TALKING BUSINESS: Potholes to look out for when job hunting
Job hunting can be a vulnerable exercise, and there are many scams out there.
Consider the following tips when job hunting, and avoid these situations at all costs.
1. You should never have to pay anyone to help you find a job. Recruitment agencies are not allowed to charge a fee to a work seeker. However, some agencies do offer a valued added service such as preparing a professional CV and the like. These services can be charged for as they are optional extras.
2. Don’t give out any personal information such as your full home address or ID number until you have met the recruiter in person, or feel comfortable dealing with them. Never give out your bank details. Often this information is requested from scam artists offering ‘work from home’ opportunities.
3. Be careful when arranging a meeting place. If you are invited to a company take a look at their website beforehand, confirm the address and make sure you are going to a legitimate venue. If the recruiter works from home and wants to arrange a meeting place, make sure it is in a public place, like a coffee shop. If you are invited to attend an interview at someone’s home (there are many legitimate businesses that are based at home), never go alone (even if it means your companion waits in the car)
4. Be wary of information you initially send when applying for jobs on free websites. It is a good idea to email the advertiser and ask for a business email address so that you can submit your CV straight to them. This way you know who you are sending your details to.
5. Create an email address for job-hunting purposes to avoid using your personal or work account.
6. If you get a job offer without having had an interview either in person or via Skype, know that this is a scam. There is not a legitimate company out there that will make you an offer of employment without having done some form of interview first.
7. Do not resign from your current position until you have a formal offer in writing which should state at the very least the commencement date, hours of work and salary.
Often one’s vision can be clouded out of desperation, but learn to trust your gut and remember the old saying: if it is too good to be true, then it probably is.
Lyndsay Massyn is a recruitment specialist at RME Recruitment.
