Job searching consumes a great deal of time, and some of that energy is spent researching some of the millions of interesting jobs and opportunities out there.
Job seekers rely on the Internet to conduct their search as never before. The Internet can provide information and delivery in-home training programs. In fact, this shift to the is changing the way employers recruit and job seekers apply.
This brings me to the good, the not-so-good and scams that often are presented to job seekers via the Internet. It is up to the job seeker to use discernment when following up on what often appear to be good opportunities.
The good:
The majority of job postings and training programs are from legitimate companies hoping to attract potential employees and have no hidden agenda. Most companies that fall into the “good” category will print the instructions for applying in a clear and concise way so there is little room for confusion over the positions listed or services offered. These companies post job descriptions, the people to contact and provide links to their Web sites, which which are full of information about the company’s mission statement, products and services.
The not-so-good:
Companies in this category can improve the way they present themselves. They may miss the mark when trying to attract skilled job candidates and give less-than-stellar marketing when selling their positions to job seekers.
An example of this is companies that keep job postings up long after the positions have been filled or that fail to acknowledge candidates who have the taken the time to apply. They end up missing the boat when it comes to attracting good talent, but remain legitimate and upfront. They just suffer from a poorly defined Web site and message.
Scams:
Then come the employment and career-related scams that lurk behind the scenes hoping to take advantage of a weary job seeker who just wants to find a job. Scams often appear to be the answer to the job seeker’s problems. They play on the wishful agenda of job seekers who are hoping to eliminate the need for a long search.
The temptation to find a way to avoid the drudgery of job hunting is the hook these scams often use. Promises to speed up a search or deliver the right job to you can’t help but sound appealing!
It’s no wonder job seekers let down their guard.
Scams usually give off some red flags, and it’s important that job seekers remain alert.
Ways to protect your job search from scams:
• Listen to your instincts. If it feels weird, more than likely it is.
One way to check out any uncomfortable feelings about an ad is to start the due-diligence process on your own. Check with the Better Business Bureau for information on known scams.
• Pay attention to promises or services that sound too good to be true. The working from home opportunities that generate $10,000 a week may need a closer look before signing up. Easy money doesn’t usually go with easy work.
• Never give your Social Security number to people you don’t know. Employers who ask for such information will be ones that you can easily verify and are ready to disclose their hiring policies and procedures. It’s probably a good idea to give that type of information to a company representative from the Human Resource department.
• Recruiters usually don’t offer training programs that increase your skill sets, so be aware if you are contacted by a recruiter who talks about their lists of clients but lack current job openings.
• If you are contacted by what seems to be a prospective employer, and can’t apply for the job discussed directly but instead are asked to provide contact / personal information, stop and think about why they would need that information. Your information could be gathered so it can be placed in a database so you can be contacted later for services.
It’s a good policy to take the time to research companies or services that are of interest to you.
Have you experienced job-search scams?
