Looking for work? 5 ways to stay safe when job hunting online

Online job hunting is convenient, but it also carries risks that every applicant should be aware of. In a landscape where "too good to be true" offers often lead to fraudulent schemes, protecting your personal data and financial security is as important as finding the right role. 

We spoke with Elizha Corpus, an HR Consultant specializing in Learning & Development, to identify the red flags of online scams and how the Philippine Data Privacy Act protects you during your search. 

1.  Share personal information through safe platforms like SEEK Pass, not your resumé

If you need to share personal information during a job search, use secure platforms like SEEK Pass to ensure your private data is protected. For most applications, it is not necessary to share sensitive documents in your resume or via email. 

SEEK Pass offers a safer way to share proof of your credentials without giving access to the original documents. You can verify your identity, qualifications, and work rights directly within your profile, then share the verified results. This gives employers confidence while keeping your sensitive documents private. 

The Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173) is your shield. It requires organizations to inform you what data they are collecting and why. 

• Your Rights as an Applicant: 
• Right to be Informed: You should know how your data is being processed. 
• Right to Access and Correct: You can request to see or update the data a company holds about you. 
• Data Breach Notification: If a company suffers a breach, they are legally required to notify both you and the National Privacy Commission (NPC). 

Corpus advice, before an offer, you should only provide your resumé and basic contact details. “Highly sensitive information like your TIN, SSS, Pag-IBIG numbers, or a scanned NBI Clearance should only be collected after a conditional offer has been made.” 

If a recruiter asks for these early on, ask them how the data will be secured and why it's needed so soon. 

To use SEEK Pass, log in to your Jobstreet profile, navigate to the verification section, and follow the prompts to verify your identity, qualifications and credentials. You only need to complete this process once, and use it across all current and future job applications. 

2.  Verify email addresses and links 

Always be cautious of the email addresses and links sent by recruiters. If something seems "off" with the grammar or formatting of an email address, treat it as a red flag. There is a significant difference between an official corporate email and a generic '@gmail.com' or a misspelled domain. 

If you are in doubt, give the company a call on their public access number. Ask to speak with the person emailing you to independently verify that the communication is legitimate. This simple step confirms the authenticity of both the sender and the link. 

3. Look at whether the job comes from a reliable source

The platform where a job is posted is a clear indicator of its trustworthiness. While social media is popular, be wary of jobs posted only on those platforms. 

Established portals like JobStreet reduce risk because listings are traceable. This is especially true for roles that sound "too good to be true," such as data entry jobs promising unusually high pay for just a few hours of work. Legitimate companies usually have public profiles and a verifiable digital footprint. 

4. If you're feeling worried, listen to your gut

If you feel concerned about a request for information, Corpus advises asking yourself two questions: 

• "Do they need to know this to progress my application?" They might need contact details for an initial application, but they don't need highly sensitive data like your TIN, SSS, or NBI Clearance until you are at the onboarding stage. 
• "Could I provide this information in a safer way?" Services like SEEK Pass are specifically designed to help you securely prove your work rights or licenses to employers without exposing your original IDs. 

5.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions 

Under the Philippine Data Privacy Act (RA 10173), you have the right to be informed about how your data is used. Whether you have cause for concern or just want to be thorough, it is within your rights to ask the recruiter why they need certain information and how it will be secured. 

"A legitimate company should be able to explain their data protection practices," Ms. Corpus advises. "Raising these questions shows the employer that you are diligent and sensible 

For more tips on staying secure, you can visit the National Privacy Commission website or use the reporting features on the JobStreet app to flag suspicious listings.