Job Search Privacy

Resume Database Nightmare: Introduction

Pam Dixon, during the course of researching a separate study of resume databases, has discovered serious consumer privacy issues in resume databases that rise to the level of deserving immediate consumer notice. This report, below, highlights her findings. The report itself is comprised of a consumer notice, which is based primarily on public documents. The report also contains policy recommendations and job seeker tips.

Resume Database Nightmare: "Resume Sale" at HotResumes.com

According to legal documents, HotResumes.com sold 4,941 resumes and/or email addresses to Biotechcareers.com for .33 cents each in a sale that was invoiced on November 30, 2002. This invoice was made public and was published as part of a lawsuit against Mr. Monastra ( Medzilla vs. Optimum Intelligence et al .) [10]. The invoice was noted as a "resume sale" and it was marked as paid. A copy of the invoice is in Appendix A.

Resume Database Nightmare: Biotech and Pharmaceutical Resume Database Privacy Issue

In July, 2002, Dr. Frank Heasley, the owner of Medzilla.com, a biotechnology job site, became aware that Jason Monastra, who was at the time a recruiter and the owner of Optimum Intelligence, was making a large number of resume downloads from the Medzilla resume database. Dr. Heasley quickly discovered that Jason Monastra was also the owner of a new job search site called Biotechcareers.com and had downloaded approximately 2,400 resumes from the Medzilla database within the space of several weeks [14].

Resume Database Nightmare: Recommendations to Job Seekers

In any job search, it is undeniably important to circulate a resume. However, job seekers need to carefully minimize privacy issues related to resumes while still maintaining appropriate exposure to employers. It is important for all job seekers to understand that resume databases vary widely in privacy practices and controls. Learning to choose a quality job search site and resume database with good privacy practices has become an important part of your job search if you plan to use the Internet as a job search tool.

Resume Database Nightmare: Contributors

The Honorable Judge Barbara Rothstein’s docket clerk provided valuable assistance to researchers, as well as a timely copy of the Medzilla, Inc. v Optimum Intelligence LLC, et al Case No. CO2-2122R docket. Claudia B. Farrell of the FTC assisted in identifying documentation for researchers. Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, made significant and helpful contributions to this document.