TheLinkNext ("we", "our", or "us") operates the platform at thelinknext.com. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our platform. By accessing or using TheLinkNext, you agree to the terms of this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

a) Information you provide directly

• Students: Name, email address, resume, skills, bio, profile photo, and application history.
• Companies: Company name, logo, industry, headquarters location, job postings, and recruiter contact details.
• Universities: Institution name, department and program structure, and enrolled student records.
• All users: Account credentials, session data, and communication preferences.

b) Information collected automatically

• IP address, browser type, and operating system.
• Pages visited, time spent, and navigation patterns.
• Device identifiers and referring URLs.
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 6).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Create and manage your account and profile.
• Match students with relevant job opportunities using skill-match algorithms.
• Allow companies to search, discover, and contact graduate candidates.
• Enable universities to enroll, track, and report on graduate placement outcomes.
• Send transactional emails (account setup, application updates, OTP codes).
• Send platform news and feature updates (you may opt out at any time).
• Improve platform performance, diagnose issues, and conduct analytics.
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Use.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We may share information in the following circumstances:

• Between platform users: Student profiles (name, skills, bio, resume) are visible to verified companies and their enrolled university. Companies' job postings are visible to all registered students.
• Service providers: We use trusted third-party providers (e.g., email delivery via Resend, authentication via Auth.js) who process data on our behalf under strict data processing agreements.
• Legal requirements: We may disclose information where required by law, court order, or governmental authority.
• Business transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred as part of that transaction.

4. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as your account is active or as needed to provide our services. If you delete your account, we will delete or anonymise your personal data within 30 days, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate business purposes (e.g., resolving disputes or fraud prevention).

5. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: Request that inaccurate or incomplete data be corrected.
• Deletion:Request deletion of your personal data ("right to be forgotten").
• Portability: Request your data in a portable, machine-readable format.
• Objection: Object to certain types of processing, including direct marketing.
• Withdrawal of consent: Where processing is based on consent, withdraw it at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at support@thelinknext.com.

6. Cookies

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Maintain your authenticated session across page loads.
• Remember your preferences (e.g., dark/light mode).
• Analyse platform usage through aggregated, anonymised analytics.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may limit platform functionality, including staying signed in.

7. Data Security

We implement industry-standard technical and organisational measures to protect your data — including HTTPS encryption in transit, hashed password storage, rate limiting on sensitive endpoints, and access controls. No method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure; we cannot guarantee absolute security but commit to promptly notifying affected users in the event of a data breach.

8. Children's Privacy

TheLinkNext is not intended for use by individuals under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with their data, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

9. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., company websites, social media profiles). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their policies independently.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes by email or by a prominent notice on the platform. Continued use of TheLinkNext after the effective date of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact us at: