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By thecheckpeople_admin
Published 12:49 pm

How To Stay Safe When Applying For A Job

Staying safe at work is something you expect. There are routines and procedures in place to ensure you are protected whether you work in an office, a school, or a construction site. However, before you start anywhere, you need to know how to stay safe when applying for a job.

How To Apply For A Job

Job searches used to involve visiting businesses with your CV and handing them to the manager or even responding to adverts in the newspaper. However, the application process has changed, and now nearly every job demands you apply online.

This process involves filling in contact details and uploading your CV, and while employers need this personal information, it is still vital to stay safe.

Apply For A Job

Use Trusted Resources

You must only use legal job sites and resources such as Indeed or even the LinkedIn job board, while the company’s own website is one you can trust, also. By doing this, you can ensure the jobs are legitimate, although if you feel something is not right, then do not go through with the application.

Be Careful Uploading Your CV

All job applications will ask you to upload your CV during the job search process, and without the CV, how are they expected to consider you for a position? However, before uploading your CV it’s crucial that you read the job site’s Privacy Policy to understand what they intend to do with CV and whether they will share it with a third party.

Be Wary With Your Personal Data

We are so used to platforms asking about our personal data that we no longer see it as strange. However, when looking for jobs, there are certain pieces of information a company does not need. This can include your date of birth, gender, and your mother’s maiden name. There is also the potential for hackers to steal your information, and so it’s especially important not to share social media handles.

Employers will still need your phone number and email address to get in touch with you, but if the applicant asks for any details that seem unusual, you’re best off doing more digging to check their legitimacy.

Keep A Record of Where You Apply

You should keep track of the jobs you have applied to regardless, but this also helps you know where each phone call or response is coming from. You don’t want to keep your CV on these websites forever, so knowing which websites you have used will allow you to remove them once you get a job.

When you are desperate for a job, you will apply to as many places as possible, but you won’t remember every place you send an application. By keeping track of the companies you applied to, you will know whether a response is legitimate or if it has come from a third party.

Stay Vigilant for Scams

Scams are everywhere on the internet, and they are especially prevalent on job boards, where they prey on vulnerable and desperate people. Typically, they find your CV and email you a job offer that you cannot refuse. However, if it seems too good to be true, then it likely is.

Typically, the email will claim they received your details from a recruitment agency and you seem like the perfect fit. The language is often very positive and friendly, which is not something you usually find from an interview offer. To prevent this happening again, you can try to track which job board the email came from and remove your information.

Make Use of SAFERJobs

SAFERJobs is a service created by the Metropolitan Police that helps to raise awareness about the dangers that can exist on job boards and for those searching for jobs. It is supported by Gov.uk and it strives to identify fake job boards and similarly illegal websites.

Apply For A Job

Apply for a DBS Check

When applying for jobs, you can start the process for a Basic DBS check, with high level DBS checks coming when you are offered the job. Obtaining a DBS certificate before starting work gives you something to present to the employer and helps them and you feel comfortable in your new job.

What is a DBS check?

An online DBS check is a process that determines the criminal history of an applicant. There are 3 levels of DBS check: Basic, Standard and Enhanced. These checks help create a safer working environment for employees and anyone who needs safeguarding.

Stay Safe

No job is worth your life, so make sure you follow this advice when searching for jobs and be vigilant. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is, so approach any available position with caution.

If you need more information for everything about DBS checks, make sure to browse The Check People Blog to answer any additional questions you might have.

Sources:

  1. Safer Jobs – SAFERJobs