Say No to Fake Jobs!
Have you ever applied to any newly listed job postings and shortly after, got the response that the position has been filled, only to see the job advert appear again? Sadly you are not the only one. There are hundreds of fake jobs out there and knowing how to navigate through these scams can be quite tricky. I decided to write this blog because I have recently started my own business (Leigh Kenny) and I began noticing how thankful my candidates were after I had placed them in a role, they would tell me that they are so grateful and that they had been to so many agencies in the past, only to be told that the job was no longer available, after taking their time to attend a registration process and filling in copious amounts of information. It made me feel sad to hear this as I would never dream of deliberately getting someone’s hopes up!
I have met many job seekers who have shared with me similar experiences. I understand how frustrating this can be - especially when you have been running from pillar to post to secure a job offer, or you have spent hours filling out application forms.
Personally, I know all too well, as I used to work for an agency when I was in my twenties and this is the exact procedure they would follow, which I never agreed with, but when you are so young and starting out in the big wide world, people tend to try and bend you into their bad ways. This brings me to why I’ve decided to write this blog on the truth behind fake job adverts and how job seekers can steer clear of recruitment scams.
So why do employers or recruitment agencies post fake job adverts?
In the recent years, there has been a proliferation of fake adverts and increasing numbers of companies are blindly following this bizarre trend. Fake job postings are used to create a pipeline of talent in case there is a need in the future. You meticulously fill out all the marked fields and enter your contact details, including email address, phone number and post code – you do all the work without even realising that it’s a ‘mock’ ad. This information then goes straight onto their database for when it’s convenient for them to use you.
Another reason for posting fake job ads is to gauge the market value of certain jobs or skills. The number of applications received is directly proportional to the demand of the position in the current job market.
Therefore, job-seekers need to be aware of recruitment scams and use their knowledge to tell a fake advert from a genuine one.
Although it can be difficult to spot a fake advert, here are a few things to look out for;
A Badly written job description with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors
Overuse of caps, exclamation marks or numbers – for example, “Jobs” spelled as “J0bs” with a zero.
No mention of qualifications, previous experiences or skills required for the job
Sounds too good to be true – then it may well be just that!
Job advert posted by unregistered recruitment agency
Use of free email addresses such as Google, Yahoo or Hotmail – any registered company or staffing agency will always use corporate email address when posting jobs
They ask for money or credit card details
A lot of mainstream high street recruitment agencies follow similar practices, which again saddens me because candidates now have a bad perception of agencies in general, and some of the best candidates refuse point black to deal with any agency. They just do not trust the word ‘agency’ anymore.
I would like to assure you that I abide by the highest standards of recruitment ethics and I’m 100% committed to delivering reliable, efficient and professional services to our clients and candidates alike.
I advertise real jobs. #saynotofakejobs