Modern society depends heavily on the internet for multifarious reasons ranging from work and entertainment to essentials like communication. However, the Internet comes with its own set of risks. Be it buying products online, making payments or rendering services – one is always in doubt regarding the authenticity of the transaction. Online scams have become a big threat and job sites have not been spared either.
So, when it comes to a job posting, how do you differentiate between what is genuine and what is fake?
Read on to know more.
1. Offer letter without application
If a job is offered without even applying for it, then it is a clear case of a scam. Oft-times, you may be contacted via mail and informed that your resume is shortlisted and only a brief chat over the messenger is required to secure the job. If you come across such offers, ask for additional information about the role and the company to know for sure that it is not a scam.
2. Credit card information
Job sites usually don’t ask for your credit card information, at least not till you opt for their premium/paid services. If such information is made mandatory while registering yourself, know that you are being cheated. Never give out such data and leave the site as quickly as possible.
3. Personal information
Confidential information such as social security number, bank account details, or other personal details is not required by job search sites. If any site asks for such info, you might be getting scammed.
4. High pay, low work
There are no free lunches in this world, which holds true for any job as well. A job that requires less work and offers more pay is too good to be true. Thus, you should identify all aspects of the job before going any further.
5. Asking for payment for placements
Companies usually outsource the candidate identification process to third party companies. For this, such third party companies are paid a service fee as well. However, there is no company that assures the placements of candidates without the interview process. Such a scam is a common occurrence for overseas placements. Be careful if anyone approaches you with offers for placement in exchange for money.
6. Company’s online credentials
All legitimate companies have an online presence in the form of a website, social media accounts, or even as features in news portals. In case you are being interviewed by a company that you cannot find online, you should be wary of it.
7. Unprofessional emails
Though this may not be a foolproof way to judge a scam, it still works quite effectively. Emails from scammers/bots are usually not well written. If you spot spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, wrong use of punctuation or capitalization, more than usual, then there is a high chance that it is a phishing process.
8. No contact information
If the emails you receive are missing important elements such as the sender’s signature, the company’s address or phone number, then there is a good chance that it might be a scam.
Looking for a job can be a stressful and frustrating process, however, do not give in to despair and jump at the first chance that comes your way, without checking it out first.
You may also like:
- 4 things you need to know about the Employee Insurance Scheme
- Get a faster, simpler and a more secure job search experience with the New Monster
- The Digital Rules of Recruitment
