Q: I’ve been working at my current job for approximately a year. While things are going OK, I think it’s time I look for better prospects. My current employer has praised me tremendously on my work habits and we’ve always had a good relationship. Recently, however, he found out I had my current resumé posted online and has threatened me with instant firing if I don’t remove it. He thinks that my resumé being online as a current employee makes the company look bad. Is having your resumé posted online while you are employed illegal? And if it’s not why would an employer feel threatened by this?
A: Thanks for writing in. From what I’ve researched it doesn’t appear that having your resumé posted online while at a current job is illegal. It might be questionable as to your loyalty to your current employer, but then again in these competitive times it’s easy to argue that it’s always in our best interest as employees to be aware of profitable opportunities at all times.
Having your resumé online is not grounds for termination. However, it could place you in a difficult working environment, which could lead to convenient issues with your performance — regardless of how good it was before your employer found out your resumé is posted on job sites. You get the picture, right?
Should you decide to keep looking for other employment and want to keep it a secret, you should refrain from placing your current employer on your resumé as a reference. Furthermore, you shouldn’t be sharing your job search with fellow colleagues or searching for new jobs while at your current job. Remember the key must always be to remain professional.
So, why would an employer feel threatened by you having your resumé online? No one wants to find things out — especially things directly impacting their success — by surprise and your employer is no exception. He obviously values your talent and is now being faced with the possibility of losing it.
Jill Andrew — CYW, BA, BA (Hons.), BEd. Please include your full name, address and telephone number when e-mailing. All letters are subject to publication.
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