Job seeking involves distributing personal data about yourself to others, and because of this, it is important that you stay safe and aware when job seeking. Online scams are out there and job seekers can become a target for those looking to make a quick profit.
You will not need to give out the following personal details when job seeking/applying for a job:
1. National Insurance Number and Bank Details.
Never distribute your National Insurance number or any bank details via email or any other means when job seeking or applying for a job. Only when you have been offered a job and you are beginning that new role should you present HR with the appropriate details to enter the payroll system.
Some websites may legitimately charge you for a job seeking service that is offered. If you are using a premium jobs website such as The Ladders, or you are using a CV writing service, they may well have a charging structure in place. Before making payment ensure that you understand how much you will be charged and what you will receive for this payment.
2. Date of Birth and/or a Photograph.
You should not provide a photograph or your date of birth when job seeking and this information should not appear on your CV or application. It is illegal for an employer to discriminate based on age, and it is not a legal requirement for an employer to know your age before an interview.
It is advisable to avoid putting a photograph on your CV as this may give the employer some preconceived notions about you which may or may not be favourable. A photograph is not a required element of a UK job application.
3. Passport Number or a Photocopy of your Passport.
At an interview, the HR department may ask you to bring in your Passport so that they can photocopy the relevant information. This is often used to prove that you are able to live and work in the UK. You should never give this information out before you have met someone, never whilst job seeking and never by email.
This information should also never appear on your CV; if it gets into the wrong hands, then you could become a victim of identity fraud.
Other things to remember:
1. When going to an interview, especially in another town or somewhere unfamiliar, ensure that someone knows where you have gone and if possible get someone to go with you.
2. Be cautious about job offers from companies you are not familiar with, i.e. a job offer in an email when you do not think you have applied for the job. There are a lot of email scams which encourage you to hand over bank details with the promise of a job offer.
3. Make a note of all jobs you have applied for and their contact details, including the agency that they were advertised through. This will make it easier to be aware of real jobs compared with spam emails.
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