Job Search Archives - Job Hunt Solutions

Top Tips for Attending Job Fairs

September 13 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: interview tips, Job Fairs, Job Search Advice, Job Search Tips

Job fairs are a great way to maximize your exposure to a wide variety and a large number of potential employers. This is true for both campus job fairs for students, and job fairs aimed at experienced professionals.

Job Fair Tips

Job fairs can be overwhelming, but there is a method for optimizing your time and for making a great first impression:

Pre-Register – even in cases where it is not mandatory to pre-register, I recommend you do. Typically, you will have the opportunity to share your resume with employer attendees, providing you with exposure even before attending the fair.
Review & Research Employers – before you attend the job fair, do your homework. Most job fairs will make the list of employer attendees available to job seekers. Be sure to take the time to research each employer and be sure to review their career site. In doing so, you will be better able to articulate how your skills will match their needs.
Rank the Employers – it is not necessary to meet with every employer at a job fair. After reviewing and researching the list of employer attendees, make note of the A (definitely want to meet), B (would be interested in meeting), and C (not interested in meeting) companies. If there is a map of the employer booths, you can strategize the best path for seeing your A and B list companies.
Bring Resumes & Business Cards – you should bring copies of your resume in case the employer(s) ask for one. In the case that an employer is not accepting hard copy resumes, consider printing out personalized business cards. This way the employer will have your contact information at the ready.
Dress for Success – think of meeting employers at a job fair like a mini job interview. As such, you should dress accordingly. Keep in mind, however, that you could be on your feet for an extended period of time. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
Prepare Questions – if you have done your research, you shouldn’t need to ask the employer what the company does. Having great questions that are specific to the employer is a great way to stand out among the other job seekers.
Body Language is Key – your body language is a key contributor of an employer’s first impression of you. As such, try not to fidget or chew gum, be sure to maintain eye contact, and have a firm handshake.
Elevator Pitch – an elevator pitch is your 30-60 second sound bite on your skills, experience, and passion points. It’s a summary of how you can fill the needs of an employer.
Don’t be a Time Hog – speaking as someone who has been a recruiter representing an organization at job fairs, it is difficult to deal with those job seekers who fire off a barrage of questions. Not only is this frustrating to the other job seekers who are in line to speak with the recruiter, but it also doesn’t leave a good first impression. Be sure to ask questions, but be aware of your surroundings.

Final Thoughts

Job fairs are like speed dating, but for jobs. You have the opportunity to meet with a number of employers in one venue. As such, it is important to keep track of the employers with whom you have met and any information they may have shared with you. After the job fair, follow up with the employers of interest via email. Make mention of any conversation points you shared and express your continued interest in the organization. As a result, this could lead to a formal interview and potentially, your next job!

I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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Top Sources for Your Job Search

August 30 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: Job Search Sources, where to begin a job search, Where to Find a Job

I’ve received feedback from a number of clients regarding applying to jobs online. The concern is that most jobs are found through networking or internal employee referrals. Although there are a number of articles to support this concern, it isn’t the whole story.

How Recruiters Find Candidates

A recruiter’s job is to find qualified candidates to fill open job opportunities. Let’s take a look at how recruiters search for qualified candidates so that you as the job seeker can be found by recruiters.

Most large organizations will have an internal recruitment department. The same holds true for mid-sized organizations. Like any other department within an organization, the recruitment department will have a budget. They will also need to justify how they are spending their budget. A recruitment department’s budget will be allocated to those activities which result in a successful hire. These activities include investing in social media sites (i.e. LinkedIn), posting job ads on job boards, leveraging recruitment agencies, and in their own recruitment systems (or ATSs). To justify the use of this investment, the recruitment department must demonstrate that they have successfully hired a mix of candidates through these channels in as well as leveraging internal employee referrals.

With this in mind, it is imperative that you have a multi-channel strategy for your job search, inclusive of networking. In other words, be sure to apply to jobs that you see posted online including on your target companies’ career sites, network with recruitment agencies, and increase your presence on social media. You can increase your social media presence through writing a blog, sharing interesting articles related to your chosen field, or commenting on social media posts. By doing this you will boost your presence as an authority in your field.

Final Thoughts

Although there are many benefits for an organization when they hire candidates through employee referrals, most organizations realize the value in diversifying their candidate mix. After all, if an organization only hires candidates through internal employee referrals, they run the risk of Group Think. In other words, if an organization only hires the friends of their employees, they risk having teams of employees who all think the same way. By diversifying the candidate mix, the organization is far more likely to have diversity of thought among their teams. This diversity of thought is a key competitive advantage in the ever-changing business world. As a savvy job seeker, you too should diversify the sources you use in your job search.

I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

For personalized advice, click here.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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Job Searching: Is it a Good Sign When….?

August 11 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: Interview Advice, interview tips, Job Search Advice, Job Search Tips

I have received a number of questions from job seekers asking if there are certain key indicators that would suggest that they will be successful in moving along the recruitment life cycle. Specifically, I was asked if a positive response to a thank you letter, questions of salary and availability, and/or discussions of next steps would be a good sign.

As usual, the short answer is: it depends. Let’s look at each of these indicators in more detail to see if there are any insights you can glean.

Possible Good Signs

Taking a look at the three indicators I am most commonly asked about, we have:

Positive Response from Thank You Letter – it is not necessary to respond to a thank you letter. That said, I was recently asked if this is a good sign, or indicator, that you would be selected for a next round interview. Unfortunately, it isn’t necessarily an indicator that you would be moving forward. However, it could be a good indicator of the company culture. At the very least, it is a strong indication of the attitude of the responder. This is also a good indicator that the responder likes you, which is always positive, regardless of the outcome.
Questions on Salary and/or Availability – this indicator depends on timing. For instance, during a telephone interview or pre-screen, the interviewer may ask about these line items simply because they need the information to make a short-list decision. As such, this alone is not an indicator that you are likely to move forward in the process (unless otherwise mentioned). On the other hand, if you are asked about salary and/or availability during a final round interview, this may be a strong indicator that you are being seriously considered for the role. This is especially true if the conversation becomes more like a negotiation.
Next Steps Discussion – a common question asked of interviewers is that of next steps. Many interviewers, anticipating this question, will simply outline the next steps in their recruitment process. In this case, it should not be considered an indication either way of your candidacy. If, however, the interviewer informs you of next steps and schedules a next round interview, then you know that you are still in the running.

Although each of these key indicators are potentially good signs that you would be moving forward in the recruitment process, it is important to consider these indicators in the context of timing.

Final Thoughts

Unless and until you have a job offer in hand, it is important to continue along your job search journey. Anything can happen in the recruitment process that could result in you no longer being in the running for a particular position – even in spite of the positive indicators that you might receive.

I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

For personalized advice, click here.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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How to Turn an Interview Rejection into a Networking Opportunity

August 07 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: Interview Advice, Interview rejection, Networking

For anyone who has gone through the process of interviewing for jobs, you know that rejection comes with the territory. But, as the saying goes, when a door closes, a window opens. In the case of a job interview rejection, the window of opportunity is that of networking or generating job leads.

Steps to Generate a Networking Contact

Being rejected after an interview is never fun, but it doesn’t have to be the end of the story. Here are some key steps you can take to turn that rejection into a networking or job lead opportunity:

Ask for Feedback – as a best practice, ask your contact person for feedback on your interview performance. Having constructive feedback will help you pinpoint those areas that need improvement.
Attitude of Gratitude – think of the feedback you receive as a gift. It is aimed at helping you improve, which in turn will help you potentially land your next job. As such, thank the person providing you with the feedback, assure them that you will focus your attention on improving in the area(s) they listed, and then ask them to keep you in mind for opportunities they hear of within their organization or network.
Follow Up – although you may ask for feedback, you may not always receive it. If you haven’t heard anything in about a week, send a follow-up email expressing your continued interest in the organization and passion for the chosen career. You can also ask your contact to keep you in mind for any opportunities they hear of within their organization or network (as per above). Finally, in your email, you can also invite your contact to provide any feedback that would help you improve moving forward.

It may feel uncomfortable to ask for leads, but bear in mind, recruiters do this all the time. When I worked as a recruiter and a candidate indicated that they were not interested in an opportunity I was trying to fill, then I would always ask that person for referrals. In much the same way, if you find yourself out of the running for one job, then you can ask for job leads.

Be sure to keep in touch with those who have provided you with feedback and/or referrals. Send them an update on your job search, especially when you land your next job.

Final Thought

As I have mentioned in previous posts, you never know who you might know who could lead to your next job. Tapping into the network of a person you interviewed with may prove to be the window of opportunity you need. As such, don’t limit your ask to just a hiring manager.

I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

For personalized advice, you click here.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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How to Conduct a Keyword Search on Job Boards

August 04 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: Job Search Advice, job search keywords, Job Search Tips

Searching for jobs online can feel like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Although upwards of 80% of jobs are found through networking, there are still a number of jobs that are found through applying to jobs that are posted online. As such, it is important that you include keyword job searches as part of your overall strategy.

Finding the Right Keywords to Use

The approach to finding the most relevant roles online is through using the right keywords in your search. Here’s the rub: determining the right keywords to use is a practice in trial and error. That said, there are a few steps you can take to find the most appropriate keywords:

Think of the Job Ad – ask yourself what your dream job would look like and how would the job ad be written. Think of the keywords that might be found in the job ad.
Start Broad, then Narrow – when starting your keyword search, start with using just the generic job title and see how many results are returned. If the search is too broad, add more keywords to the search string to narrow down the results. As an example, if you are looking for a project management role in construction for the mining industry, you may want to start by using the keywords project manager. Likely there will be hundreds of results, most of which would not be relevant. From there you can add the keyword construction. You will find more relevant roles, but they may not be industry specific. Continue adding more keywords to the search string until you find roles that would be of interest.
Save your Search – once your keywords return relevant results, save the search. Many job boards have such a “search agent” functionality, automating your keyword search.
Look for Themes – as you find relevant roles, see if you can spot themes in terms of the keywords used. Not only can you use these keywords in your future job searches, but you can also pepper these keywords (truthfully) throughout your resume.

Final Thoughts

There are more advanced techniques for conducting any sort of database search. Using Boolean operators, such as AND, NOT, and OR are examples of such techniques. Although it is out of the scope of this blog post, if you are interested in learning about conducting Boolean searches, there are numerous resources available online. The bottom line is that conducting a keyword search is not an exact science. Through practice and trial and error, you will develop this fundamental researching skill.

I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

For personalized advice, click here.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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How to Make the Most out of Your Summer Job Search

July 31 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: Job Search Advice, Job Search Strategies, Job Search Tips

Conventional wisdom dictates that job opportunities all but vanish during the summer months. After all, the summer is a prime time for vacations. As such, many job seekers take the summer off from their job search. Unfortunately for them, this theory is simply not true. Even during the summer, people change jobs and companies identify hiring needs. It is true that the summer is prime vacation season, but that only means that the hiring process can be delayed as a result. Business still goes on, and the hiring process, slow though it may be, will continue.

As a savvy job seeker, this is a great time to continue your job search. If most other job seekers take the summer off from their job search, then there is less competition in the market. With less competition, the higher your odds for landing an interview. We have approximately 5 weeks left of summer, so even if you had taken most of the summer time off from your job search, it’s not too late to begin.

Create a Job Search Action Plan

There is a lot that can be accomplished during the next 5 weeks in terms of your job search. The key is to remain focused – and the easiest way to stay focused is to come up with an action plan. Here are the key elements for your action plan:

Marketing Material – during this first week, take the time to gather your marketing material. This would include updating your resume and creating a cover letter template. I have a templated cover letter, which you can download for free here. In addition, I have a free follow up and thank you template that you can find here.
Create Lists – I recommend you create three lists: your target company list (companies for whom you are interested in working), a list of 2-3 recruitment agencies you would like to target, and a list of networking contacts (former colleagues, friends, former supervisors).
Create a Schedule & Stick to It – you can start by listing the tasks you need to accomplish, the time each task will take, and how much capacity or time you will have each week for the tasks you have listed. The tasks would include searching and applying for jobs, making networking connections, and attending networking meetings and interviews. The time it takes for each of these tasks will vary, but be sure to build in time for all of the elements that each task entails. For example, the task of attending an interview should include your research time, the time it takes to get to the interview (with extra time to arrive early), time for the interview, travel time home, and time to write thank you letters, etc. Based on the tasks and timelines, you can start to create targets for the upcoming weeks.

As you are creating your action plan, specifically your schedule, be sure to include any additional development tasks. For example, if you want to take an online course or volunteer, build that into your schedule.

Final Thoughts

We still have a lot of summer left. I would encourage you to spend time with your friends and family. This is a great time for attending barbecues, weddings, and other events. You can take advantage of these opportunities to continue your job search and network. As I’ve said before, you never know who you know who might be the lead to your next job!

I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

For personalized advice, check out the services section here.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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How Job Hunting is Like Dating

July 17 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: Bag the Job, Job Application, Job Hunting

For many years recruiters have said that recruiting is like dating. Although this is a lighthearted approach, there is some truth to this claim. If recruiting is like dating, then so too is job hunting.

Although this may be a simplistic analogy, it may help to put some perspective around your job search journey. Job hunting is a daunting task, but by looking at it through a more humorous frame, it may help to alleviate some of the stress. I get it, some of you might be saying “but dating is a daunting task as well.” Though this may be true for some, I hope you find that dating is at least a little bit more enjoyable than job hunting.

6 Ways Job Hunting is Like Dating

Know what you’re looking for. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, if you don’t know what it is you’re looking for, how will you know that you’ve found it? As an example, in the dating world, you may be looking for a long-term relationship or a short-term, casual relationship. This is similar to your job search. It would be the difference between a permanent and a contract position.
The medium you use. Using online sources is quintessential to both job searching and dating. That said, another critical medium is your own network. You can almost think of this like being set up on a blind date.
Looks good on paper. Once you’ve read through numerous job ads, you will decide to which roles you wish to apply. Similarly, as recruiters sift through countless resumes, they too will decide which applicants they wish to speak with. This will all be based on each parties’ criteria for pre-selecting a potential match. Once a potential match is identified, then an initial screen is scheduled. In the dating world, this could be a coffee meeting. In the job search world, this could be a telephone interview.
Interview. You can think of this as the courtship phase. Courting in dating may take a much longer time than the interview stage in your job search. That said, you still want to make sure that you are presenting the best version of yourself. Making sure that you look your best and that you say the right things are just as important as being honest and authentic. Keep in mind, this courtship phase is a two-way street. You should be interviewing the potential employer as much as they are interviewing you.
Probationary Period. Similar to the “dating exclusively” phase of your courtship, your probationary period begins when you start with the new organization. It typically will last about three months from the time you start the new role. During this time you are “feeling each other out” to ensure that what was presented during the Interview stage (or courtship stage) is true to life. It is for this reason that it is critical that you are authentic and truthful during the interview stage.
Full-Time, Permanent Employment. Once you have passed the probationary period, you would be considered a permanent employee. Keep in mind, while in the probationary period, you too should be confirming that the employer is the right fit for you as well. At this point, you are officially “going steady.” As a point of note, although this stage may not be relevant for contract opportunities, it is still critical to be authentic during the interview stage and during the contract term. The role may lead to a permanent opportunity or even future contracts.

Final Thoughts

Much like in dating, it is important that you broaden your horizons in terms of the types of organizations to which you wish to apply. There are a number of organizations that are very popular and “sexy.” As a result, there will be a lot of competition for roles within such organizations. By keeping an open mind and looking for potential in different organizations, you will be broadening the playing field. As such, you may even find an opportunity outside of the popular organizations which may be a better fit for you.

I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, happy hunting!

For personalized advice, check out the services section here.

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5 Tips for Dealing with Rejection during your Job Search

July 10 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: Job Search Rejection, Job Search Tips

Searching for a job is a full-time job. Depending on how long your job search lasts, it can be both frustrating and exhausting. Many people will have to face rejection from time to time during their job search – it is extremely rare that for every job to which a person applies they will receive an offer of employment. Here are my top 5 tips for dealing with rejection during your job search:

Acknowledge Feelings – staying motivated during your job search can sometimes seem like a Herculean task when faced with rejection. It is important to acknowledge your negative feelings so that you can process them effectively. If you start to feel overwhelmed by these feelings, be sure to speak with someone who can help.
Perspective – if you find that you are not progressing beyond a certain point in your job search, keep in mind that it’s not personal. The job market is highly competitive. The hiring decisions that organizations are faced with are increasingly difficult as a result.
Be Objective – try to notice patterns of where you have dropped off in the recruitment process. This will give you insight into what you may need to improve. For example, if you are rejected before you are invited to interview, perhaps your resume needs work. Alternately, you may not be applying to the right roles. Finally, if you are rejected during the interview stage, your frustration with your job search may be shining through in your interviews. It is important to try to stay as positive as possible for your interviews to avoid this pitfall.
Ask for Feedback – as a best practice, you should send a thank you letter to the interviewers. If you are rejected after an interview, take the opportunity to ask for their constructive feedback. You can also ask for suggestions on how you can improve. You may not always get feedback, but the insight you will gain will help you on your journey. Further, given that not many applicants ask for feedback, you will stand out. As such, this may position you at the top of the candidate list when the organization is in the market to hire again.
Seek Positive Outlets – make sure you reach out to your support group. People such as friends, mentors, and former colleagues would likely provide you with much-needed encouragement. Volunteering is another great outlet. Contributing to a cause that is important to you will boost your spirits. Finally, exercise is a wonderful way to clear your mind. Countless studies have shown the physical and mental benefits of exercise. This doesn’t mean you have to join a gym. You can go for a walk, cycle, or swim – whatever best suits you.

Final Thoughts

It is important to keep your job search active. When we see our dream job posted with our dream company, it is tempting to focus on that opportunity. In doing so, we may neglect to continue to apply to other suitable roles. If this so-called dream job were to fall through for any reason, and you haven’t kept your job search active, then you may find yourself having to start your job search from the beginning. It is vital that until you have a job offer in hand that you keep your job search active to avoid any delays in the process.

I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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Recruitment Life Cycle: What to Expect While you Wait

June 30 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: Job Application, Job Hunting

I have received a number of questions from (somewhat frustrated) job seekers regarding how long they should wait during each stage of the recruitment process. The main source of frustration comes from the long periods of time that can pass without any feedback. So to understand why this might be the case, let’s take a look at the recruitment life cycle.

Recruitment Life Cycle

There are 5 key components in the recruitment life cycle (from the organization’s point of view):

Need Identification – here the organization identifies a need, obtains approvals, and prepares their marketing material (i.e. job description). This is the behind the scenes stage of the recruitment life cycle.
Sourcing – the point at which the organization posts the role online and receives applicants. In many cases, recruiters will actively search for candidates in their network as well.
Screening – during this phase, recruiters will review resumes, conduct telephone screens, and schedule interviews. In addition, interviews will be conducted by the hiring team.
Selection – as the name suggests, this is the point at which a successful job seeker is selected. An offer letter is extended and background checks are conducted during this stage.
Onboarding – once the successful job seeker becomes a new hire, they will enter this final stage of the recruitment life cycle.

For the job seeker, the recruitment journey starts at the Sourcing stage, and ends at the Onboarding stage. As such, the focus of this post will be on the Sourcing, Screening, and Selection stages.

On the inside, the overall timeline for these three steps is 6 weeks, broken down as follows: 2 weeks to source, 2 weeks to interview, and 2 weeks’ notice. So to break this down even further, let’s look at each of these stages separately.

Sourcing

Typically, when a recruiter receives a new, approved role, they will post the role for two weeks. That said, there are a number of factors that can impact this timeline, such as:

Organization is Unionized: the role may be posted for varying durations, depending on what is in the collective bargaining agreement.
Recruitment System Set-Up: depending on how the recruitment system is set up, the role may be automatically taken offline at a specified time. Alternately, the role may remain online until it is filled.
Recruiter Preference: similar to the automated recruitment system set up, a recruiter may wish to organize her/his desk and workload by either having roles remain online or go off line after a specified period of time.

Given that there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to job postings, it is usually better to apply to roles sooner rather than later.

Screening

As mentioned, a role may remain online until it is filled. Hence, this stage can begin in tandem with the sourcing stage. In other words, as the organization conducts their interviews, they may also continue to receive resumes from job seekers. As a result, the screening process may be extended to accommodate last minute applicants.

Additionally, depending on the level of the role or organizational policies, there may be several rounds of interviews. The greater the number of rounds of interviews, the longer the timeline for the screening phase. Coupled with this, the timeframe is highly dependent on the availability of both the interviewers and interviewees. Coordinating interviews with multiple parties can be challenge to accomplish in a timely manner.

Although most organizations would like to have this phase wrapped up within two weeks, it can take four weeks or longer.

Selection

This stage typically begins when an offer letter is extended to the successful candidate. There are a number of factors that can impact the duration of this phase, such as:

Job Seeker’s Notice Period – in North America, an employee is typically required to provide two-week’s notice when they leave their current position. This can vary, however.
Background Checks – depending on the background checks required for the role or organization, this process can take several weeks to complete.
Counter Offer or Competing Offer – if the successful candidate receives more than one offer, they will take time to consider their options, thereby delaying this phase.
Offer Rescinded or Rejected – the organization may rescind the offer of employment if a potential new hire does not pass this final stage. Alternately, the prospective new hire may reject the offer of employment in favour of another offer. In either case, the organization may need to start their search from scratch, thereby extending the overall recruitment life cycle.

In many cases, an organization will wait to reject the unsuccessful job applicants until this phase has been completed and a new hire has been confirmed. As such, it could take weeks and even months before a job seeker receives any feedback on their candidacy.

Final Thoughts

In addition to all of the factors mentioned throughout this post, seasonality can be a final factor that can impact the recruitment life cycle. For example, during the summer months the overall recruitment process can be drawn out due to accommodating interviewer/interviewee vacation schedules.

Remember, it may take several weeks from the time you apply to a role until you hear from the organization. Being aware of what you can expect at each stage of the recruitment life cycle should help to minimize any frustrations you may feel along your job search journey.
I hope you found this post helpful. If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you. Also, for personalized advice, check out the services section here.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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8 Tell-Tale Signs of a Job Scam

June 12 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: job scam, Job Search Tips

An unfortunate reality is that of scam artists or con artists, and they can appear when we least expect them. We see con artists depicted in Hollywood movies and TV. We hear of various scams on the news. One type of scam that is becoming more common is the Job Scam. So, how can you identify if a job is legitimate or a scam? Here are my top 8 tips:

Immediate Offer – In some cases, you may be sent an email with a job offer. These emails may mention that they have seen your profile or resume online and that they would like to hire you for their current opening. Most employers are required to do their due diligence when selecting a person to hire, and this includes conducting interviews. If you are given an offer without as much as an interview, this is a clear sign that the job is a scam.
Interview via IM – Job scammers have become wise to the first tell-tale sign, and as such, they may ask you for an interview. Employers typically conduct interviews, but legitimate employers will interview via telephone, Skype, or in person. Job scammers tend to rely on Instant Messenger to interview.
Poor Spelling & Grammar in Job Ad – this refers to obvious spelling and grammar mistakes. One way to check for grammar and spelling mistakes is to copy the job description to MS Word and run a spell check and grammar check. In addition, you can also use the free Grammarly add-on for your word processing program. This will give you an added layer of scrutiny.
E-mail Address – Legitimate companies will have a website, and their employees will have a company specific email address. If you receive an email from a non-professional domain, such as Gmail, Yahoo, or Live, then this is another tell-tale sign that the job might be a scam.
Ask You to Pay – Legitimate employers will never ask you to transfer money to them for any reason. Job scammers, however, may ask you to transfer money to them for things like training, software updates, or immigration services.
Personal Information – Although you will need to send your personal details such as Social Insurance Number and date of birth to an employer as per their background check process, this is usually conducted near the end of their recruitment process. As such, if this information is requested before the interview, this could be a sign that the job is a scam. In addition, be wary of any websites to which you need to upload your personal information. The web address should begin with “https”, where the “s” stands for secure. Otherwise, you will be uploading your personal information to an unsecured site, which means that your personal details could be compromised.
Bank Details – Legitimate employers will need your banking details in order to pay you. Be wary if a prospective employer asks for additional banking information, such as the answers to your security questions or for your PIN number. Unless you receive an offer of employment from a banking institution, employers will not ask you to open a bank account with a specific bank, and again, they will not ask you for the PIN number or security answers for your newly opened account.
Intuition – Finally, trust your intuition. If you believe a job might be a scam, be sure to proceed with extra caution and do your research!

What to do if you Suspect a Job is a Scam?

First, and for every role, it is highly recommended that you conduct thorough research on the organization and on the people with whom you will be meeting. That said, some of the savvier scam artists have “borrowed” LinkedIn profiles of legitimate people. Be sure to take note of the LinkedIn profile to see how many connections a person has (i.e. do they have any connections?), if the profile is complete, and if there is more than one person with the same name at the same company. LinkedIn is an excellent resource that I often recommend job seekers use in their job search. Although LinkedIn cannot control the creation of fake profiles, they are extremely diligent in ensuring that such profiles are removed.

Second, if you suspect that you have been contacted by a job scammer, be sure to report it to the local police, or in Canada to the RCMP’s fraud unit. This will help curtail job scams and will help us to protect each other from such scams.

Finally, be sure to share your experience with others and share this video. If you have been a target of such job scams or know of someone who has been, please do leave a comment below. The more we are aware of these types of scams and are able to help others identify them, we will all be better off.

Final Thoughts

Most of the job advertisements that you come across will be legitimate. It is important to recognize that job scams exist and to know the tell-tale signs. As such, please be sure to be mindful of these signs and to report and share your findings.

Until next time, happy hunting!