of information, privacy for job seekers and employees is a significant issue.

Can having a blog or a personal web site impact your job search, for better or for worse? It might. I read in someone's blog recently that they lie in interviews. That wouldn't thrill a prospective employer if they knew about it. A blog can get you fired, stop you from getting hired or if used appropriately, help you get a job.

When you're job searching, what you probably consider personal information can be found online by potential employers. Given that many employers do research potential employees, it's important to ensure that all your communications, including email, instant message, MySpace and Facebook profiles, and blogs are professional.

Job searching from work isn't a good idea. It could even get your fired. However there are some ways you can build your career and network without jeopardizing your current position.

If you are a Facebook user and are concerned about employers (or others) seeing the personal information that you have on Facebook, you can change your privacy settings so only certain people, like your friends or other students, can view your profile.

If you are a MySpace user and are concerned about employers (or others) seeing the personal information that you have on MySpace, you can change your privacy settings so only certain people, like your friends, can view your profile.

Did you know that your MySpace and Facebook profiles aren't as private as you think they are? Employers have been known to peruse MySpace and Facebook, along with blogs and web sites of prospective employees.

The Privacy Act of 1974 requires that public-sector employees be given access to any and all information in their files.

Instant messaging (IM) services can be a good tool to use when job searching. If you have an instant message account you can use it for networking, both with the people on your buddy list and with professional contacts.