8 Ways to avoid job scams

Unfortunately there are people out there looking to take advantage of desperate and vulnerable people looking to earn an income. Job scams come in many shapes and sizes, some looking for money while others are in it for more sinister reasons.

Falling for one of these scams does not only rob job seekers of their money, they leave the job seeker with even less self-confidence than before. This is the reasons why we are here to share some tips on how to avoid job search scams.

1. Never provide recruiters or prospective employers with sensitive financial or personal information such as your credit card or PayPal information.

 

2. Be careful of recruiters asking for money upfront in return for finding you a job. Real recruiters will get paid by the employers once said employer has appointed you. Besides, it is those recruiters who ask for money who never find you a job.

 

3. Ignore job postings stating there is no experience whatsoever required for the position. They are most probably too good to be true. A legitimate job description will have information about skills, education and other factors you need in order to apply for the job.

 

4. Request more details from prospective employers if the details in their job posting are a bit vague. For serious concerns, consult a lawyer if necessary.

 

5. Don’t just take the word of the employer or recruiter. Do your research on the company which has posted the job ad.

 

6. Be very careful of posts advertising jobs in a different country. Do thorough research before considering working in a foreign country. Human trafficking is a very real threat.

 

7. Do not believe posts that guarantee you will get the job immediately. They usually spin you a long story about you having to write tests which costs money.

 

8. Double check the email addresses on unsolicited job offers. Companies with a real name in the address but who then has a return email address with a general site aren’t to be trusted. For example if you have to send your response to company@gmx.com* instead of to Piet@company.com (*example)

 

If you keep a sharp eye open, especially when looking for a job online, you are sure to avoid these sneaky traps. Have you any more tips to share with us? Join our social media pages and join the conversation.