For the past year or so, it seems as though you can’t go anywhere without hearing about privacy policies and data protection legislation. If you’ve checked your inbox lately, you may be sick of getting information about it. But it’s important.
That’s because, on May 25th, GDPR officially came into force in the UK and across the EU. The General Data Protection Regulations have completely changed the way businesses across the globe are allowed to handle people’s personal data; but what does that mean for you as a candidate?
Here is b3’s helpful guide to everything you need to know about GDPR and your job search.
What do I need to do?
The first thing to note about GDPR is that the regulations apply to companies rather than individual people. That means you as a jobhunter won’t need to make any changes to the things you’re already doing. GDPR will, however, impact on those companies who do business with you and connect with you.
Named in the GDPR as data processors and data controllers, those companies who handle any of your personal information must follow strict guidelines. This could be anyone from your bank or building society, your favourite online store, or your chosen recruitment agency.
If a business holds data on you, they’re legally required to comply with the new data protection laws.
How will GDPR affect me?
The main reason GDPR was brought in was to protect people’s individual rights. So, if a company has your personal information on file, GDPR acknowledges that you should rightly be given a say in what they do with it.
GDPR hopes to empower consumers by putting emphasis on this consent. Under the new laws, companies will need to have your explicit permission before they can process your data in any way.
This goes to enforce your Individual Rights under the GDPR. When it comes to your personal data, you now have:
- The right of access – At any point, you can ask to see all of the information a company holds about you;
- The right to be informed – You also have the right to know what a business is doing with your data;
- The right to erasure – Whenever you wish, you can ask to have all of your data deleted from a company’s system, and they are required to do so;
- The right to rectification – You can contact businesses who hold information on you and ask for the data to be changed or updated as you wish;
- The right to restrict processing – You even have the right to say what a business can and cannot do with your data, including restricting certain types of processing;
- The right to data portability – If you’re planning on changing providers for a service, you can choose to move, copy and transfer your data from one company to another;
- The right to object – And, of course, you can ask for your data not to be processed at all.
GDPR gives you total control over how your personal information is processed. As our candidate, that means you can ask us to change, erase or restrict your data and its processing at any time.
So, whilst GDPR won’t have any major impact on what you do, it will have a huge effect on how businesses and recruiters are able to deal with your data.
GDPR and your recruitment specialists
To do what we do, recruiters have to learn everything we can about a candidate in order to find them a position that will best suit their skills and needs.
In the past, agencies may have been able to do this by scouring job boards online to gather as much candidate data as they could to fill their database. Some less reputable recruiters have even been known to post fake job listings in order to collect large amounts of applicant information quickly, or send CVs to companies without asking the candidate first.
But, with GDPR in play, these practices are no longer viable or legal. The good thing is this will actually go to raise the bar in the recruitment industry overall – with recruiters putting your consent at the forefront of everything they do.
From now on, recruitment agencies will need to have a legitimate job-related reason to process your data, have your explicit consent before they do so, and be completely transparent about everything they do with your personal information.
GDPR and b3 jobs
At b3 jobs, we always make your data privacy and security our top priority. We’ll only ever use your personal information to help manage your profile and find you your perfect job.
Part of that promise means we will only ever ask you for the data we really need, which could include:
- Your name
- Your contact details
- Your CV
- Salary information, job search preferences, and your notice period for your current role
- Any other information relating to your job search that you tell us, such as reason for looking for a new job and your right to work in the UK.
To see our complete privacy policy here at b3, please click here. To find out more about what we do, you’re looking for a job, or if you wish to make a request about your personal data, call b3 Jobs today on 01435 866000.