Job Scams Craigs List Internet
There are lots of ways to look for jobs out on the internet and sadly due to the economic times there are also lots of fly by night companies coming up promising the moon and offering nothing in return. How can you steer clear of these agencies and also look for a job? Here are some great tips and things to look out for.
1) If you have to pay to work it usually isn't worth it. And I am not talking about the legions of work from home jobs that you have to pay 30-50 just to get started and a subscription fee. Those are easy. I am talking about the other job and job agencies that you have to pay to join as they "promise to get you a job". There are literally tens of temporary agencies that are out there that are free to join and will ask for nothing other than your time and effort. There are also jobs that say "Oh we want to hire you but you have to sign up for a "free" credit check". I have avoided these like the plague as I am not about to pay into a "free" credit check (which wasn't free) to have a chance at a job. A good company will do all of that FOR you and not ask you to pay a dime.
2) An easy way to root out the fakes from the real job prospects are the salary requirements. If for example you are skilled in Data Entry and you're perusing Craigs List for a job and you see a job with a $9-12 per hour salary it's more than likely legitimate. However if you see the same job with 16-25 salary per hour then it's more than likely it's a scam. Like I said before there are people that are out there who are desperate and if they can gyp you out of money you've saved with the promise of a job they will do so.
3) Headhunters are now rampant and they will do anything to get you into a job that you may not be qualified for or may not want. Granted these places may give you a signing bonus or whatever else but most of the jobs they're searching for are sales oriented job. And if you're not a salesman like me then you might want to steer clear of these types of jobs. A true story, I received a call late last week for a job interview over at a company. The guy on the phone was a headhunter and he was rushing me and pushing me to go to the job. I relented like an idiot and now I called and said "Look, I have procured a job and I won't be making this meeting sorry." Why did I do that? Two reasons: A) It was more than likely a sales job and I said before I am not a salesman and B) It was sales catering to older people for life insurance and all that.. great.. so it's a company trying to swindle old people out of money? No thanks. I have a conscience.
In closing I know how hard it is to get a job and how demanding it can be as well as taxing. I wouldn't jump at the first thing that came my way (as I did that in the past and paid for it with only being employed in a company for a week before they stated they were "phasing out my department. Which was funny as the same company had a ad on CL a week later looking for the same job that I was fired for). Take your time, do your research, ask questions and if you get a strange feeling walk away from it. There are plenty of honest companies to work for and i'd rather do that and take a pay cut than work for a less than reputable organization.
