She Strengthens

Navigating the Treacherous Waters of Online Job Hunting

As a recent college graduate, I thought I was prepared for the challenges of finding a job in my field of study, Communications. But what I wasn’t aware of was the prevalence of scamming and unethical hiring practices that lurk in the online job-hunting space.

The Dark Side of Online Job Listings

In my enthusiasm to get my resume out there, I listed it on various job websites, unaware of the potential risks. This opened the door to being contacted by anyone, including scammers. While I did receive some genuine inquiries, it wasn’t long before the less reputable sides of the web started to creep into my inbox.

The “Administrator Recruitment Secretary” Scam

One of the first red flags I encountered was a text message from a number I didn’t recognize, claiming to be from a well-known brokerage firm in New York City. The message stated that their human resources team had reviewed my resume and wanted to schedule an interview for a translation position in their accounting department. Alarm bells started ringing, but I decided to play along to see what would happen. The “interview” was a comedy of errors, with the “HR Coordinator” using the name of one of the firm’s executives and sending a contract of employment with a request for sensitive personal information. Needless to say, I quickly reported them to the job listing site and the firm they were impersonating.

The “Entry Level Marketing Communications” Scam

Another experience that left a sour taste in my mouth was a job listing for an “Entry Level Marketing” position. The initial response was enthusiastic, but things took a turn for the worse when I realized it was a group Zoom call with about thirty potential applicants. The company representative presented a PowerPoint about their company structure and what they were looking for in potential applicants, but it was clear that it was a sales pitch. The one-on-one interview that followed was a PowerPoint presentation about the company’s structure, and I was told that all employees start out as “account executives” and work their way up to communications and marketing positions over time. When I asked about the starting salary, I was shocked to learn that it was a base pay of $250 per month, with the rest of the income to be made via commission from sales.

The Fake Company’s Fake Job

The last example I want to share is a head-scratcher. I applied to a marketing communications position with a company that branded itself as a marketing and advertising firm. The website had many incomplete pages, no listed executives, and an address that was actually a pet supply store. Despite my reservations, I decided to test it out and scheduled a Zoom interview. But when the time came, I never received a Zoom invite, and my follow-up email was met with silence. It still confuses me what they were trying to achieve.

Protecting Yourself in the Online Job Market

So, what can you do to avoid falling prey to these scams? Here are some tips:

• Research the company thoroughly, and be wary of job listings that use clichés or have multiple job responsibilities.
• Be cautious of group Zoom “interviews” or unusual interview methods.
• If a company is withholding information about themselves, be hesitant to share your personal information.
• A company’s website and method of conducting themselves can speak volumes. Is their website professional, informative, and in working order?

Remember, it’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to online job hunting. Don’t be afraid to trust your instincts – if something feels off, it probably is.