In 2023, we’ve seen plenty of tech companies go through rounds and rounds of layoffs already and the overspill has also reached other industries. This has caused the job market to be tough for many people, which can cause people to become desperate and vulnerable. We all know that finding a new job can be a numbers game and often leads us to cut corners or glance over red flags. This allows scammers opportunities to prey on that vulnerability and desperation as they create fake job opportunities and promises to those who are looking for work. These scammers can be looking for financial gains or to collect personal information to be sold or used for illegal purposes. Whether the jobs are supposedly for smaller unknown companies or larger and well-known corporations, there are no boundaries to where these scams can come from.
Below are a few tips on how you can identify a potential job scam.
The interview process is uncomfortably fast.
Generally, the process of an interview can be long as multiple parties do need to coordinate to host interviews or take some time to decide. Some companies may also utilize a third-party recruitment firm, like Expand Reach and combined with their own interview process, it may take weeks from beginning to end. If the process seems rushed and only takes 2-3 days to receive an offer, it might require you to investigate it deeper as this might be a red flag.
Do your own due diligence such as verifying the recruiter or the company itself through their official websites, web search, and go visit the office in-person if there was no in-person interview involved in the process. You should never accept a job when you’ve never even spoken with someone from the company that is hiring or have not even seen the office. You just want to make sure that the people and the place exists.
The job sounds too good to be true
People are motivated by many different factors when searching for a new job and sometimes these motivations can cloud our judgement. Some people may be looking for flexibility in the way they work, either through a hybrid work schedule and remote work arrangement, or they’re simply looking for a pay raise, or more vacation and time off, or better benefits. Knowing this, many organizations may come up with attractive salaries, incentives, and work arrangements to attract talent.
However, what is the catch? When the general market is offering half of what’s being offered by this attractive job opportunity, there must be a catch because companies are in it to be profitable and competitive. Being aware of what the market typically offers for any given position allows you to assess whether a job offer sounds too good to be true.
The job requires you to put in your own money ahead of getting the job
A job is supposed to pay you in return for your services provided to a company. An immediate red flag is when a company is asking you for money before you even step foot into the organization. This can come in several different forms:
- Promise of job opportunities from a third-party staffing company that requires you to signup / registration fee to have access to their network of companies and jobs available.
- Companies asking for money to purchase software / computer / equipment / license for the job.
You should never be asked for money in any shape or form. Recruitment services are paid for by the employers and any equipment / tools for the job are provided by the company. Even for remote positions, companies will have their new staff either go into the office on their first day to pick up all the equipment or it will be mailed to them. If you find yourself in that position, you should turn around and walk away from that situation.
A lot of people are currently in a vulnerable state given the current job market and sometimes we choose to believe things that promise an exciting job opportunity. No matter what situations you may be going through, take some time to ensure that the job and offer is real, and that you’re not being taken advantage of because you’ve become someone else’s target during your hunt for a new job.
Contact us today to speak with one of our Recruitment Specialists and let us help you find new opportunities for the next step in your career!
References
Indeed. (n.d.). How to Know if a Job is a Scam. Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/how-to-know-if-a-job-is-a-scam
Photo Credit: Computer Hacker Cyber Crime On Freepik