Having spent time looking for a position, I came across some unique job offers. Customer service is associated with a company to consumers but what about service to potential employees.
We are not talking about emails involving bank transfers here or winning lotto tickets, but ads on Monster, Career Builder and especially Craig's List where it seems like a daily race to get postings on.
You know the drill, you get an email or call telling you your qualifications are beyond belief and we want to interview you ASAP. It may be a coincidence but sometimes the same posting comes up in different cities under you guessed it different company names. Most of the time they want you to come in today for an interview. You are the player they want. You are LeBron James. Right.
I had one offer where it wasn't exactly explained what I would be doing but I was a perfect fit based on my background. They said to report to a large retail store the next morning where I would be "in training" for eight hours. After some searching on the internet I found out I would sign a paper that would say I would not be paid for the day. No matter how much business I signed. No thanks I told them.
Another was some type of fundraising/membership where you would be trained for three days. Starting with day four if you did not make your quota, you were let go. Terminated if you like that word better.
Here are some red flags to look for when searching for positions online.
1. It has a generic or or vague job title. Customer Service Reps are popular ones.
2. The jobs that indicate that "Telecommuting is Ok". Needless to say this attracts many people and gives them more responses.
3. They fail to list a specific location for the job - i.e. they list no location under the city or area that you are searching.
4. They list a salary or hourly wage that seems too good to be true or too specific like $13.64 - 34.23 / hour. Or guaranteed $2000 a month.
5. They post a job with a title that doesn't match the description.
6. A search for that job title in Google - example "Customer Service Rep Craig's List" and it comes up in many other cities with the exact same job post. Because Craig's List is free - they can easily post the same job post in every city from Oakland to Richmond. From Fremont to Alameda.
7. The description boldly states "No Experience Necessary" but has a promise of high pay.
8. There is no job contact information. A quality job post will tell you who to email or give you a valid company website.
9. A link that is to a home business or multi - level marketing opportunity website. This isn't a JOB - but a business venture. If you were looking for a home business opportunity you would have searched that category.
10. A link that takes you to a job membership site and asks you to register.
11. A quick response to your email inquiry that tells you they have reviewed your resume and you stand head and shoulders above other candidates. At least that makes you feel good.
12. A response to your email inquiry that asks you to sign up for a web-conferencing service so you can be part of a training call.
13. A response to your email inquiry with a name and company that you have trouble locating on Google or Yahoo search.
14. A response to your email inquiry from someone in a foreign country looking to hire people in the United States to handle accounts payable or receivables. How long has this been going on.
15. The same auto response to all of your emails. There isn't a real person at the other end of the email account.
So all in all be careful what you are looking for. Hopefully it won't find you.
We are not talking about emails involving bank transfers here or winning lotto tickets, but ads on Monster, Career Builder and especially Craig's List where it seems like a daily race to get postings on.
You know the drill, you get an email or call telling you your qualifications are beyond belief and we want to interview you ASAP. It may be a coincidence but sometimes the same posting comes up in different cities under you guessed it different company names. Most of the time they want you to come in today for an interview. You are the player they want. You are LeBron James. Right.
I had one offer where it wasn't exactly explained what I would be doing but I was a perfect fit based on my background. They said to report to a large retail store the next morning where I would be "in training" for eight hours. After some searching on the internet I found out I would sign a paper that would say I would not be paid for the day. No matter how much business I signed. No thanks I told them.
Another was some type of fundraising/membership where you would be trained for three days. Starting with day four if you did not make your quota, you were let go. Terminated if you like that word better.
Here are some red flags to look for when searching for positions online.
1. It has a generic or or vague job title. Customer Service Reps are popular ones.
2. The jobs that indicate that "Telecommuting is Ok". Needless to say this attracts many people and gives them more responses.
3. They fail to list a specific location for the job - i.e. they list no location under the city or area that you are searching.
4. They list a salary or hourly wage that seems too good to be true or too specific like $13.64 - 34.23 / hour. Or guaranteed $2000 a month.
5. They post a job with a title that doesn't match the description.
6. A search for that job title in Google - example "Customer Service Rep Craig's List" and it comes up in many other cities with the exact same job post. Because Craig's List is free - they can easily post the same job post in every city from Oakland to Richmond. From Fremont to Alameda.
7. The description boldly states "No Experience Necessary" but has a promise of high pay.
8. There is no job contact information. A quality job post will tell you who to email or give you a valid company website.
9. A link that is to a home business or multi - level marketing opportunity website. This isn't a JOB - but a business venture. If you were looking for a home business opportunity you would have searched that category.
10. A link that takes you to a job membership site and asks you to register.
11. A quick response to your email inquiry that tells you they have reviewed your resume and you stand head and shoulders above other candidates. At least that makes you feel good.
12. A response to your email inquiry that asks you to sign up for a web-conferencing service so you can be part of a training call.
13. A response to your email inquiry with a name and company that you have trouble locating on Google or Yahoo search.
14. A response to your email inquiry from someone in a foreign country looking to hire people in the United States to handle accounts payable or receivables. How long has this been going on.
15. The same auto response to all of your emails. There isn't a real person at the other end of the email account.
So all in all be careful what you are looking for. Hopefully it won't find you.
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