Removing Your Resume From The Internet: A Guide

Have you ever applied for a job and noticed that your resume is already available online, even though you never posted it there? This can happen because of several reasons, such as data breaches, resume-sharing websites, or recruitment agencies. While having your resume online can increase your visibility to potential employers, it can also expose your personal information to cybercriminals and scammers. In this guide, we’ll show you how to remove your resume from the internet and protect your privacy.

Why Should You Remove Your Resume from the Internet?

Here are some reasons why you might want to remove your resume from the internet:

• Your personal information, such as your name, address, phone number, and email, can be accessed by anyone.
• Your resume can be used by identity thieves to create fake identities or commit fraud.
• Your resume can be used by scammers to send phishing emails, spam, or malware.
• Your resume can be used by your current employer or colleagues to find out that you’re looking for a new job.
• Your resume can be used by your potential employer to discriminate against you based on your race, gender, age, religion, or other protected characteristics.

How to Remove Your Resume from the Internet

Step 1: Google Yourself

The first step to removing your resume from the internet is to know where it is. Go to Google and search for your name in quotes, followed by “resume” or “CV”. This will show you all the websites that have your resume. Make a list of these websites.

Step 2: Contact the Website Owners

The next step is to contact the website owners and request them to remove your resume. Look for a “Contact Us” or “Privacy Policy” page on each website and find the email address or phone number of the website owner or administrator. Send them a polite email or call them and explain that you want your resume to be removed from their website. Provide them with the URL of your resume and any other relevant information they might need to identify you. Be patient and persistent, as some website owners might take some time to respond or comply.

Step 3: Use Google’s Removal Tool

If some websites refuse to remove your resume, you can use Google’s removal tool to remove the URLs from Google’s search results. Go to Google’s removal tool and submit the URLs that contain your resume. Google will review your request and remove the URLs from its search results. Note that this will not remove your resume from the actual websites, but only from Google’s search results.

Step 4: Monitor Your Online Presence

Even after you’ve removed your resume from the internet, it’s important to monitor your online presence regularly. Set up Google Alerts for your name and other personal information, such as your email and phone number. This will notify you whenever your information appears online. If you notice any new websites that have your resume, repeat the above steps to remove it.

FAQs

Q: Can I sue a website that refuses to remove my resume?

A: It depends on the website’s terms of service and privacy policy. Some websites might have a clause that allows them to use your resume for their own purposes, such as promoting their services or analyzing their user demographics. If you agreed to these terms when you uploaded your resume, you might not have a legal case. However, if the website is using your resume without your consent or violating any laws, such as the GDPR or the CCPA, you might have a legal case. Consult a lawyer for more information.

Q: Can I use a pseudonym or a fake name on my resume?

A: It’s not recommended, as it can raise suspicion among potential employers and damage your credibility. Most employers require you to provide your legal name and verify your identity before hiring you. Moreover, using a pseudonym or a fake name can backfire if your employer finds out and accuses you of lying or misrepresenting yourself.

Q: Can I use a resume-writing service to remove my resume from the internet?

A: It depends on the resume-writing service and their policies. Some resume-writing services might offer a “resume removal” service as part of their package, while others might not. Moreover, using a resume-writing service can expose your personal information to a third party, which can pose a security risk. Make sure to read the service’s terms of service and privacy policy before using it.

Q: Can I prevent my resume from appearing online in the first place?

A: Yes, you can. Here are some tips:

• Don’t post your resume on public websites, such as job boards or social media.
• Use a private email address and phone number on your resume.
• Use a unique and strong password for each website you upload your resume to.
• Use a VPN or a proxy server to hide your IP address.
• Use a watermark or a disclaimer on your resume to discourage unauthorized use.