While the advent of online job banks that allow applicants to upload resumes has many positive outcomes, an important safety issue to consider is the security of your personal information. Unfortunately, we live in an age where identity theft exists. Con artists have successfully stolen the identities of unsuspecting job applicants by pretending to be recruiters on online job banks. A thief hoping to steal your identity can learn a lot about you from your resume or online job application, so knowing how to safeguard your identity is vital.

One way to protect yourself when uploading a resume is to never include your social security number, birth date or age, driver's license number, marital status, height or weight, or any other information that is unrelated to the position for which you are applying. Some personal information, (such as your SSN), may be required in order to conduct background or credit checks. However, the employer usually won't need this data until either very late in the hiring process or after you have already been hired, at which point, you will hopefully be more confident in the legitimacy of the organization.

While the primary goal of most identity thieves is to steal your financial information, some con artists are interested in stealing credentials. A thief may assume your academic and employment history in order to apply for jobs for which they are not qualified or in order to start an entirely new life.

The bottom line is BE CAUTIOUS when uploading your resume or job application online. Research potential employers or recruiting firms carefully before sharing your personal information with them. While many job banks provide safety features on their sites and screen employers to ensure legitimacy, the onus is on you to ensure your identity is kept safe and secure.