How to Spot Job Search Scams

How to Spot Job Search ScamsHow to Spot Job Search Scams14Like the truth, job search scams are out there.In fact, in the telecommuting and flexible schedule job arena, its estimated that for every one job listing,6070 are scams.Did we get your attention?With a daunting statistic like that, its a good idea to be on your guard from the beginning and wait to get involved with a company until it has proven itself to you.At , our staff isdedicated to weeding out scam job postings and giving our members only pre-screened and legitimate listings. But if youre searching for jobs outside of , its a good idea to protect yourself. Here are two excellent articles, written by the staff, that every flexible job seeker should readHow to Avoid Job Search Scams 5 Questions to AskIn a nutshell1. Is the hiring companys name includedin the job listing?2. Do you need to pay to get the job?3. Does the job listing sound too good to be true?4. Does the company ask you to provide your Social Security number , drivers license number, credit card number, or bank information?5. Does the job sound like any of the followingcommon work-at-home scamsunsolicited contact, wire transfer, stuffing envelopes, data entry, assembly work, multilevel marketing or pyramid scheme, shipping manager, rebate processor?How to Avoid Work at Home Scams 5 Precautions to TakeIn a nutshell1. Protect your Social Security number.2. Consider how you disseminate your contact information and work history.3. Defend your computer.4. Protect your financial information.5. Consider your online behavior.Also considerSearch KeywordsIn general, be careful of thekeywordsyou use to search for a remote job. Work from home is a phrase associated with lots of job search scams and pyramid schemes. Instead, try safer words like remote work, telework, and telecommuting.Unprofessional CommunicationJob postings are almost certainly a scam if they promise easy money for easy work, if they require you to invest or pay a fee to get the j ob, or if they use all capitalized letters or lots of and $$$ punctuation.And beyond the posting itself, unprofessional emails are also a big red flag. Alwayscheck to make sure the hiring manager contacting you is using correct grammar and professional language, and that the email is from a business account that includes verifiable company contact information.When They Contact YouBe especially wary of employers who contact you unsolicited. That is how even a veteran remote worker named Irenefell prey to a search scam, after a company contacted her via her LinkedIn profile. The company hired her as a freelancer, then told her theyd decided to go in a different direction after shed been working for three weeks. She never got paid for her time. Findmore information on how to avoid LinkedIn scams.The Interview ProcessGetting hired for a remote job should feel pretty similar to getting hired for an in-person job with the exception that you may be interviewing over the phone. Rather than advertising easy jobs withno experience needed, legitimate employers care about your qualifications and will complete the regular interview process, most likelyasking sometough questionsalong the way to see if you are a goodfit for the job. Its always a good idea toresearch a company before the interview, but ifyouve reachedthe interview stageand are having doubts, remember that this meetingis also a great opportunity for you to ask questions about the company.By keeping these tips in mind, youre bound to create a safer job search experience for yourself. And remember, does this work for you- every job on is pre-screened and verified to belegitimate.Best of luck in your job searchReaders, haveyou hadany experiences with job search scams?If youve worked remotely in the past, how did you know the employer was legitimate? Share your experiences below.Sara Sutton contributed to this post.