You are expected to submit a lot of personal data when making job applications, how do you protect yourself against the treat of a fake position set up for the purpose of data harvesting?
Do you use a “nice” business SIM number and professional email alias (name@lastname.com) on your CV? Do you assume your data will be passed on and use a “spam” number and a semi-disposable email?
Those internal job application portals were some of the most difficult digital profiles to scrub. Can’t delete an account, often can’t edit profile info, and nobody will ever respond to your emails to HR/IT - you aren’t a ‘customer’
Use an email alias at the very least, avoid an identifiable phone number if possible. Fake name might be a more difficult one to explain if they take you seriously as a candidate, depending on your social shamelessness
I was advised to apply on a specific company’s careers page rather than LinkedIn or Indeed. That way, you don’t need to send your personal data to hundred of untrusted entities.
avoid an identifiable phone number if possible.
Would that entail maintaining plus one phone number long term for potential future outreach? For example, could decouple a business SIM (for established relationships) from a spammy SIM with a number that’s out there in the aether. Or treat it as a temporary/disposable one?
This is going to be a threat model-based, case-by-case scenario.
Yeah, whatever phone number you list will need to be maintained, in case they reach out. And it isn’t an anonymous number, since it’ll be linked to other PII. But assuming you apply for multiple jobs, each with their own application portal, there’s a benefit in segmenting the PII you surrender from the rest of your digital identity
Me personally, Id probably say one phone number dedicated for your job applications, maintained until you get a role, shredded afterwards, strikes a good balance between privacy & maintainability
Unless you find yourself applying for hundreds of roles - hyperbole to an extent, but not especially uncommon in 2026
And I have no idea what data sharing policies any one of those private companies entertains on their careers portal. One private company app could share your data with their recruiters, who then broadcasts it to their network…
It reduces the risk of those fake job positions, right?
Agree with this 100%. I use a professional job application alias email that I fully delete once I no longer need it.
HR will very often be lazy about taking contact info from your application and applying that to your file, so when you’re hired, make sure you explain to them during onboarding that you need them to use another email and phone number you keep running. Through no fault of our own, projects can end or you can get laid off that day, and if you then have to spend a month retconning your contact info with an overwhelmed HR, it will add frustration to an already bad time.
I personally have never had any recruiter call before they email me first, so I just enter a fake number when I fill out the application. If they reach out and want to schedule a phone call screening, then I’ll provide my actual number.