ASK HR: I really want a job, but I don’t want to fall for con men
I am concerned because three of my friends were recently tricked into parting with money with a false promise of employment. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP
Q. I am searching for job, and would like you to point out some of the signs that I could be interviewing for a fake job opportunity. I am concerned because three of my friends were recently tricked into parting with money with a false promise of employment.
They have been unable to reach the recruiting company for a month now, and recently learnt that the company is no longer in the premises they were based in.
Unsuspecting job seekers are falling prey to the guiles of con artists who advertise amazingly attractive yet spurious job opportunities. The wiles of charlatans in recruitment are plenty, and may not be easy to detect, but some signs could give away a sham job opportunity.
One of them could be a job opportunity that offers a very attractive salary whilst requiring virtually no work experience. For most jobs, some form of experience may at least be preferred if not required as part of minimum qualifications. Be wary of job opportunities where practically anyone with a pulse qualifies for the role. A high salary in such a context could often be the bait for the desperate job seeker.
A job opportunity that requires you to deposit money to an account even before an interview with a representative from the company in question should also be treated with suspicion. Legitimate job opportunities do not ordinarily require payment as part of their criteria. In cases where payment may be required, it is typically made to a recruitment agency after a job has already been secured.
If you are, during an interview, offered what appears to be an attractive long-term job opportunity on the spot, question the authenticity of the employer. Also, overzealousness on the part of an employer is a possible sign that the opportunity may not be genuine. Employers take time to know potential candidates before offering them roles.
Can you find information online about the company that has invited you for an interview? While the availability of information about a company is not a guarantee that it is genuine, if you find none at all, think again.
Importantly, listen to your gut. Intuition is always a handy complement to due diligence.
