Confidential Resume
I include the expression “your resume will be kept in confidence” on my web site and try to remember to put it on all of my job postings.
Honestly, I think it should go without saying when you are working with a professional recruiter or a professional human resources person at a company, that we will protect your job search anonymity.
But just in case, I thought I would outline my version of the definition of keeping your resume in confidence.
What it means to me is that I will never, under any circumstances, submit your resume to any of my clients for any position, open or not, without your permission to do so.
Recruiting is a very competitive industry. The recruiter who gets your resume in first for any open role is the one who gets awarded the fee should you get hired. I know there are some recruiters who will send your resume out to any and all companies for any and all positions they think you may be a fit for, and not ask you first. I understand why they do it, but I believe that it is unethical and I refuse to do it.
Do I miss getting a fee because while I was trying to reach a candidate on the phone, some other recruiter submitted your resume without asking? Yes. It happens to me occasionally. However, the level of trust and respect I have with my candidates means in many instances I’m the only recruiter who has a copy of your resume and I take that responsibility very seriously.
Make sure you are working with a recruiter you are comfortable working with and can trust to keep your resume confidential.