Questions to ask yourself before you apply for the job:

Understand the job description:
  • Is the job description vague?  Can you not identify a job title or duties?  Does it focus on how much you can earn rather than the job itself?
  • Is it an entrepreneurial opportunity; Does it require that you purchase a business start-up kit, subscribe to a business support team, or pay for certification or training?
  • Is it multi-level, where your success may depend on how many others you recruit?
  • Does it require you to purchase an initial product or supplies?
  • Does the company have to “sell” the job to you?
  • Does it ask you to be a “campus representative?”  (You solicit goods or services on campus – which is not allowed on the CCM campus.)
  • Does it offer a good income working from home in your spare time?
About the salary:
  • Does it offer a wide salary range (i.e. “employees can earn from $40K – $80K the first year!”)?
  • Is the salary identified as “potential” earnings?
  • Does the $15.00 refer to per hour, per appointment, per session?
About the company:
  • Is the recruiter email generic such as @gmail, @hotmail, etc.?
  • Does the employer not offer their address?
  • Does the company refer to itself as a start-up, new, or a small private business?
  • Is the company contact the CEO, Co-founder, President, etc.?
The points above do not necessarily mean there is anything specifically wrong with the job or the employer.  Use your good judgment, research the employer, and clarify any questions you may have about a job before accepting any position. WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS…  If the job sounds too good to be true, it probably is… The red flags of a scam:
  • There are numerous grammatical and spelling errors in the description.
  • A high salary is listed with minimal skills required.
  • The employer wants to send you money ahead of time or asks you to involve your personal finances/bank accounts in any way.
  • The job involves mailing items from your home or performing personal shopping.
  • The employer hires you immediately over email or over the phone.
  • The recruiter email does not match the company name/website.
  • When you respond to an ad, you initially receive only a vague recorded message or web page about the job.
  • The offered website only contains information about the job and little or nothing about the employer.
  • There are “get rich quick” promises.
  • The position requires an initial investment on your part.
Some Recent Scams:
  • A scammer uses a real local employer name and website on the job description, but wants candidates to respond to an unrelated email address.
  • Employer requires you to accept mailings, pick up packages, or perform gift shopping using money they send you.
  • Employer asks you to be a payroll/human resources representative where you will pay other employees from money sent to you.
  • You are asked to put magnetic advertising signs on your car and get “paid to drive.”
  • A recruiter requests personal information for a pre-employment background check prior to an in-person interview.
  • A student is asked to purchase gift cards and then send the PIN numbers to his new boss who is traveling on business.
  • Fake social media pages/profiles sharing job opportunities. Verify that the recruiter or employer social media account is genuine before you click to apply.
AVOID SCAMS – Research the Company Research the employer to see if they are legitimate: Check companies through websites like the Better Business Bureau, local Chambers of Commerce, and other listings. If an address is provided, check it on a satellite map. If you search the internet using key phrases, such as “fraudulent job postings” or “Scam job postings,” you’ll come up with many online articles and reports, such as: http://talkabout.hubpages.com/hub/Job-Hunting–10-Red-Flags-that-the-Job-Post-in-Craigs-List-may-be-a-Scam If you Google the company name with the word “scam” in the phrase (e.g., “ACME Inc scam”), you will get a variety of internet hits associated with the company. Know that some of the links that come up may be just chatter – but there may also be articles or references to viable information. Google the job title or part of the description.  Does the same job description appear across the country with using different company names? Also try: http://www.ripoffreport.com for scam reports. What to do if you discover you’ve been scammed
  • You should immediately contact the local police. The police are responsible for conducting an investigation (regardless of whether the scam artist is local or in another state).
  • Report the scam to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov).
  • If you have sent money to a fraudulent employer, you should contact you bank and/or credit card company immediately to close the account and dispute the charges.
  • File a complaint with the FTC.
  • For problems with an employment-service firms, contact the appropriate state licensing board (if these firms must be licensed in your state), your state Attorney General, and your local consumer protection agency.