5 Questions to Help You Avoid Job Scams

5 Questions to Help You Avoid Job Scams 5 Questions to Help You Avoid Job Scams 12For many job seekers, the process of finding work can be difficult and stressful. Looking for flexible jobs is even harder, given that there are an estimated 60-70 scams for every legitimate work-at-home job. Arm yourself with questions to help you avoid job scams and feel more confident in your ability to find a great job that fits your life. 5 Questions to Help You Avoid Job Scams Does the posting give you the name of the company? Assuming the employer is not confidential, you should research companies and professionals to the best of your ability to avoid job scams. If you aren’t at all familiar with the company, look for a mailing address and phone number, as well as any feedback on sites such as Better Business Bureau, Ripoff Report, and other reputable websites. Google the name of the company, plus the word scam, to see what pops up. Search for social media accounts and take note of the type of activity, as well as how current and frequent they post. If you are unable to find much of a presence, go the conservative route and take a pass. Do you need to hand over any money to get the job? This is a great question to help you avoid job scams. You should never have to pay to get hired by a company. Freelance jobs will often require you to have your own home office that allows you to work productively and efficiently. However, professional employment opportunities will not cost you money for training, company-supplied materials, or as a commitment for tenure. Keep in mind there is a difference in paying for a service designed to help you in your job search- headhunters, career coaches, resume services, and niche job boards, such as- which are legitimate investments in your career. Does the job sound too good to be true? Wouldn’t it be great if we could all make $10,000 a week for 10 hours of work? If you want to avoid job scams, dont look at jobs that are too good to be true. Honestly, if these jobs were real, the companies would have a line out the door with people looking to fill the positions. The fact is that legitimate, professional jobs are not get-rich-quick gigs. A big salary generally requires a great deal of education, experience, and effort. You should expect to pay your dues and be paid an amount that is commensurate with your background and ability. Is the company asking for personal information before you have secured the job? A legitimate company is not going to ask for things such as your bank account information, social security number, driver’s license number, or credit card information. Employers will need some personal data for payroll and tax purposes, but they should never ask for it before a job offer has been offered and extended. To avoid job scams, never give out personal information before you get the job. Keep your guard up if the topic comes up during the application or interview process- the people who pull off these scams are often very good at convincing you that the request for confidential information is reasonable. Does any part of it feel “off” to you? Is the person you are corresponding with using an email address that is personal (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo!, Hotmail, etc.), one that ends with a foreign country code, or is just a little different from others at the company? Are you being interviewed via IM, not being interviewed at all, or contacted via text message? Is the job title “work at home”? Follow your instincts. If something seems not quite right, question it and be prepared to walk away. If you suspect that you are dealing with a scammer, end your contact immediately and know how to report a job scam. Readers, what are some other considerations when deciding if a posting is a job scam? How do you avoid job scams? Leave your best ideas below! SaveSave