Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to SkillBridge.Za ("we," "our," or "us"). We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), 2013.

This Privacy Policy explains:

• What information we collect
• Why we collect it
• How we use it
• Your rights regarding your data
• How to contact us

By using SkillBridge.Za, you agree to this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you upload your CV:

• CV document (PDF, DOCX, or other formats)
• Skills, qualifications, and work experience (extracted from your CV)
• Educational background

When you sign up for job alerts:

• Email address
• Location preference (e.g., South Africa, Remote, Global)
• Notification frequency preference (daily, weekly, bi-weekly)
• Job type preferences

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

When you use our website:

• Browser type and version
• Device information (computer, mobile, tablet)
• IP address (anonymized)
• Date and time of access
• Pages visited

We use this information to improve our service and fix technical issues.

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Primary Uses

We use your personal information to:

• ✅ Analyze your CV - Extract skills and qualifications
• ✅ Match you with jobs - Compare your skills to job requirements
• ✅ Send job alerts - Email you about relevant job opportunities (if you opt-in)
• ✅ Provide learning resources - Suggest courses to close skill gaps
• ✅ Improve our service - Understand which features are useful

3.2 Legal Basis (POPIA Compliance)

We process your data based on:

• Consent - You explicitly agree when signing up
• Legitimate interest - To provide the service you requested
• Contractual necessity - To fulfill our service to you

4. How We Store Your Information

4.1 Data Storage

Your CV:

• Stored securely for 30 days after upload
• Automatically deleted after 30 days (unless you request to keep it longer)
• You can request immediate deletion at any time

Your email and preferences:

• Stored as long as you're subscribed to job alerts
• Deleted when you unsubscribe

Job alert history:

• We keep a record of which jobs we sent you (to avoid duplicates)
• Deleted when you unsubscribe or after 6 months of inactivity

4.2 Data Security

We protect your information using:

• ✅ HTTPS/SSL encryption (secure connection)
• ✅ Secure database access (password-protected)
• ✅ Regular security updates
• ✅ Limited access (only authorized personnel)

However: No internet transmission is 100% secure. We do our best to protect your data but cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Data Retention

Data Type	Retention Period
CV files	30 days (or until you request deletion)
Email addresses (job alerts)	Until you unsubscribe
Skills analysis results	30 days (linked to CV)
Job alert history	6 months or until unsubscribe
Anonymized analytics	12 months

Extension: If you want to keep your CV stored longer than 30 days, you can request this via email. We'll send you a reminder before deletion.

6. Who We Share Your Data With

6.1 We DO Share With:

Service Providers (Data Processors):

• Hosting provider (to run our website)
• Email service (SendGrid - to send job alerts)
• These providers are bound by contract to protect your data

6.2 We DO NOT Share With:

• ❌ Employers (unless you apply directly through a job link)
• ❌ Recruiters
• ❌ Marketing companies
• ❌ Third-party advertisers
• ❌ Anyone else

6.3 Legal Obligations

We may disclose your information if:

• Required by law (court order, subpoena)
• To protect our rights or safety
• To prevent fraud or illegal activity

7. Your Rights Under POPIA

You have the right to:

7.1 Access Your Data

Request a copy of all personal information we hold about you.

How: Email privacy@skillbridge.co.za with subject "Data Access Request"

7.2 Correct Your Data

Update or correct any inaccurate information.

How: Email us or update your preferences via the link in job alert emails

7.3 Delete Your Data

Request immediate deletion of all your personal information.

How:

• Click "Unsubscribe" in any job alert email (deletes email + preferences)
• Email privacy@skillbridge.co.za with subject "Data Deletion Request"

We'll process deletion requests within 7 business days.

7.4 Object to Processing

Object to how we use your data.

How: Email privacy@skillbridge.co.za

7.5 Data Portability

Request your data in a portable format (e.g., CSV, JSON).

How: Email privacy@skillbridge.co.za with subject "Data Export Request"

7.6 Lodge a Complaint

If you're unhappy with how we handle your data, contact:

Information Regulator (South Africa)
Website: https://inforegulator.org.za
Email: complaints.IR@justice.gov.za
Phone: 012 406 4818

8. Contact Us

For privacy questions or requests:

Email: privacy@skillbridge.co.za
Response time: Within 5 business days

For general questions:

Email: hello@skillbridge.co.za
Website: www.skillbridge.co.za

Thank you for trusting SkillBridge.Za with your information!
We're committed to protecting your privacy while helping you bridge your skill gaps and find great opportunities in South Africa. 🇿🇦