Job Search in February: Fake Jobs and Fake Recruiters
Olivera Andjelkovic
HR Consultant ?? Executive Coaching, Employee Training and Development, People Management
While we are flying into the shortest month of the year, I feel we need to pay more attention to what's going on online when we are looking for and applying for jobs. Fake job ads and fake recruiter scams are so frequent lately, that I'm sure you've experienced one or the other in some way by now.
The scammers are usually after your personal information, and they could harm you in various ways - from stealing your money all the way to stealing your identity.
The "fake" recruiters are after your money too.
Either they are trying to collect info as a strategy to bootstrap a recruitment business, or they want to trick you into paying fake services (giving you an ATS-compliant resume, putting your application forward, "speaking" with a hiring manager, guaranteeing you an interview).
? Be very cautious ?
In this edition, I will talk about recognizing fake jobs and protecting yourself from scammers on LinkedIn and social media.
Fake job postings and fake offers
Have you applied for a job, and got invited to an interview, but the whole thing felt just wrong? This happens more than you know, I have people coming to me with unbelievable stories...You should listen to your gut because, unfortunately, many people get scammed by fake job ads, very often while looking for remote positions.
Here are the usual tactics scammers use:
?? They post a job ad on LinkedIn, Twitter, Monster, ZipRecruiter, Facebook, Indeed, Craigslist, or CareerBuilder, pretending that behind is a successful company.
?? When you apply, they invite you to a phone interview.
?? The day after, they come with a job offer – but, they say the job would entail training and getting a computer and phone to do the job remotely.
?? They will also ask you to fill in employment forms, submit a scan of a driver's license, social number, and send over the bank information to get set up for a direct deposit.
?? They will tell you then you need to buy a laptop and a mobile upfront, and that you'll be reimbursed for it later.
?? They tell you to send the money to the "client" through Bitcoin and Ethereum cryptocurrency, iTunes cards, Interact e-Transfer, vouchers purchased through Flexepin, or direct deposit into a third-party bank account provided by the scammer.
Before you apply for a job, always check for these RED FLAGS:
?? You are contacted through non-company email domains.
?? The job does not exist on the company career page.
?? The company web address seems strange.
?? The job doesn't require any experience, and the salary is unusually high.
?? You are asked to pay a non-refundable registration fee.
?? You are required to purchase start-up equipment from the company.
?? You are asked to buy a laptop/mobile from the company's partner.
?? You are asked to give your bank account/ID scan/social security number before you start working.
?? The potential employer shows a sense of urgency to hire you.
Fake recruiters and fake resume writing or editing services
So, you're contacted by a recruiter about a (senior leadership) job opportunity, and they've seen your LinkedIn profile. They are impressed. They ask you to share your resume and, a colleague the next day contacts you and says you are a perfect fit. They say they will talk to their client about you in the next day or two.
But there's a problem - your resume cannot be adequately processed by their ATS system. They recommend a free resume optimization service. Turns out, the service is way too busy right now — but for a small fee, they can expedite your resume.
And this is how it goes – they take your money for a service you don't need and create an illusion that you have entered the hiring process. And they will ghost you after.
How to know if a recruiter is fake?
?? They want to "connect" with you on LinkedIn to get access to your email and phone.
?? They ask for your social security number to proceed with your application (it is ILLEGAL to require the SSN for a job application).
?? They avoid sharing info about the company - if pressured, tell that the hiring company is Google or Apple, or any other well-known company.
?? Asks for email, phone, and resume right away.
?? Sometimes, they fake the whole LinkedIn page and work at a fake staffing agency.
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?? They prefer to contact you via email.
What to do before you reply to the recruiter:
?? Double check the company's website before sending any info, the job posting could be fake.
?? Verify the job opening before you apply.
?? Visit their website directly and verify their job posting (contact them directly if nothing is listed).
?? Search the company name with the word "scam" or "fraud" to see if there are stories of others who have fallen victim to them.
?? Recruiters, hiring managers, and points of contact don't usually use personal email accounts that aren't affiliated with the company (Gmail, Hotmail, AOL).
?? Misspellings in their communication or poor grammar, interviews conducted via email or online chat, salaries that are "too good to be true", and requests for account numbers or other personal information.
?? Being asked to pay anything - honest employers will never ask you to pay to get the job. Headhunters/recruiters typically don't charge job seekers (if legit, the business is paying them to look for qualified candidates). If you're asked for money, walk away!
REMEMBER - if you are required to pay for a job, it’s guaranteed to be a scam.
To protect yourself from a job scam, make sure to do research on the company, talk to someone you trust, and reject any offer that asks for your money and sensitive information.
Luckily, there are so many HR people and recruiters who do their job with honesty and integrity. Connect with or follow those in your industry, who specialise in finding candidates for a type of job you want, or for your professional level. More about the types of recruiters, here.
Tools and platforms that offer to "automatically apply you for 100+ jobs weekly"
Well, this one is new. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of tools online that actually help job seekers deal with their challenges, and we all use apps to automatise our processes, so the process gets more efficient, right?
But, there's no way that using a tool that sends your application to such a large number of job postings can be efficient, for many reasons.
First of all, it's a "spraying and praying" method on a larger scale that doesn't yield results. Without communicating clearly through your resume how you meet (exceed) the required qualifications for a job, chances are slim or non-existent that you will be invited to an interview.
Secondly, employers will be overwhelmed with (non-qualified) applicants and their applications which will just further exacerbate the situation.
The companies who offer this service are after your subscription money, and most likely after your data too, which will probably re-sell.
To secure an interview, play smart and strategically - know your target job, know your target industry, learn all about prospective employers, and apply only if you meet the majority of qualification requirements. That's the best way to secure a new job quickly. More about how to know your target job, here.
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I hope it will make your job search much easier and shorter. ??
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Due to recent technological advances, job scamming is more lucrative than ever and a favourite form of phishing for cybercriminals. It’s too easy to spoof legitimate websites and create fake recruiter profiles to make the scam seem legitimate. Be very cautious when sharing your info!