Ok so this could be a really long blog post. It could go into debating over what type of job you want, money vs. happiness and job satisfaction, but I'm not going to do that. What I want to talk about are major warning signs that you should not accept a job offer. Things that scream employment scam or that are more obvious red flags.
Requesting too much information.
Generally, companies won't ask for Reference, personal information such as Social Security Number, personality tests, banking information and other personal information unless there has been an expression of mutual interest. All this information probably will be requested of you by the Human Resources department after an interview where the Employer is seriously considering hiring you and you have expressed that you'd be interested in accepting, or after a job offer has been made. Be wary of an Employer that requests this information too early on.
Lack of information available.
What does their website look like? How much information is available? Check out the contact information listed. Is it just a P.O. Box? Is there a phone number? Is there a Hotmail or Yahoo email address? This might not apply to smaller companies or start-ups but it's definitely something to take note of. Make sure you Google the company and do some research. You can also use the Better Business Bureau to research employers. Online you can also go to whois.com and search for the domain name. Who comes up as the Registrant? The company name, or an individual? It is possible that the website domain could be registered under the owner's personal name instead of the company name, so this alone doesn't mean they are a scam. Is it a private registration (you can't get the details)? Again, that alone doesn't mean it's a scam necessarily. Finally, look at the date the domain was registered. If the website gives details about how long the company has been in business and the domain registration differs greatly from that, be wary. If they claim they've been providing work at home jobs for 10 years, but upon looking up the domain name you see they've been online for a couple of months, that's a red flag.
Unwilling to offer information or is too quick to make a decision.
This may seem a little weird because most the time, job seekers sit in agony for days (maybe even weeks or months) over a hiring decision to be made. But sometimes it's good that the decision takes a little longer. Certainly make sure you only accept an offer after you interview. An Employer who is willing to offer a job before they have even interviewed you is definitely a red flag. How does a company that knows nothing about you but a few words on your resume know if you're the right fit, or if they are the right fit for you? Some other red flags are being unable to see where you will be working or meet your coworkers. Also, if during the interview, it seems that the recruiter is not answering any of your questions directly or is unable or unwilling to give a detailed description of the opportunity and job duties that you will be performing, that can also be something to raise caution.
Wants your money.
This is an institution that is supposed to be paying you. If they ask for money to process your application or require a fee, more than likely, this is not a legitimate job opportunity. Now there are some work at home and franchise opportunities that do require a fee to startup, but be sure to do your research on these companies before you invest your cash. Equally, companies that require you to transfer funds, receive and deposit funds or receive packages, particularly from addresses located outside of the United States should also cause you to use caution or drop the opportunity all together.
If you feel that you may have been a victim of fraud or provided too much information to an employer, you can report the incident at the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or contact the Employment Guide's Customer Service Line at 877-876-4039.
Requesting too much information.
Generally, companies won't ask for Reference, personal information such as Social Security Number, personality tests, banking information and other personal information unless there has been an expression of mutual interest. All this information probably will be requested of you by the Human Resources department after an interview where the Employer is seriously considering hiring you and you have expressed that you'd be interested in accepting, or after a job offer has been made. Be wary of an Employer that requests this information too early on.
Lack of information available.
What does their website look like? How much information is available? Check out the contact information listed. Is it just a P.O. Box? Is there a phone number? Is there a Hotmail or Yahoo email address? This might not apply to smaller companies or start-ups but it's definitely something to take note of. Make sure you Google the company and do some research. You can also use the Better Business Bureau to research employers. Online you can also go to whois.com and search for the domain name. Who comes up as the Registrant? The company name, or an individual? It is possible that the website domain could be registered under the owner's personal name instead of the company name, so this alone doesn't mean they are a scam. Is it a private registration (you can't get the details)? Again, that alone doesn't mean it's a scam necessarily. Finally, look at the date the domain was registered. If the website gives details about how long the company has been in business and the domain registration differs greatly from that, be wary. If they claim they've been providing work at home jobs for 10 years, but upon looking up the domain name you see they've been online for a couple of months, that's a red flag.
Unwilling to offer information or is too quick to make a decision.
This may seem a little weird because most the time, job seekers sit in agony for days (maybe even weeks or months) over a hiring decision to be made. But sometimes it's good that the decision takes a little longer. Certainly make sure you only accept an offer after you interview. An Employer who is willing to offer a job before they have even interviewed you is definitely a red flag. How does a company that knows nothing about you but a few words on your resume know if you're the right fit, or if they are the right fit for you? Some other red flags are being unable to see where you will be working or meet your coworkers. Also, if during the interview, it seems that the recruiter is not answering any of your questions directly or is unable or unwilling to give a detailed description of the opportunity and job duties that you will be performing, that can also be something to raise caution.
Wants your money.
This is an institution that is supposed to be paying you. If they ask for money to process your application or require a fee, more than likely, this is not a legitimate job opportunity. Now there are some work at home and franchise opportunities that do require a fee to startup, but be sure to do your research on these companies before you invest your cash. Equally, companies that require you to transfer funds, receive and deposit funds or receive packages, particularly from addresses located outside of the United States should also cause you to use caution or drop the opportunity all together.
If you feel that you may have been a victim of fraud or provided too much information to an employer, you can report the incident at the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center or contact the Employment Guide's Customer Service Line at 877-876-4039.
Learn more about current employment scams Better Business Bureau's Employment Scams website. The Federal Trade Commission can offer some helpful information about identity theft and ways to protect yourself.
- Rosie Reilman, Photo by Shavar
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