How to avoid employment scams

You will learn how to avoid an employment scam by following this advice.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• access to the internet or local library
• a little common sense

1. Conduct an Internet search for the company name or hiring manager in question online using Google, Yahoo, or another search engine.

2. Use multiple word names in quotations, i.e. "Pereira Marketing Group" or "Jane Doe". Conduct another search with the company and person's name together "Pereira Marketing Group" and "Jane Doe".

3. Look through all search results and use Ctrl+F to find that name or word on the site's page.

4. Read every single word on the company in question's website. Answer the following questions:
   1. How long have they been in business?
   2. How long has the owner been in the business?
   3. Do they have company projections? A mission statement? Investor's links?
   4. How many employees do they have?
   5. How many locations do they have?
   
   An authentic company website would have this information, or have someone you can contact to ask this information. If not, be wary.

Tips & Warnings

• 1. Never give personal bank account information to a new employer until after you have received your first traditional paycheck. Then sign up with direct deposit.
• 2. Any authentic employer would be upfront about salary/commission figures in the final interview or in their offer.
• 3. Never accept a position if you do not understand your compensation and benefits.
• 4. If you are still unsure if the company is a scam or not, check with www.ripoffreport.com or the Better Business Bureau to see if that company is listed.
• In the job search process, you can get depressed and frustrated. These scamming companies are the quickest to respond to your resume submission and the best in treating you like you are a top candidate.
• If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is - so be thorough in your research.

[stevemar2]

on 5/7/2009 Very useful and informative article! I got an e-mail yesterday about a job opportunity. My initial reaction is that it is some sort of scam. I am going to do more research, but I just don't think it is legitimate.