Seven red flags you must watch out for while applying for jobs

It has been quite some time since I entered the job market again, and during my aggressive search for new opportunities, I have come across MANY job postings that raised bright red flags.

For some, this list is common sense. But I figured, if there are this many of them, there are people that must have fallen for them.

Therefore, I want to share this list with you just in case you are new to the job market.

Seven things to watch out for:

1. You must pay first before you get the job

2. You must give your home address

3. You must give them your financial information

4. They have a weird location

5. The company is like a ghost

6. Their website is non-functional

7. They are asking for personal information that violates the employment laws and/or regulations

1. When the company is asking you to pay a membership fee

When a job offer asks you to pay first before they can offer you the position―or that you have to be a member first, this is a scam or a pyramid scheme.

Some of them are pretty sleek and some of them are obvious. But here is a possible example for you:

This is a wonderful sales and entrepreneurship position! To get started, sign up here with a low cost of ONLY $49.99/month. This would give you the ability to access our training courses or our products for you to sell so you can become the superstar that you deserve to be.

Don’t worry! You can easily get your money back if you get someone to sign up as well.

AND by getting more people to sign up, you have doubled or TRIPLED back the money that you invested in your business!

If you are not too sure what a pyramid scheme is, a pyramid scheme is:

A pyramid scheme is a type of business model that entices members by offering payments or services for enlisting others into the scheme, rather than focusing on investments or the sale of products.

As recruitment grows, it eventually becomes unmanageable, resulting in limited profit for most participants. This unsustainable structure often leads to pyramid schemes being deemed illegal.

Pyramid schemes have taken various forms for over a century. Certain multi-level marketing plans have even been categorized as pyramid schemes.

If you are unsure if the job posting or what you applied for is a pyramid scheme, just keep in mind these two things:

1. A genuine job posting or company would not ask you to pay first

2. Your pay should not be dependent on how many people signed up so they can recruit more people

2. When they are asking for your home address on your resume or application

There are some cases when a home address is mandatory when you are doing an application.

So, word of caution here.

There is almost no barrier to entry when posting for jobs.

It is easy to post a job on LinkedIn (yes, even LinkedIn is not safe), Indeed, and etc.

There are many scammers and human traffickers out there looking for new victims and gathering personal information.

Therefore, here are some things you can do to make sure that the company that you are applying for is legitimate before you give them your home address:

1. Check out their website and socials if they have any

2. Check out the company’s reviews

3. Check out the company’s address, employees listed, and affiliations. E.g. check through D&B, and BBB

4. Thoroughly go through their LinkedIn profile! Find out (if you can) who works there, who owns the company, who is endorsing them, their activities aka posts, when they have opened their profile, when they are established, if their information matches what they have on their website, etc.

5. Remove your home address on your resume and just put the city, province (or state), and country.

I know that this takes additional time in your job hunt. However, you also want to know who you will be working with, and if they are a right fit for you.

3. When they are asking for your financial information on an application

Do not, I repeat, do not give your financial info on an application!

This only happens when you finally got the job, got a bunch of contracts signed, and have already spoken to the designated HR.

This process does not happen before you get the job and if by any chance, you see this while you are filling out an application, it is in your best interest to exit from that site.

There are many financial scammers out there who will disguise themselves as a company looking for candidates. Do not give these predators your information.

4. When the company has a weird location

Before you go to the job interview, SEARCH THE ADDRESS on Google or any Maps App that you use.

Make sure it is an office, an actual building, not abandoned, not a house, not a random field, etc.

I cannot stress enough the danger of human traffickers posing as possible employers. Stay vigilant and do your research.

5. When the company seems like it is a ghost

Search for reviews about the company. See what others have to say. Here are your examples:

What it is like to work there?

How do they treat their clients and their workers?

What are they selling?

Who are they and what is their brand like?

Not only does this save you from working for a terrible employer, but you can also see if they’re legitimate! If you cannot find anything about this company, beware. They are most likely a scam.

The best part about the internet is that most information is available to us. You can check through several avenues such as:

1. Google Reviews

2. Glassdoor

3. LinkedIn

4. Reddit

5. Yelp

6. Any social media platform. E.g. Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, etc.

6. When they have a one-page website with only one link working

Check out their website if they have any.

Is it only one page? Does it only have one link that leads to a different website?

This is most likely a scam and maybe malware. Be cautious.

7. When the application is asking for super confidential information

Does the application ask for personal information that violates the employment act/labour laws/regulations in your area?

Examples:

1. Financial Information

2. Home address

3. How many people live in your home?

4. What financial institution(s) do you use?

5. Medical history(ies)

Be cautious and familiarize yourself with the regulations.

This may be a scam that collects personal data!

In Conclusion:

Although many of you think that this is common sense, there are people who would fall for these “job opportunities.”

Imagine someone who is still new to the job market and is looking to find their first job. I also know how desperation can get to anyone, especially how difficult it is to find a job.

I have been looking for the right career for me for more than two months now, and there are times when I am tempted to get careless as well. But do not risk your safety.

If the alarm bells inside you are going off, listen to it!

If something makes you feel uncomfortable about it, listen to that gut feeling!

Good luck on the search too and please stay safe out there!

—

Hi, I’m CyCy!

Thank you for reading. I truly appreciate it!

I usually write poetry and fiction. However, I also love sharing helpful tips and/or non-fiction blogs as well.

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