7 Signs of a Fake Job Offer
Job seekers might have rose colored glasses on every time it seems as though they’ve received a job offer – especially if you’re not getting an interview. Unfortunately, not every job offer is as it seems. Fake job offers target job seekers for one of two reasons – either the employer is up to something suspicious, or a scammer is pretending to be an employer to gain something from a person anxious to begin working. Is your job offer fake? If it shows some of the 7 signs described below, you might want to call off the celebration.
1. Top Dollar Offers for Easy Remote Work
If you peel back the layers on a top dollar offer for remote work and it sounds just as logical as saying “Salary of $10 million a year for a career as a stay at home astronaut”, you should be suspicious. Remote working from home opportunities do exist, and some of them do pay well. However, you must be realistic and make sure that the workload and level of experience necessary seems to genuinely correlate to the figure being proposed. Chances are, the salary is a lie, or the work is going to be far more demanding or nearly impossible than it’s been made out to be – be careful about what you’re getting yourself into.
2. You Don’t Remember Applying
It only seems logical to avoid job offers for things you didn’t apply to. Many job seekers forget just how many places they’ve sent their resumes to – but it’s crucial that they keep track. It isn’t uncommon for email phishing scams to masquerade as job offers. Never open attachments from unknown senders, and only respond to emails from people you know with certainty have received your application.
3. They’re Asking for Too Much Personal Information
An employer will undoubtedly need some personal information from you, as it’s difficult to onboard someone of mysterious origin. The secure exchange of personal information is normal after an extensive interview process and your review of an employment contract. If inquiries about that information happen too soon, don’t send anything. It’s possible that a scammer is attempting to utilize that information to steal your identity.
4. Google Can’t Dig Anything Up
Never trust a job offer from anyone Google can’t find – even if they claim they’re a startup or a new company. Google can find nearly everything – including business licenses. If you can’t find a record of the employer’s existence, chances are they aren’t an employer at all. The job offer isn’t real because the person sending the message isn’t real, and therefore couldn’t possibly have any benevolent intentions.
5. There’s Barely a Job Description
Attempt to discern what the role entails. If it offers little more explanation than “doing a thing at a place”, that should raise a red flag. Honest companies will have well written, thorough job descriptions. If the job offer you receive doesn’t have one, this could be for a couple of unsavory reasons. The first is that it was hastily thrown together by a scammer who didn’t care much for details, and the second is that the employer may wind up asking you to do morally, ethically, or legally ambiguous things.
6. They Don’t Really Interview You
It’s kind of hard to hire someone without an interview. If someone comes out swinging with an offer of employment when you’ve barely (or never) spoken, it will show at the very least that their priorities are out of order. They could be a struggling company with a high turnover rate who is desperate just to have warm bodies in the seats, or they may not be an employer at all. A legitimate employer will put you through several rounds of professional interviews and probably a group interview before being extended an offer.
7. They Want You to Buy Something
A job should pay you – you should never pay a job. If the person presenting themselves as an employer is requiring you to purchase something before your employment begins, don’t be so sure there’s a job waiting on the other side. Theoretically, it would be easy for that person to take your money and never speak to you again. It could also be a sign that you’re getting yourself into a multilevel marketing company or pyramid scheme, rather than a legitimate course of employment.
Avoiding Fake Job Offers and Keeping Yourself Safe
Use trusted third-party services to communicate with potential employers. Nearly half of all smartphone users depend on apps – why not use a resume builder job app to send your correspondences? Thoroughly research every potential employer – especially if the company is a smaller one or you haven’t heard about them until now. Never download any email attachments from unknown senders and keep a running tab of where you’ve applied. Fake job offers will be easier to spot, and real job offers will be easier to keep organized.
Sienna Walker is a careers and employment blogger who can often be found online, sharing her tips and suggestions with employees and employers alike. Privately, a huge fan of self-improvement and online courses. Feel free to visit @SiennaWalkerS and say “hello”.
Related Articles:
