With everything in life, there is always a positive and a negative. I’m usually a glass half full person, lately I’ve been having this conversation more frequently and there have been some changes across major job boards, so it felt like the right time to put it into an article.

What you see:

It’s a Monday after work and you’re over it. You jump on a job board, scroll through accounting roles and something catches your eye.

You apply, upload your CV, add a cover letter, tick a few boxes to accept the terms and move on. But what you see is only half the story.

The reality behind job boards:

As an example, most job boards often have add on services that employers and recruiters can access for a licensing fee. So in case you didn’t know, there is another side of Seek that employers can pay money to access which is called “Seek Talent”.

With one click of a button, anyone can download your resume which contains your contact details, where you work, referee details, and whether you are actively seeking a new job opportunity. This is where job board settings become really important.

You then receive an email as an example from Seek saying something along the lines of, Tash from Tyler Wren has downloaded your resume and they will get in contact with you.

However, someone can download your resume and with out your permission, send your profile to multiple firms, then call you saying they have secured you an interview.

What’s the issue?

• Your current employer can potentially see that you are open to work
• Your resume can be downloaded and sent to places without your permission
• You may not be aware of applications made on your behalf, which risks multiple applications to the same employer and can affect your personal brand
• You could be put forward to the same employer more than once, which also impacts your personal brand

Like most people, you probably overlooked the privacy settings and agreed to go with the recommended option, which is ‘Public’, without realising how public it actually is.

So what can you do about it?

Change your settings!!!

The example below is for Seek, but most job boards operate in the same way:

• Click on your name in the top right hand corner
• Then click settings
• Click notifications on the right
• Scroll down to “Hear from employers” and select Manage Profile

There are now Four Settings:

1. Public (which is what most job boards recommend)

Anyone can see your name, job title, where you work, how long you have been there, location, salary expectations, and the last time you updated your profile. We can send you job opportunities, send you a message and access your profile as well as your CV.

They do not need to be an employer or recruiter to access your details.

2. Standard

Employers and recruiters can see your name, job title, where you work, how long you have been there, location, salary expectations, and the last time you updated your profile. We can send you job opportunities, send you a message and access your Seek profile as well as your CV.

3. Limited (this is what I would recommend)

Employers and recruiters can see your name, job title, where you work, how long you have been there, location, salary expectations, and the last time you updated your profile. We can send you job opportunities and send you a message.

Access to your CV is more restricted and typically requires further engagement with you before it is shared.

4. Hidden

Your profile is not visible in employer searches. Employers can only access your information when you apply directly for their roles.

You stay in full control of where your CV goes and who sees it.

Not all Recruiters work the same way:

Whenever Tyler Wren downloads a resume, we will always speak to the candidate first. This ensures we understand their current situation, what they’re open to and meet before disclosing any of our client’s names.

We will then meet in person to discuss a shortlist of options that match what you’re looking for.

However, not every recruiter works in the same way. Unfortunately, recruiters don’t have a CAANZ or CPA equivalent in our industry to hold them accountable, and I have heard of some interesting tactics in the market as of late, so I wanted to draw attention to this.

The Takeaway:

If you’re using job boards, don’t just focus on the roles. Focus on your job board settings.

Because a small change can give you a lot more control over your job search, and how you’re represented in the market.

If you would rather:

Skip applying for roles on job boards yourself

Save yourself some time and stress

Have a more tailored approach to considering accounting jobs in the market

Be given way more information about a job than just the job advert

Then get in touch with me for a confidential conversation.

About Me

I am a Specialist Recruiter within the CA space which means I help Chartered Accountants / Certified Public Accountants and those studying toward their CA or CPA qualification.

Within Public Practice firms and Accounting firms, my roles/accounting jobs are within Business Advisory Services (BAS), External Audit, Tax, Corporate Finance, Risk Advisory and Insolvency.

Within the Commercial space, my clients span across a variety of industries from Listed Corporates to Small to Medium Enterprises.

Here at Tyler Wren, we know good people know good people. We offer a referral bonus if you refer someone to Tyler Wren, with whom we secure a new role. Click here to find out more and to refer a friend.

Find out more about Tyler Wren’s

• NZ Public Practice Recruitment here
• Australia Public Practice Recruitment here
• Our Salary & Benefits Guide which was released in August 2025 here

Read some of our most recent Accounting articles here:

• Why Being Honest with Recruiters Can Supercharge Your Career
• 10 Lessons from a Decade in Accounting & Finance Recruitment
• How to Set Career Goals for the New Year
• When Gut Feeling Gets in the Way: What I’m Learning About Emotional Coherence, the Halo Effect and Confirmation Bias
• Hybrid Working in New Zealand: The Good, the Bad and the Workable
• What Accountants Really Want in 2026, Insights from a Year of Conversations

#TylerWrenAccounting #TylerWrenPublicPractice #TylerWren  #TylerWrenCareers

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Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What are job board privacy settings?

Job board privacy settings control how visible your profile, CV and personal information are to employers and recruiters when you apply for jobs or appear in searches.

2. Can employers and recruiters see my CV on job boards?

Yes, depending on your settings, employers and recruiters may be able to view and download your CV from job board databases even if you have not directly applied for their role.

3. What is the difference between Public, Standard, Limited and Hidden settings?

Public gives full visibility of your profile and CV. Standard allows broad visibility depending on platform settings. Limited restricts CV access and usually requires contact before download. Hidden removes your profile from searches while still allowing you to apply for roles.

4. Which job board privacy setting is safest to use?

Limited is generally the safest balanced option, as it allows employers and recruiters to contact you while preventing your CV from being downloaded without your permission.

5. Can my current employer see my job board profile?

If your settings are too open, there is a risk your current employer