Cookie Policy

Cookie Policy – GautengJobs.work

Last updated: September 2025

This Cookie Policy explains how GautengJobs.work uses cookies and similar technologies whenever you visit, browse, or interact with our website. It outlines what these technologies are, why we use them, the categories that may operate on your browser or device, and the choices you can make to control their use. Because transparency builds trust, this document goes into detail so you can make informed decisions that match your privacy preferences while still enjoying the best possible experience on our site.

1) What Are Cookies and Related Technologies?

Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) through your web browser. They contain information that helps the website remember your actions and preferences over a period of time. Cookies can be used to keep you signed in, maintain your language settings, recall your consent choices, measure page performance, and serve relevant advertisements. Without cookies, many modern websites cannot provide consistent functionality.

Cookies commonly fall into two duration categories. Session cookies are temporary; they exist only while your browser is open and are deleted when you close it. Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period defined by the cookie’s expiry attribute (for example, days or months) or until you delete them manually. Persistent cookies help a site recognise your device between visits so that your preferences can be remembered and pages can load more efficiently.

While the word “cookie” is used throughout this policy for simplicity, websites also rely on other technologies that behave similarly:

  • LocalStorage and SessionStorage: Browser-based storage mechanisms that can hold data on your device to remember state, such as your consent selection or the last page you visited.
  • Pixels and Web Beacons: Tiny, invisible images or fragments of code embedded in a page or email that signal to a server when content has been viewed, helping to measure impressions and deliver analytics.
  • JavaScript Tags and SDKs: Snippets of code that help collect analytics, load assets, run A/B tests, or integrate with advertising platforms.
  • Device Identifiers: In some environments (especially mobile), unique identifiers may be used for analytics and advertising purposes; on our website, we limit such tracking to legitimate use cases and respect consent where required.

All these mechanisms are collectively referred to as “cookies and similar technologies” in this policy. The principles that apply to cookies—transparency, purpose limitation, and user choice—also apply to these related technologies on GautengJobs.work.

2) Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies for four core purposes: functionality, preferences, analytics, and advertising. Each purpose supports a smoother experience and ensures our free content remains sustainable.

  • Functionality: These cookies enable essential features such as secure page loading, anti-spam protections, form submissions, and remembering that you’ve already seen certain notices or banners.
  • Preferences: Cookies can store your settings—for example, preferred region or previous content filters—so you don’t have to reselect them each time you visit.
  • Analytics: We analyse aggregated usage patterns, like which pages are most helpful and how long visitors spend on them. This helps us improve structure, navigation, and article clarity.
  • Advertising: Ads keep GautengJobs.work free for job seekers. Cookies help limit repetitive ads, improve relevance, and measure ad performance. You remain in control through consent tools and browser settings.

Our guiding principle is data minimisation. We collect only what is necessary to make the site functional, informative, and sustainable. Where possible, we rely on aggregated or pseudonymised data and respect regional consent rules that require opt-in for certain categories (for example, personalised advertising in the EEA/UK).

3) Categories of Cookies You May Encounter

Different cookies serve different purposes. The categories below describe how they typically operate on GautengJobs.work. Not every cookie will be present for every user, and lifespans may vary over time as we maintain and improve our website.

  • Strictly Necessary (Essential) Cookies: Required for the site to function. Examples include cookies that remember that you closed a cookie banner, maintain security tokens for forms, or distribute traffic across servers to keep pages loading quickly.
  • Preference Cookies: Remember selections like language, region, and user-interface settings. These cookies enhance your experience but are not strictly necessary for the site to run.
  • Performance/Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use the site—pages viewed, time on page, click paths—so we can improve content quality and site performance. Data is typically aggregated or pseudonymised.
  • Advertising Cookies: Enable ad delivery, reporting, and measurement. These may include frequency capping (so you don’t see the same ad repeatedly) and, where permitted, personalisation based on general interests.

Over time, we may introduce new tools to enhance user experience or retire those that are no longer needed. When we make material changes to cookie behaviour or add new categories, we will update this policy and, when required by law, request your consent again.

4) Google AdSense and Third-Party Advertising

We partner with Google AdSense to display advertisements that support our free service for job seekers. AdSense and related Google services may store cookies and use similar technologies to deliver and measure ads. Depending on your location and consent preferences, Google may use information about your visits to this and other websites to show ads that are more relevant to your interests. In some regions, Google uses the DoubleClick/Google Marketing Platform cookie to help with ad personalisation and measurement.

Importantly, you remain in control. Where legally required, we surface a consent interface that allows you to choose personalised vs. non-personalised ads, or to decline certain categories. You can also adjust your ad personalisation preferences at any time through your browser settings and Google’s user controls. Choosing non-personalised ads reduces data use for targeting; you will still see advertising, but it may be less tailored to your browsing behaviour.

We may occasionally work with other reputable third-party advertising partners. These providers may place their own cookies to measure ad performance, detect fraud, and prevent invalid traffic. While we do not control the operation of third-party cookies, we select partners with strong privacy and security practices and strive to keep our ad ecosystem safe, balanced, and respectful of user choice.

5) Analytics and Site Measurement

To improve the usefulness of GautengJobs.work, we measure how visitors interact with pages and features. We may use privacy-aware analytics tools (including, where applicable, Google Analytics 4 or alternatives) to understand aggregated behaviour. Analytics cookies help us answer questions such as: Which articles are most helpful? Where do visitors drop off? How can we reduce load times? We focus on trends rather than individual profiles, and we avoid collecting sensitive data through analytics tools.

Configuration examples may include IP masking, data retention limits, and restricted user-ID features. Where local laws require consent for analytics cookies, we respect that requirement by presenting a choice before enabling non-essential analytics.

6) Examples of Cookies and Signals

The list below illustrates the kinds of cookies or signals that may operate. The specific names can change as platforms update technology. Your browser’s developer tools or privacy add-ons can show you the exact set present during your visit.

  • Consent cookies: Store whether you accepted, rejected, or customised categories in our cookie banner.
  • Load balancing/session cookies: Ensure your requests are routed efficiently to keep pages responsive.
  • Preference cookies: Save region or language selections and prevent repeated pop-ups.
  • Analytics cookies: Count visits, measure bounce rates, and understand navigation paths in aggregate.
  • Advertising cookies: Support ad delivery, frequency capping, fraud detection, and personalised or contextual ads depending on your consent.
  • LocalStorage entries: May remember interface state (e.g., whether a tip panel was closed) without creating a server-side profile.
  • Web beacons/pixels: Verify that content loaded correctly and measure engagement with important pages.

Where we rely on third-party resources (for instance, embedded media or employer maps hosted elsewhere), those providers may also set cookies. You can always choose to block third-party cookies in your browser if you prefer, though some features may not work as intended.

7) Legal Bases and Regional Considerations

We operate with respect for global privacy standards and local laws. Depending on your location, we may rely on different legal bases to process cookie-related data:

  • Consent: In many regions (such as the EEA/UK), we seek your explicit consent before setting non-essential cookies, including analytics and personalised advertising.
  • Legitimate Interests: For strictly necessary cookies, we rely on our legitimate interest in operating a secure, functional website that serves content efficiently.
  • Compliance and Security: Certain cookies help detect fraud, prevent abuse, and keep our services stable. These uses are aligned with legal obligations and safety interests.

Some browsers send signals like “Do Not Track” (DNT) or Global Privacy Control (GPC). There is no globally standardised approach to DNT. Where feasible and appropriate, we treat robust signals such as GPC as an expression of your preference and seek to honour them in conjunction with our consent tools and local requirements.

8) How to Manage or Disable Cookies

You have meaningful control over cookies. Your options include consent choices on our site, browser-level controls, and advertising industry tools. The steps below are general guidance; exact wording and menus vary by browser and device.

  • On-site consent: Use our banner or settings link (where available) to accept, reject, or customise cookie categories. You can update your choice at any time.
  • Browser settings: Most browsers allow you to block third-party cookies, clear cookies selectively, or delete all cookies on exit. Search your browser’s help page for “cookies” to find instructions.
  • Private browsing modes: Features like Incognito (Chrome) or Private Window (Firefox/Safari) reduce persistent storage to your device after the session ends.
  • Ad choices: You can manage interest-based advertising through Google’s ad settings and regional industry pages (e.g., YourAdChoices where available) to limit personalised ads.
  • Extensions and plug-ins: Privacy extensions can block trackers or prompt approvals for each embedded element. These tools vary widely in impact and may break some site features.

Disabling cookies entirely may affect how certain pages function, for example by forcing you to re-enter preferences on every visit or preventing some interactive elements from working. You remain free to choose the balance between privacy and convenience that best fits your needs.

9) Data Retention and Cookie Lifespans

Cookies persist for different lengths of time. Session cookies expire when you close your browser. Persistent cookies carry an expiry date set by the issuer, often ranging from a few days to several months. We review cookie configurations periodically and aim to keep retention aligned with the purpose—no longer than necessary to deliver functionality, measure performance, or respect your choices.

Analytics platforms also allow us to configure how long aggregated event data is stored. We tend to choose conservative retention periods that support trend insights without keeping data indefinitely. If you clear your cookies or storage, our site will treat you as a new visitor until you set your preferences again.

10) Security and Fraud Prevention

Some cookies play a role in security. For example, anti-spam and anti-bot services use signals to distinguish legitimate visitors from automated abuse. Load balancing cookies help distribute traffic so the site remains stable during peak periods. These technical cookies are essential for reliability and user protection. They do not exist to build marketing profiles; they exist to keep the service safe and usable for everyone.

We also implement measures such as HTTPS, access controls, and regular reviews of third-party tags. While no system can be guaranteed 100% secure, we work to ensure that cookies are used responsibly in support of a secure browsing experience. If you suspect suspicious behaviour or receive requests for personal information that seem unusual, please contact us using the details at the end of this policy.

11) Children and Young Users

GautengJobs.work is not directed to children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly place personalised advertising cookies for young users, and we take steps to limit data collection for audiences that may require additional protections. Parents or guardians who believe their child has interacted with the site in a way that raises privacy concerns should reach out so we can review and, where appropriate, restrict non-essential technologies and remove related data.

12) Third-Party Content and Embedded Features

From time to time, we embed third-party content to improve your experience—for example, employer maps, official videos, or application widgets that clarify how to apply. When a third-party element loads, that provider may set its own cookies or use similar technologies to deliver the feature and measure usage. We do not control these cookies directly. If you prefer to limit third-party cookies, you can block them through your browser settings. Doing so may reduce functionality, such as preventing a map from loading on a job post page.

We evaluate embedded tools based on usefulness, security, and the reputational standing of the provider. If we learn that an embedded service fails to respect user privacy or introduces undue risk, we will remove or replace it in line with our commitment to responsible technology choices.

13) Your Rights and How to Exercise Them

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have rights over cookie-related data—such as the right to access, correct, delete, or object to certain processing. You may also have the right to withdraw consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. We aim to honour valid requests in a timely manner. To exercise your rights, contact us using the details below, and provide enough information for us to identify the relevant records (for example, the browser and device used, approximate dates, and screenshots where possible).

Even without a formal data request, you are always free to adjust your on-site consent settings (where available) or use your browser controls to clear cookies and storage. These tools provide immediate, practical control over your experience.

14) Balancing Free Access and Respect for Privacy

Our mission is to make career information widely accessible at no cost to job seekers. Advertising and analytics help us understand what works and fund content creation. At the same time, privacy matters. We aim to respect both realities by being transparent, asking for consent where required, limiting data to what is necessary, and giving you usable controls. If you choose non-personalised ads or opt out of analytics, we will still strive to provide fast, useful pages without punishing your choice.

We regularly revisit our cookie configurations to ensure that we are not collecting more than we need and that our partners meet strong security and compliance standards. If you believe there is a better way to present choices or a clearer explanation we could offer, we welcome your ideas.

15) Practical Tips for Privacy-Conscious Browsing

For readers who want practical steps beyond our on-site settings, here are everyday tips to keep your browsing clean and efficient:

  • Clear cookies or site data periodically to start fresh, especially on shared computers.
  • Use private browsing modes when researching sensitive topics or using public devices.
  • Install a reputable password manager and enable two-factor authentication for your email and important accounts.
  • Be cautious with browser extensions; only install what you need and review permissions regularly.
  • Prefer official employer portals for job applications and avoid sharing personal data over unverified channels.

None of these tips are mandatory to use GautengJobs.work, but they can improve privacy hygiene and help you maintain control over your digital footprint across the web.

16) Changes to This Cookie Policy

Technology evolves quickly. We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes to our practices, partnerships, or legal requirements. When we make material changes, we will refresh the “Last updated” date and, where appropriate, present an in-site notice or consent prompt. Continued use of GautengJobs.work after the effective date of an updated policy indicates that you acknowledge the changes. For your convenience, you are welcome to contact us to request a brief summary of major revisions.

17) Contact Us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy, your choices, or how we use cookies and similar technologies, please get in touch. The more details you provide—such as page URLs, screenshots of your consent status, or the browser/device you used—the faster we can help.

📧 Email: masindindivhudzannyi@gmail.com
🌐 Website: www.gautengjobs.work

18) Final Words

Cookies and similar technologies help us keep GautengJobs.work fast, useful, and free to access. They support basic functionality, remember your preferences, measure what matters, and fund our work through responsible advertising. At the same time, your privacy choices are central: you can opt in, opt out, customise categories, or block third-party cookies entirely in your browser. Whatever you choose, our goal is to provide clear information, respect your decisions, and continue improving the experience for everyone searching for opportunities in Gauteng and beyond.

By using GautengJobs.work after making your selections in the consent banner or your browser, you acknowledge that you understand and accept the use of cookies and similar technologies as described in this policy. If anything is unclear or if you think we could explain a concept more simply, reach out—your feedback helps us refine our explanations and build a resource that truly serves the community.