Data Retention Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2025 — Last Updated: May 2, 2026

1. Overview

This Data Retention Policy describes how CareerForge collects, stores, and deletes user data. We are committed to retaining data only as long as necessary for legitimate business purposes or as required by law, and no longer.

This policy applies to all data collected through the CareerForge platform, including personal information, career documents, assessment results, and usage data.

2. Retention Schedule

The following table outlines how long we retain different types of data:

Data TypeRetention PeriodReason
Account Information (name, email)Duration of account + 90 days after deletionService operation and fraud prevention
Resume DataDuration of account + 30 days after deletionUser-created content, retained for recovery window
Uploaded Documents (certificates, licenses)Duration of account + 30 days after deletionUser-uploaded files
Assessment Results & ScoresDuration of account + 30 days after deletionCareer development tracking
Interview Session Transcripts2 years or until account deletion + 30 daysImprovement of AI feedback quality
Job Application RecordsDuration of account + 30 days after deletionUser career tracking
AI-Generated Cover Letters & ContentDuration of account + 30 days after deletionUser-created content
Feedback & Support Tickets3 years from submissionQuality assurance and legal compliance
Usage & Analytics Data (anonymized)3 yearsPlatform improvement (anonymized, not linked to identity)
Login & Security Logs1 yearSecurity monitoring and fraud detection
Billing Records (if applicable)7 yearsLegal and tax compliance requirements
Child Data (under 16, if identified)Deleted immediately upon discoveryChild protection compliance — COPPA/GDPR-K

3. Account Deletion

When you delete your account:

  • Your account is immediately deactivated and no longer accessible
  • Personal data and user-created content is scheduled for deletion within 30 days
  • Backups containing your data are purged within 90 days
  • Anonymized usage data (not linked to your identity) may be retained for analytics
  • Data required for legal compliance (e.g., billing records) is retained as required by law

4. Data Minimization

CareerForge follows the principle of data minimization:

  • We only collect data that is necessary for the services you use
  • We do not retain data beyond the periods outlined in this policy
  • Inactive accounts (no login for 24 months) will receive a notification before data archival
  • We periodically review and purge data that is no longer needed

5. Child Data Protection

⚠️ Special Protections for Minors

  • CareerForge does not knowingly collect data from users under 16 years of age
  • If we identify a user as under 16, all their data is deleted immediately — no retention period applies
  • Parents or guardians may contact us at privacy@careerforge.app to request deletion of any data collected from a minor
  • We comply with COPPA, GDPR Article 8, and equivalent child data protection regulations
  • Child data deletion requests are processed within 72 hours of verification

6. Data Storage and Security

  • All data is stored on secure, encrypted servers
  • Access to stored data is restricted to authorized personnel only
  • Data at rest is encrypted using AES-256 or equivalent standards
  • Data in transit is protected using TLS 1.2 or higher
  • Regular backups are maintained and secured with the same standards

7. Data Deletion Requests

You may request deletion of your data at any time by:

  • Deleting your account through the app settings
  • Submitting a deletion request via the Feedback Portal (select "General Feedback" and specify data deletion)
  • Emailing privacy@careerforge.app with subject "Data Deletion Request"

We will confirm receipt within 48 hours and complete deletion within 30 days.

8. Policy Updates

We may update this Data Retention Policy periodically. Material changes will be communicated via email or an in-app notification at least 30 days before taking effect. Continued use after that date constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

9. Contact

For questions about data retention or to make a data request:

  • Email: privacy@careerforge.app
  • In-App: Use the Feedback Portal