Why I disagree with resume search

My position on resume search always draws some criticism.  Some, primarily agencies and job boards that sell resume database access, feel that resume search is beneficial to the jobseeker.  I disagree.  I would agree - if, and only if, the jobseeker ‘opted in’ and wanted their resume to be found.  In most instances however, that is not the case. 

Most times, a job-seeker’s resume is searchable because that is just how the job board software is designed.  Recruiting Nevada, however, went to great lengths not to include a resume search feature in its’ software.

Why? 

First - We do not feel it is our information to sell. It is the jobseekers.

Second - None of us would not want our information sold to people we do not know.

Third - We do not feel it is ‘healthy’ for a fast growth community such as Nevada, to instigate local level recruiting.  I will explain this below.

For arguments’ sake, there are some cases where resume search is acceptable.  Websites such as TheLadders charge their jobseekers a fee to make their resume searchable to employers.  The key difference here is - the jobseekers agree, and pay, to have their resume found.  Therefore, the jobseeker can write their resume in a fashion to protect private information. 

But my opinion is that resume search, if permitted, should knowingly be controlled by the jobseeker.  It is their private information and they do not want their information accessible to corporate recruiters, third party recruiters, credit card companies or anyone who offers to buy access.  When was the last time you saw a job board advertising that unless you select ‘private’ while establishing your account, your resume will be accessible to the world.  I never have.

The primary reason I disagree with resume search is that the resumes being sold are resumes uploaded by candidates when they applied to other employer jobs.    Again - resumes that I do not feel a job board has an ownership right to.  These resumes are not the property of the job boards.  At best, the resume is the property of the job seeker and the employers that jobseeker applied to.

The sad part is - employer clients trusted the job board to advertise their job and look out for their best interests, not the next highest bidder’s best interest, or a competitor a few weeks later that just buys access.

It is very rare that you will you hear me compliment newspapers.  But back in the day when newspapers understood their purpose - to introduce jobseekers to employers and employers to jobseekers - no one owned the jobseeker data besides the jobseeker. 

If a jobseeker wished to apply for a job with an employer, it was a private matter between the jobseeker and the employer.  The newspaper was only the medium that made an introduction and advertised the means of communication - an address, fax number or e-mail address.  Nothing more.

Now it appears the majority of those in the employment advertising business find more value in owning and selling jobseeker data than they do in making introductions.  Imagine if a television station would air a commercial for Nike, yet require the viewer to register with them to find out how or where to buy a pair of Nike shoes, only to sell that data to Reebok, Converse and Adidas. 

It doesn’t makes sense, does it?