Job Discussion Forums

[carrielynn22]

I recently applied to an ad for teaching positions in Thailand with World Wide Teachers International. I believe the recruiting company to be a scam, but am not certain. I emailed my resume only, but it contained my passport # and DOB. I am worried about identity theft. Should I be? What actions, besides deleting this information from my resume, should I take? Thanks for the help!

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

i've never put my passport number or birthdate on my resume, i wouldnt do it back home and i dont do it anywhere else. but if you want to get a job in another country, the employer will eventually need your passport number and birthdate. otherwise you wont be getting the job.

[Elkythedogsperson]

For jobs in Southeast Asia, I have become used to putting my birthdate, maritial status, height and weight on resume. I also use a passport type headshot photo. Those things are never done in the USA where I am from, but it seems to be the norm here.

I would not put passport number, maybe just expiration date mentioned in cover letter.. If hired, then send a black and white scan of info page from passport as they will need if they are setting up your visa.

Yes, delete the passport number from your resume. Until you know they need it, there's no reason to give it out.

[carrielynn22]

OK. Thanks guys. When I first started teaching abroad my TEFL Instructor said to include your passport # on your resume, I guess so employers knew you already had one? Anyway, I've come to believe that info to be unwise. I wish I wouldn't have included it.

[naturegirl321]

I have
DOB, but not age
Civil status
Number of kids
Address
Phone
Email
Visa Status
Number of years experience
Qualifications
Photo

That's just at the top of my CV

DOn't think you need to put your passport number on your CV itself, but you will have to give it to your employer later on so that they will be able to get you your visa.

I really don't think ID theft is that common abroad than in the US. Here in Peru, for example, we have to put our name, fingerprint, and ID number on just about everything.

As for having a passport, I hope that if you're going to teach abroad you will have one, and it will be valid for at least six months and have a couple of extra pages in it.

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

in my opinion, putting too much non-job/education related info on the resume risks excluding you from a lot of potential jobs (there's plenty of discrimination out there). keep it simple, at least until you get an interview or you have a chance to meet the employer face to face, at which time you can reveal more.

the initial resume i send to employers contains my name, phone number, email address at the top, and at the bottom they can see some of my personal interests (hobbies/special skills) outside of work. everything else on that resume is work experience and education. once i get some interest from someone, then they can see my photo, talk to me or meet with me, find out how old i am, whether or not i'm married etc.

its worked for me so far.

[Hod]

Who knows why they want your passport number, but there�s nothing wrong with recruiters asking your age. Loads of jobs are suited to certain age groups or unsuited to others. What about countries like Morocco or Malaysia with age visa requirements? No recruiter is going to waste time only to later find out a candidate is too young/old for a visa when it�s easier to bin the CV. And what�s with the PC nonsense that people in the USA rarely write their age on a CV. It doesn�t take Pythagoras�s dad to look at how many years you worked to hazard a guess at your age. If age discrimination exists, it will still exist whatever�s not written on your CV.

[Elkythedogsperson]

Hod--

Has to do with age/race/sex/disability hiring discrimination laws in USA. i worked for a company that if it received any resumes with that info, they would automatically return it to the sender.

Just info not put on a USA resume. Totally different being abroad.

[Hod]

[carrielynn22]

I understand the need to eventually provide this information, thanks.
My question is, how much information do scammers need to become a security threat? Do I have reason to be concerned about identity theft if the only info they have is my passport # and DOB?

[naturegirl321]

[LinguRing]

Always would put my age on my resume, it gives some reference for when things were done (graduation, working periods etc.) but can't see any reason to put your passport number. Have only ever given out my passport detail after meeting with employers.

[GambateBingBangBOOM]

Resumes are culturally bound. Every country (and in fact many different work environments within an individual culture) have different requirements. It would be better for you to repost this in the Thailand board, if you haven't already.

Date of birth and marital status are important in many cultures. Your passport number is not. However, if they hired you, they would have to ask for a copy of your picture page from your passport to process a visa. That has your passport number on it (obviously). At this point you are at exactly the same risk that you are at now. So, basically, you HAVE to trust people. Do you have any other reason to suspect them of being a scam? If they are asking for your passport number already, it could just be that they check up on you before actually offering a job.

[fladude]

I leave my DOB off my resume. I use the same resume for employers inside the USA. Some recruiters in the US will see a DOB as a red flag, since it is essentially illegal for US schools to base a hiring decision on age.

[MrMrLuckyKhan]