Privacy Policy
PRIVACY POLICY & TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Last Updated: 7th November 2025
PART A: PRIVACY POLICY
1. INTRODUCTION
At StepUpCareers and CV Coach, we understand that your privacy is important to you. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you use our services, including our CV Coach platform. By using our service, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT
Information You Provide Directly
When you use our services, we collect:
Account Information: Your name, email address, and password when you create an account with us.
Professional Information: Job history, career objectives, skills, educational background, and other career-related data you provide to help us match you with relevant opportunities through our Spark Careers platform.
CV/Resume Content: When you use CV Coach, we collect and process the content of your uploaded CV files (.doc/.docx), including your work history, education, skills, achievements, and any other information contained in your resume.
Job Description Data: If you upload job descriptions for tailored CV analysis, we collect and process this information to provide customized recommendations.
Social Media Information: If you choose to share your LinkedIn profile or other social media accounts, we may collect relevant professional information from these platforms such as your work and educational history.
Payment Information: When you subscribe to our premium services, we collect billing information necessary to process your subscription. Payment card details are processed securely through our payment providers and are not stored on our servers.
Information We Collect Automatically
Our systems automatically collect:
Usage Data: How you interact with our platform, including features used, files uploaded, analysis requests, and time spent on various sections.
Technical Data: IP address, browser type, device information, operating system, and referring URLs.
Analytics Data: Service performance metrics, user behavior patterns, and feature usage statistics to help us improve our services.
Cookies and Tracking: Information collected through cookies and similar technologies (see Section 9 for details).
3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
For CV Coach Services
CV Analysis: We process your uploaded CV content using AI technology to provide ATS scoring, identify areas for improvement, and generate optimized CV rewrites.
Job Matching: We analyze your CV against job descriptions you provide to deliver tailored recommendations and optimization strategies.
Service Delivery: We use your information to provide unlimited CV reviews, generate reports, and deliver the analysis results you request.
For Spark Careers Platform
Skills Analysis: We identify your professional skills and competencies based on the information you provide, creating a comprehensive profile of your capabilities.
Career Matching: We connect you with relevant career opportunities that align with your skills and stated interests across industries.
General Service Purposes
Service Improvement: We enhance our matching algorithms, AI models, and overall user experience based on usage patterns and feedback.
Communication: We send you relevant opportunities, service updates, subscription notifications, and technical support messages.
Account Management: We manage your subscription, process payments, handle cancellations, and maintain your account security.
Legal Compliance: We fulfill legal obligations, respond to lawful requests, and protect our rights and user safety.
Legal Basis for Processing
We process your information based on:
Contract Performance: Processing necessary to provide the services you’ve subscribed to.
Consent: For marketing communications and optional features, where you’ve given explicit permission.
Legitimate Interests: For service improvement, analytics, and fraud prevention, always balanced against your privacy rights.
Legal Obligations: To comply with applicable laws and regulations.
4. DATA SHARING AND DISCLOSURE
We take your privacy seriously and are committed to protecting your personal information. We do not share your information except in the circumstances outlined below.
Service Providers
We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in delivering our services:
Cloud Hosting Providers: To store and process your data securely.
Payment Processors: To handle subscription payments and billing (they do not have access to your CV content).
Analytics Companies: To help us understand service usage and improve user experience (data is anonymized).
AI/ML Service Providers: To power our CV analysis and optimization features.
Security Firms: To protect against threats and ensure platform security.
All service providers are bound by strict confidentiality agreements and are only permitted to use your information for the specific purposes we have outlined.
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information to:
Comply with legal obligations and valid legal processes
Respond to lawful requests from government authorities
Protect our rights, property, and safety, and that of our users
Enforce our terms and conditions
Prevent fraud or illegal activity
What We Don’t Do
We do not sell your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
We do not share your CV content with employers or recruiters without your explicit consent.
We do not share your information without your consent except in the limited circumstances described above or as required by law.
We do not use your information for purposes other than those clearly stated in this policy.
5. DATA SECURITY
Protecting your personal information is a top priority. We implement comprehensive security measures to safeguard your data:
Encryption: Industry-standard encryption protects your data both in storage and during transmission between your device and our systems.
Access Controls: Strict authentication measures ensure only authorized personnel can access your information on a need-to-know basis.
Security Protocols: Regular security assessments, updates, and monitoring for suspicious activity.
Secure File Handling: CV files are processed in secure environments and deleted according to our retention schedule.
Payment Security: Payment information is processed through PCI-compliant payment providers.
While we implement robust security measures, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but remain committed to protecting your information using industry best practices.
6. DATA RETENTION
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary:
Active Accounts: While your account remains active and you continue to use our services.
CV Files: Uploaded CV files are retained for the duration of your subscription and for 30 days after cancellation to allow for account reactivation. You can request immediate deletion at any time.
Analysis Results: Your ATS scores and analysis reports are retained while your account is active and for up to 90 days after account closure.
Inactive Accounts: If your account becomes inactive, we retain your data for up to three years before automatic deletion.
Legal Requirements: Some information may be retained longer when required by law or for legitimate business purposes such as resolving disputes or enforcing our agreements.
Immediate Deletion: You can request immediate deletion of your account and associated data by contacting support@stepupcareers.com.
7. YOUR RIGHTS
You have several rights regarding your personal data:
Right to Access: Request copies of your personal information and know what data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal limitations.
Right to Data Portability: Receive your information in a structured, machine-readable format for transfer to another service.
Right to Restriction: Request that we limit how we process your information.
Right to Object: Object to processing based on our legitimate interests.
Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time for processing based on your consent (this won’t affect prior lawful processing).
Right to Complain: Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority if you believe your rights have been violated.
To exercise these rights, contact us at support@stepupcareers.com. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law (typically 30 days).
8. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS
Our services may involve transferring your data to countries outside your residence. When we transfer data internationally, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, including:
Standard contractual clauses approved by relevant authorities
Adequacy decisions recognizing equivalent data protection
Your explicit consent where required
9. COOKIES AND TRACKING
Our website and services use cookies and similar technologies:
Essential Cookies: Enable core platform functionality and security features.
Performance Cookies: Help us understand service usage and performance through analytics.
Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences and personalize your experience.
Security Cookies: Protect against unauthorized access and fraudulent activity.
You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect service functionality.
10. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY
Our services are not intended for individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.
11. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will:
Notify you by email
Post a prominent notice on our service
Update the “Last Updated” date
We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
PART B: TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
By accessing or using CV Coach and related StepUpCareers services (“Service”), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.
2. SERVICE DESCRIPTION
CV Coach provides AI-powered resume analysis and optimization services, including:
Automated CV analysis and ATS scoring
Identification of improvement areas
Professional CV rewrites
Job-specific CV tailoring
Unlimited reviews during active subscription
Spark Careers provides skills analysis and career matching services as described separately.
3. ACCOUNT REGISTRATION
Eligibility: You must be at least 18 years old to use our Service.
Account Creation: You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and keep your account information updated.
Account Security: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities under your account.
Email Verification: You must verify your email address to gain full access to the Service.
4. SUBSCRIPTION AND PAYMENT
Free Tier
Access to daily job insights and application tips
Limited features as specified on our website
Premium Subscription
Subscriptions are billed monthly in advance
Payment is processed securely through our third-party payment providers
You authorize us to charge your payment method for recurring monthly fees
Prices are subject to change with 30 days’ notice
Cancellation
You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account dashboard
Cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period
You retain full access until the end of your paid period
No refunds for partial months
Refund Policy
Refunds are provided at our sole discretion
Requests must be made within 7 days of initial purchase
Contact support@stepupcareers.com for refund requests
5. ACCEPTABLE USE
You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You agree NOT to:
Upload false, misleading, or fraudulent information
Use the Service to create deceptive or misleading CVs
Upload content that infringes intellectual property rights
Upload malicious files or content (viruses, malware, etc.)
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems
Reverse engineer or attempt to extract our algorithms
Use automated systems to access the Service without permission
Resell or redistribute our Service without authorization
Upload content that is illegal, harmful, threatening, abusive, or discriminatory
Violate any applicable laws or regulations
6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Our Content
All content, features, and functionality of the Service, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, software, and algorithms, are owned by StepUpCareers and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
Your Content
You retain ownership of your original CV content. By uploading content to our Service, you grant us a limited license to:
Process and analyze your CV
Generate optimized versions and recommendations
Store your content during your subscription period
Use anonymized, aggregated data to improve our Service
AI-Generated Content
CV rewrites and recommendations generated by our AI are provided for your use. You may use, modify, and distribute these materials as you see fit for your job search purposes.
7. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
Guarantees of job placement or interview success
Accuracy or completeness of ATS scores or recommendations
Uninterrupted or error-free service
Security of data transmission
We do not guarantee that our Service will meet your specific requirements or that AI-generated content will be error-free.
8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW:
StepUpCareers shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
Our total liability shall not exceed the amount you paid for the Service in the 12 months preceding the claim
We are not responsible for job application outcomes, hiring decisions, or career results
We are not liable for data loss due to technical failures (though we implement reasonable backup measures)
9. INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless StepUpCareers, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, and employees from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising from:
Your use of the Service
Your violation of these Terms
Your violation of any third-party rights
Content you upload to the Service
10. TERMINATION
By You
You may terminate your account at any time by canceling your subscription and requesting account deletion.
By Us
We may suspend or terminate your access immediately, without notice, for:
Violation of these Terms
Fraudulent or illegal activity
Abusive behavior toward our staff or other users
Non-payment of fees
Any reason at our sole discretion
Upon termination:
Your right to use the Service ceases immediately
We may delete your account and data per our retention policy
No refunds will be provided for early termination due to Terms violations
11. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of [Your Jurisdiction], without regard to conflict of law principles.
Informal Resolution
Before filing a claim, you agree to contact us at support@stepupcareers.com to attempt informal resolution.
Arbitration
Any disputes that cannot be resolved informally shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with [Applicable Arbitration Rules], except where prohibited by law.
Class Action Waiver
You agree to resolve disputes individually and waive the right to participate in class actions or class arbitrations.
12. MODIFICATIONS TO TERMS
We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes:
We will notify you via email or through the Service
Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance
If you disagree with changes, you may cancel your subscription
13. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and StepUpCareers.
Severability: If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect.
Waiver: Our failure to enforce any right or provision does not constitute a waiver.
Assignment: You may not assign these Terms without our consent. We may assign our rights and obligations without restriction.
Force Majeure: We are not liable for delays or failures due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
No Agency: These Terms do not create any agency, partnership, or joint venture relationship.
14. CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions about these Terms or the Service:
Email: support@stepupcareers.com
Privacy Officer: support@stepupcareers.com
By using CV Coach and StepUpCareers services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.