WARNING: Do You Know Where Your Resume Is?

When you press the "send" button and email your resume, or post it on-line, you are no longer in control of who sees your resume, or what will be done with your resume. 

Alan Smith, a successful recruiter I had the good fortune to be affiliated with for more than two decades, wrote an article in 2008 addressing the risks associated with the distribution of your resume.  It's only been three years since he wrote the article, but the subject is becoming more relevant every day.

As the author of a blog (OK, so I use the term "author" rather loosely) I regularly look for subjects that will interest my readership.  Fortunately, since my blog is written once a week there always seems to be enough fodder to write about.

Today, I went into alert status when I read the information below about a service used by employers and recruiters providing them with candidates for open positions:

• "Each time your company shares a resume that’s not already in the JobScore Network, you collect credits to contact a different recommended candidate for free
• Candidates decide whether you can share their resume or not
• By default, resumes are shared when you ignore new applicants for 5 days, you decline them, or they withdraw."

At the time of this writing, this information can be found at the bottom of JobScore's web page: JobScore

I am not singling out JobScore, there are probably similar services; this is the one I happened to come across today.

Per the information above, it appears that candidates may be able to decide whether or not their resume is shared.  Hopefully that is the case, and the candidate's decision is always respected by their users.  Unfortunately, users have motivation to share it regardless - as the user will receive credits to view other resumes. 

This is just one example of the risks associated with sending out your resume, and probably won't negatively impact too many people.

Obviously, if you are looking for a new opportunity you will eventually need to send your resume to an email address, or upload it to an on-line site.

What can you do to minimize your risk?  Here are a few recommendations:

1. Only send your resume to identifiable business email addresses.  RecruiterQ10bc@gmail.com and MedCo666@aol.com should give you pause;
2. Avoid resume distribution services - many of the services distribute  resumes to anyone who requests them.  (You could probably sign-up to receive resumes from some of the services)
3. Don't post your resume with on-line services that put your resume into a database and offer others access to your resume - such as your employer; This would include not posting your resume on your LinkedIn profile - your profile should include enough pertinent information for prospective employers and recruiters to determine interest;
4. When working with recruiters, instruct them to only send your resume to employers, or other recruiters, with your authorization;

Your employment status will impact how controlling or free you are with your resume.  The less urgent your situation, the more controlling you should be with your resume.  You don't want your current employer to be critiquing your resume.

Safe hunting!