JOB SEARCH GUIDE
Keep control of a confidential job search
If you are exploring a move while still employed, decide what to share, who should receive it and when. Privacy settings help you control access, but no platform can promise complete secrecy once information has been shared.
Decide how visible you want to be
Before creating or updating a profile, read the visibility options. A public profile, a profile discoverable by signed-in recruiters and a profile shared only with selected connections are different things. Do not assume that hiding your contact details also hides your employment history.
During TAP Jobseeker profile setup you can choose whether signed-in agencies can discover your basic profile, need approval before saving it, or cannot find you until you select them. Contact details and your CV require separate permission. Review the wording shown in your account before confirming your choices.
Separate your search from your current workplace
Use contact details that you control and can continue accessing if you change jobs. Check which email address appears on your CV and where interview invitations will arrive. Arrange conversations at a time and place where you can speak privately.
Think about the clues in the material you share. A project name, client list or unusually detailed employer description can identify you even if a name is removed. Leave out confidential business information and only include achievements you are entitled to discuss.
Tell the recruiter your boundaries before an introduction
Explain that your search is confidential and agree who may receive your details. Ask the recruiter to discuss an opportunity with you before sending a CV or introducing you. If an employer or related business must be excluded, explain that clearly and check whether the recruiter can accommodate it.
I'm exploring opportunities confidentially. Please discuss the employer and role with me before sharing my CV or contact details, and obtain my permission for each introduction. My current employer is not aware of my search.
This is a conversation starter, not a guarantee that a third party will follow it. Choose recruiters carefully and keep your own record of the permissions you have given.
Check your CV and references
- Use your preferred personal contact details.
- Remove information that is not needed for an initial assessment.
- Ask before listing someone as a referee, and agree when they may be contacted.
- Check document links and sharing permissions before sending them.
- Keep a record of each employer or agency that receives a copy.
Understand what changing visibility can and cannot do
You can review your profile and recruiter connections as your situation changes. Restricting future access does not recall a document that someone has already lawfully downloaded. For questions about information retained by a recruiter or employer, contact that organisation directly.
Applying for a job is also a separate sharing decision. Some vacancies accept applications on TAP; others send you to the advertiser's website. Read the application instructions and privacy information for the destination before submitting.
A simple routine for staying in control
- Check your profile visibility and contact details before approaching recruiters.
- Ask about the specific employer and vacancy before approving an introduction.
- Record the recipient, purpose and date of each submission.
- Update or withdraw permissions as your search changes, and confirm important requests with the recipient.
- Review your settings again when you accept a role or pause your search.
Start with TAP's profile sharing guide, explore recruiter profiles, or learn how to approach agencies. You choose the next step in your search.