Take, for instance, people who have fallen for fake job postings. The hoax, which job boards such as Monster.com and HotJobs.com warned its members about earlier this year, involves scammers who post make-believe jobs in order to get job seekers talking to them.

One thing leads to another and, wanting to cooperate with the so-called employer, people turn over all kinds of personal information. Social Security numbers. Banking and credit card information. Birth dates.

This can create all sorts of problems. Theft identity for one. So don't do it.

Some experts say it's OK to give out credit information and W-2 forms once you're further down the road with a legitimate employer. But, I say, why would you? Stop and think about this. Why would employers need any of that information if they are interviewing you for a potential position?

And, I wish I didn't have to say this, but personal information such as your birth date should not be on your resume either. I've seen it dozens of times.

When it comes to what companies can find out, they can check your financial status and credit standing. But this should only be done when there's a clear business necessity.

I understand that you want to cooperate, be seen as helpful--and if you're feeling desperate--are anxious to find your next position. That's all the more reason to be vigilant about offers that sound too good to be true and people who are up to no good.

Before you respond to an ad or schedule another interview, make sure you understand what's supposed to go on in the initial phases of an interview.

In the beginning, the company's goal is to find out if you'd be successful at their company and in a particular job. They're trying to decide whether to either invite you in for an interview in the first place or if you get a second meeting.

So they should be asking about your skills, education and experience. Likewise, you should stick with sharing information that's relevant to your experience, qualifications and education.

If you get a second interview, you'll be scrutinized more closely. Your interviewer is trying to decide if you have the technical skills and knowledge to do the job and how well you'd get along at the company. They're snooping around for evidence of your attitudes and how you think.

So you'd share more detail and examples of the type of work you've done and how it's made a difference at previous companies. You can also ask questions about the position.

At this point, you might be getting pretty cozy with the employer. But your conversations should still focus on the job and your qualifications. That's it. No talk of birthdays, birth place, how many children you have, native tongue, marital status, religion or how much you weigh. Most employers don't have a scam up their sleeve, but this information is still not appropriate to share.

That's what should be taking place in an interview. So if you ever hear a question that seems off or you're not sure whether to answer it, ask yourself: Does it have anything to do with whether I'm qualified for the job? If not, you can say, "Why do you ask?" Better to be safe than sorry.

© by Andrea Kay