Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Arbutus Search Group Inc. (“Arbutus Search Group”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the personal information entrusted to us. We recognize the importance of safeguarding personal information and are committed to collecting, using, disclosing, retaining, and protecting personal information responsibly and in accordance with British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and other applicable privacy laws.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, retain, and protect personal information when providing recruitment, executive search, and talent acquisition services.

By submitting your personal information to Arbutus Search Group or interacting with our services, you acknowledge that your information will be handled in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

2. Personal Information We Collect

We collect only the personal information reasonably necessary to provide our recruitment and staffing services.

Information You Provide

Depending on your interaction with us, we may collect:

  • Name
  • Mailing address
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Employment history
  • Educational background
  • Professional designations and certifications
  • Skills and qualifications
  • Salary expectations
  • Career objectives and preferences
  • Professional references and referee contact information
  • Cover letters
  • Interview notes
  • Any additional information you voluntarily provide

Information Obtained from Other Sources

We may also collect professional information from:

  • LinkedIn and other professional networking websites
  • Publicly available professional profiles
  • Employer websites
  • Professional references
  • Referrals
  • Public business directories
  • Third-party recruitment sourcing platforms

We only collect information that is reasonable for recruitment purposes.

Information Collected During Recruitment Discussions

During interviews, meetings, or telephone conversations we may collect:

  • Interview responses
  • Career interests
  • Availability and work preferences
  • Recruiter notes
  • Meeting summaries
  • Audio recordings (where participants have been notified)
  • AI-generated transcripts
  • AI-generated summaries
  • Follow-up notes and action items

3. How We Collect Personal Information

We collect personal information through a variety of methods in connection with our recruitment and staffing services, including:

  • Applications submitted through our website
  • Applications submitted through third-party job boards and recruitment platforms
  • Resumes and application materials sent by email
  • Telephone and text communications (including voice calls and SMS/text messages)
  • Video interviews and virtual meetings
  • In-person interviews and meetings
  • LinkedIn and other professional networking platforms
  • Candidate referrals
  • Publicly available professional sources
  • Professional networking and candidate sourcing platforms
  • AI-assisted meeting recording and transcription services used during recruitment discussions
  • Other communications with candidates, clients, and prospective candidates

4. Why We Collect Personal Information

We collect personal information to:

  • Evaluate qualifications for employment opportunities
  • Match candidates with suitable positions
  • Contact candidates regarding current and future opportunities
  • Coordinate interviews
  • Verify employment history and qualifications
  • Conduct reference checks (where appropriate)
  • Prepare candidate profiles
  • Maintain our recruitment database
  • Communicate with clients and candidates
  • Respond to inquiries
  • Improve our recruitment services
  • Meet our legal and regulatory obligations

5. Consent

We generally collect, use, and disclose personal information with an individual’s knowledge and consent, except where otherwise permitted or required by law.

Candidates may provide consent by:

  • Submitting an application
  • Providing a resume
  • Communicating with our recruiters
  • Providing verbal consent
  • Providing written consent, including email correspondence

Before sharing a candidate’s resume or personal information with a prospective client, we obtain the candidate’s express consent. Consent may be provided verbally or in writing.

Where recruitment-related meetings or calls are recorded or transcribed using AI-assisted meeting software, participants will be notified when recording or transcription occurs.

Consent may be withdrawn at any time, subject to legal or contractual obligations and reasonable notice.

6. How We Use Personal Information

We use personal information to:

  • Assess candidate qualifications
  • Identify suitable employment opportunities
  • Contact candidates regarding positions
  • Schedule interviews
  • Coordinate recruitment processes
  • Conduct reference checks
  • Verify professional qualifications
  • Prepare candidate summaries for internal recruitment purposes
  • Maintain accurate recruitment records
  • Improve the efficiency and quality of our recruitment services
  • Comply with applicable legal requirements

7. AI-Assisted Recruitment Technology

To support our recruitment process, we use technology, including artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled tools, to assist our recruiters.

These technologies may be used to:

  • Organize recruitment information
  • Identify potential candidates
  • Transcribe recruitment meetings and interviews
  • Generate meeting summaries
  • Reduce administrative work
  • Improve record accuracy

AI tools assist our recruiters by organizing information and preparing summaries. They do not make hiring, employment, or candidate selection decisions. All candidate recommendations and recruitment decisions involve human review by our recruitment team and our clients.

8. Disclosure of Personal Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information.

We may disclose personal information:

  • To prospective employers only after obtaining the candidate’s express consent
  • To trusted service providers who support our business operations
  • Where required by law
  • To comply with court orders, regulatory requirements, or lawful investigations
  • To protect our legal rights where permitted by law

We limit disclosures to the information reasonably necessary for the intended purpose.

9. Third-Party Service Providers

To support our recruitment and business operations, we engage trusted third-party service providers that perform services on our behalf. These service providers may process, store, or have access to personal information only as necessary to provide their services to us.

Our service providers may include organizations that provide:

  • Applicant tracking and recruitment database services
  • Cloud hosting and secure data storage
  • Professional networking and candidate sourcing services
  • AI-assisted meeting recording, transcription, and note-taking services
  • Email, messaging, and communication platforms
  • Video conferencing and virtual meeting platforms
  • Information technology support and cybersecurity services
  • Website hosting and analytics services

We take reasonable steps to ensure that service providers handling personal information on our behalf are subject to appropriate contractual, organizational, and technical safeguards designed to protect personal information and use it only for the purposes for which it was provided.

10. Recruitment Database

Candidate resumes and recruitment information are maintained within our secure cloud-based recruitment system.

We retain candidate information to assist with current and future employment opportunities unless:

  • you request its deletion, subject to any legal or contractual obligations requiring us to retain certain information;
  • retention is no longer necessary for recruitment purposes; or
  • we are required by law to retain certain records.

11. International Processing and Storage

Some of our service providers may store or process personal information outside of Canada.

Where this occurs, personal information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is processed or stored.

We take reasonable steps to ensure that service providers maintain appropriate safeguards to protect personal information.

12. Protecting Personal Information

We use reasonable physical, organizational, and technological safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information we hold.

These safeguards may include:

  • Secure cloud-based systems
  • Password-protected accounts
  • Multi-factor authentication where available
  • Role-based access controls
  • Confidentiality obligations for employees
  • Secure electronic storage
  • Regular software updates and security practices

While no system can guarantee absolute security, we take reasonable measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

13. Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected or to comply with legal obligations.

When personal information is no longer required, it is securely deleted, destroyed, or anonymized in accordance with our record retention practices.

14. Accuracy of Personal Information

We rely on individuals to ensure the personal information they provide is accurate and current.

If your contact information, employment history, or qualifications change, we encourage you to notify us so we can maintain accurate records.

15. Access and Correction Requests

Subject to applicable law, individuals have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about them and request corrections where information is inaccurate or incomplete.

Requests should be submitted to our Privacy Officer using the contact information below.

We will respond within the timeframes required under applicable privacy legislation.

16. Website Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to improve website functionality and understand how visitors use our website.

These technologies may collect information such as:

  • Browser type
  • Device information
  • IP address
  • Pages visited
  • Time spent on our website
  • Referring websites

Most web browsers allow users to disable cookies through their browser settings; however, doing so may affect website functionality.

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our business practices, technology, or legal obligations.

The most current version of this Privacy Policy will always be available on our website.

18. Contact Us

Questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information may be directed to:

Privacy Officer
Arbutus Search Group Inc.
A113-2099 Lougheed Highway, Port Coquitlam, BC V3B 1A8
Phone: 604.360.7188
Email: info@arbutussearch.com