Why data protection is important – A Recruiters Perspective

Due to the new digital age of computers and phones, using technology is inevitable and so is protecting your data. Protecting your online data has never been so important, especially when applying for a job.

Spending time to take the necessary steps to protect your data is such an important step when doing anything online but is even more so when applying for a job and sending sensitive data such as your home address.

Identity theft is made easier by scammers pretending to be recruitment agencies and stealing your sensitive data with just a few emails. By having access to this data scammers can easily damage your professional reputation, this in turn could hinder your possible job prospects and online presence which is very difficult to repair.

We are always transparent and consistent with our messaging and online presence to ensure we are a trusted source and are providing the best experience possible.

Something else you need to think about is your own online presence; This includes any social media or digital footprint regarding you. You should look into the way an employer would perceive you from what they can gather from the internet. Employers also think about data privacy laws, in the UK this would be the GDPR legislation, this helps to protect a candidates privacy right – We will never share any confidential or sensitive information with any third parties. All of our data and information is used on a ‘need to know’ basis.

When using a recruitment agency, you should be wary of emails and websites matching. If the company address and the recruitment teams emails don’t match, then look more into the business and companies involved. You also should never be asked for a payment by a recruitment agency. This is something we are conscious of at PRS. When contacting our staff, you will notice we are cautious about keeping all staff email domains consistent along with all contact details – these are easily accessed on our website and our social media pages.

To protect your data, you should be using strong passwords that you change regularly and don’t share with anyone. Always be cautious when sharing your personal data and information with anyone.

On any social media you should be reviewing and adjusting any privacy settings as needed to make sure your data stays yours.

When sending any personal documents you could consider encrypting your data e.g. CV’s, photo I.D, Utility bills, bank statements etc. At PRS we always make sure that any software and devices are up to date and have all the latest security programmes.

Lastly stay informed, your data needs protecting, and you need to keep an eye out for the best practises and potential threats.

– Author – Bea, Work Experience.