Protect Your Career Information
Interview with Jeremy Miller from Kroll Fraud Solutions
May 22, 2009
Career Advice presents an interview with Jeremy Miller, Director of Operations at Kroll Fraud Solutions, on how to protect your career identity.
How to Protect Your Career Information
Career Advice: How can an individual protect information, especially as it pertains to future career paths?
JMiller: The best practice is to be particular about how much information you share and how you share it.
- Just because someone asks for your personal information doesn’t mean that you have to provide it. Understand the value of your personal information and treat it accordingly.
- Be aware that you may not always be in control of where your information is shared and who it is shared with.
- Once your information is out there, monitor it periodically when and where you can. If you have an account on LinkedIn or a similar networking site, for example, check your account regularly even if you are not an active user. Think of the harm caused if someone hijacked your account and sent email to others in your industry using your name.
- Check your credit report periodically for inaccuracies that could be an indication of a credit-related identity theft issue.
Top Solutions to Prevent/Resolve Identity Theft
Career Advice: What are the top solutions to prevent and/or resolve identity theft problems?
JMiller: When posting resumes and completing job applications online, don’t put everything out there for anyone to see. Social Security numbers, driver license numbers and dates of birth are not appropriate material for a resume/application. Consider writing “prefer to provide this information during interview” instead. This information can be shared upon offer of employment.
- Post only to websites that have privacy features and be sure to take advantage of those features whenever possible. For example, some sites allow you to choose who can and cannot contact you.
- There are plenty of people out there who post fake job ads to gain access to your personal data. Remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Ask for a reinvestigation if something unusual comes up on a pre-employment background check. Is the item related to someone else with a similar name or is it related to your actual data (e.g., Social Security number or a combination of name, date of birth and address)?
- Keep track of where you post your personal information. Know where your resume has been sent and to whom you have spoken regarding your job search. Having confidence that you know who you are dealing with on the other end of the line – and who has access to your personal information -- is key to minimizing your risk.
Career Advice: What about small business (1-5 employees)? Your site offers free assessment risk to corporations – how would that work for the small company or entrepreneur?
JMiller: Businesses of all sizes retain information on customers, employees and clients. This means that small businesses, too, will be held accountable for the use, storage – and, in the worst case, loss – of a job applicant’s personal information. During the normal course of business, organizations have a responsibility to safeguard the data they retain. Our risk assessment can help organizations of all sizes assess their level of preparedness for a data breach event.
Is Using Twitter or Facebook or MySpace for Job Searching Safe?
CareerAdvice: Many people/job hunters believe using Twitter and Facebook/MySpace will enhance job offers/networkings. From an identity theft perspective – your views?
JMiller: Social Networking can be a powerful tool during a job search. Use of such websites can help enhance your reputation and make the right connections to land your dream job. However, job seekers can inadvertently put themselves at risk if they reveal too much personal information. Take, for example, a singer who uses one of these sites to promote herself. The site helps her land jobs and eventually a contract. But, if she reveals too much personal data, such as date of birth, place of birth and information about her family and background, a fraudster might be able to use that data and her good fortune to open accounts in her name or even steal and cash her royalty checks.
Bottom Line for Protecting Personal Information
Always protect your information by being alert to whomever is receiving the data. Check up on your own credit report. Don't put too much personal information on a website or social internet networking site – leave out the birth date and loads of family information.
Read more from Jeremy Miller of Kroll Fraud Solutions on Identity Theft and Your Career. Don't forget to check out how to Protect Your Future Career from Identity Theft.
