How I use a Password Manager for My Job Search
If you're like me, job hunting in 2024 can feel like a
marathon, with hundreds of applications and countless logins to track. But I
quickly discovered that a password manager like Dashlane could be a game-changer,
not just for staying organized but also for protecting my personal information.
During the first half of 2024 I applied for nearly 700 jobs.
I did not expect Dashlane to be so critical during the search process. Dashlane
can be added to most browsers as an extension. Do not take the shortcut of
using the same credentials at every site. This is a simple step to protect
yourself and speed up your job search.
Here are my key takeaways:
Dashlane, or your preferred password manager, will help organize
your logins across multiple sites. Many companies do not mark or differentiate
their Applicant Tracking System URLs – they simply show up as Workday or ICIMS.
Image the search results if all these items were not set up with company names.
Dashlane allows you to edit the Item Name to clearly identify the company name. This quickly allows you to pick the correct login when you return to a site with a “generic” URL for Workday, or ICIMS, etc.
The Dashlane Generator function will have
your Cybersecurity friends smiling.
Dashlane can create a unique password for every site,
customized for length and complexity, all stored securely in the cloud. Hackers
may argue that the password “E9H83R6?f@hj” is not un-hackable. If you have
concerns, bump the length up to as many as 40 characters.
Here are the steps to follow:
a.
When
applying for a role, when you are asked to Create an Account, add your
preferred email address
b.
Let
Dashlane generate a secure password
c.
Submit
your account creation request
d.
On
the Dashlane extension, Click to Save the new password, and don’t forget to click
EDIT to change the Item Name.
Once you add a password manager to your job search workflow
you will be more secure, you will save time when revisiting sites (Dashlane
will prompt you to select a password to login), and when you get the email that
“XYZ-Co” was hacked, or that the posting for a “package relay position… in your
area” was bogus, you can remain calm.
Good Luck with your job search.
