How to spot fake job opportunities and recruitment scams
In this post, Caroline McWilliams, CV Adviser, gives her advice on how to spot fake job opportunities and recruitment scams.
A world in which we could trust every person and every advertisement would be an idyllic one. Sadly, this is not our current world, and it is important to be aware when looking for a future job. Most job advertisements on trusted job listing sites will be genuine but it is easy for scams to hide amongst the true ones. These scams seek to obtain your personal details or to have you pay money upfront for services.
We have compiled a list of ten questions to ask yourself about each job you consider. While this is not foolproof, it should weed out the majority of scams.
1. Does the job seem too good to be true?
With most things in life, if a job, especially if it is entry-level, seems too good to be true, make sure you question all aspects. Perhaps it offers more benefits than you have ever seen before, or the flexibility seems like it might detract from the position’s effectiveness.
2. Is the pay offered extremely high?
Always compare the offered salary with other jobs in the sector. If it is much higher than average, be on your guard. Additionally, if the job is advertised as freelance or solely based on commission, ask yourself if this is normal for the job sector.
3. Are you being rushed?
This does not mean that the job application deadline is tomorrow, and you have only just found the advertisement. If you are being pressured to give an answer to an offer or to provide the supposed company with your details, take a step back and ask yourself if it seems safe.
4. Have you been given an offer before your application or interview?
Even if you are headhunted for a role, a basic application and at least one interview should be part of the normal process.
5. Are the job descriptions and requirements very vague?
Job descriptions vary in length, but they should typically feature a company profile, a description of the specific job, and a person specification. Vague scam job descriptions seek to draw you in and never actually answer the most basic questions.
6. Does the communication you are receiving seem unprofessional?
Perhaps there are inconsistencies in syntax or grammar. Perhaps there are lots of spelling mistakes. These can be key indicators of scams.
7. Does the company have a website or social media accounts?
If a job is not legitimate, you may struggle to find information on the company.
8. Can you find details of the employers and employees?
Are there profiles on the website of key company members? Can you find their contact details? Do they have LinkedIn profiles? If you cannot find any details, it may be an indicator that the company does not exist or does not exist in the form it claims to.
9. Does the company require upfront payment?
While you may need to factor in costs related to travelling for interviews, a legitimate company should never ask you for money.
10. Is there expensive training that you are required to fund yourself?
If a company is asking you to complete expensive training before giving you a final offer, they may simply be trying to sell you a product.
Further advice
In short, always make sure to do your research. It is always worthwhile to take a little extra time to ensure that you are safe and not wasting your time. If you are approached by a recruiter, always research the recruiter as well as the job and company. Make sure that every aspect of the deal seems legitimate.
- If you are ever in doubt, book an appointment with a Careers Adviser and they will be able to give you advice.
- Read the Careers360 article on How to protect yourself against job scams.