Applying to jobs is already a stressful process, without having to think about protecting your identity in the process. Still, a lot of jobs ask for confidential and personal information that you wouldn’t want ending up in the wrong hands. Here are some tips to help you protect your identity while you’re filling out job applications online.

Limit The Information You Share

You shouldn’t share information like your Social Security or Driver’s License number in a job application. You may have to give a future employer this information, but only after you’ve interviewed with the company and accepted the job. Most applications should not request this information, but if an application does, find out if you really need to provide this information before you just write it in. Never include confidential information on your résumé, which will be accessible to a number of employers and could fall into the hands of a scammer.

Recognize and Avoid Scams

Some jobs listed on online message boards are just too good to be true. Be wary of job listings written in poor English, recruitment emails sent from a non-company domain, applications that request a lot of confidential information, and job listings that offer high pay for limited work. Always do your research before applying to a job in order to ensure that you are not giving up personal information to a scammer.

Use Privacy Settings

When making accounts on job search websites, be sure to use unique usernames and passwords that are different than what you use for financial accounts or social media. Once logged in be sure to check your privacy settings so you know what information the website will be sharing with employers. Most job search websites will allow you to limit the information they will share with employers. Scammers often scan job search websites for personal information they can use to steal identities. So, be sure your privacy settings are keeping confidential information, including your address, private.

Trust Yourself

When you’re searching for a job, you may be inclined to post your résumé and send your information to as many employers as possible. Don’t. Always read job postings thoroughly and trust your gut. If a listing seems like a scam, don’t apply. Avoid open Wi-Fi networks when applying to jobs because you don’t want any personal information falling into the wrong hands. Finally, you will often be applying for jobs from mobile devices, so protect your mobile security by storing confidential information in .