Fake job listings are everywhere; Here’s how to avoid them

• Beware of generic website names to avoid recruitment scams and do not provide personal information to untrustworthy sites.

• Check the date of the job postings to make sure the positions you’ve found are timely and haven’t already been filled.

• Avoid promises that feel too good to be true, as they often are.

Job hunting can be a huge hassle and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the processes, and to make matters worse, many listings are outright fake or unreliable, which can make things even more complicated. Instead of risking your personal information or wasting your precious time on fake jobs, learn to spot them and only apply to the ones that will actually lead to something real.

Beware of generic website names

Many companies will use third-party websites or recruiters to handle their application processes, and while they may be trustworthy, it’s important to know which ones are legitimate.

Many job listings on sites like the Google Jobs tab, which shows local job openings, will link to sites with generic names in an attempt to pass themselves off as real recruiters. You may find a listing that takes you to a site called “JobsPostings.com” or something vaguely similar.

These sites often ask for your email address, phone number or other personal information to start sending you marketing emails or recruitment scam links. Job listings in places like post offices or retail stores are common fodder for these types of sites, and the job they claim to offer may not even exist.

To avoid this, it’s best to go through the official career sites or stick to recruiting sites like Indeed or ZipRecruiter that have established reputations. Be sure to look at the domain name and research sites you may not have heard of before to avoid your information being sold or given directly to third parties who want to profit from it.

Check the publication date

While they may not be scams, many of the listings that appear online may be old or outdated, which can result in a waste of time if you apply for a position that has already been filled.

It’s important to check the date of an open and see how long it’s been since the older it is, the more likely your application will be overlooked or never reach anyone. These lists will usually allow you to fill out the application in its entirety, regardless of age, so you’ll want to make sure it’s fairly recent before you commit time.

Old job listings can also be a sign of a potential scam, as fake recruiters will often leave their postings up for weeks and even months at a time to maximize their exposure. While not a surefire sign of cheating, sticking with published listings sooner rather than later will likely save you a lot of time, too.

Avoid flash interview schemes

Another way certain parties will try to get your personal information is by making unreasonable promises about how quickly they can get you an interview. Some apps promise users that they can get an interview in a week or less, without even submitting a resume.

The hiring process for most jobs usually takes longer than that, and without a resume, there’s little reason for employers to consider you for a position. In fact, some of these services have faced criticism in the past for failing to adequately inform the employers they claim to work with about new applicants.

These sites exist to take advantage of the fact that it can sometimes take a while to get an interview, and they take advantage of those looking to land a job quickly. Be careful when a listing starts promising interviews before you’ve even applied or without asking for your resume.

Don’t respond to contacts you didn’t solicit

Sometimes a recruiter manages to get your information one way or another even without a full-on scam, which can lead to a sudden flood of emails, calls and texts offering all kinds of opportunities.

These can range from fake job offers, interview requests or links to vacancies that are not from any official recruiter or company. Before considering them, look at the company or organization they claim to be from and see if similar openings actually exist and avoid giving them any personal information.

It’s always better to go through official channels when looking for a job in almost all cases, but especially when employers you never contacted start contacting you.

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be a recruiter for a job you never applied for or didn’t give your information to, it’s more than likely a scam, and it’s best to hang up immediately and block the number.

When it comes to email and text scams, they often have a certain degree of urgency to encourage you to hand over your information. Many phones will automatically scan them for spam, but if they don’t, it’s best to avoid giving them any significant attention so you don’t accidentally divulge something important.

Be careful with tall promises

Some listings make a lot of lofty claims about what they offer applicants, even beyond unrealistic promises of quick interviews. For example, if you find someone who says they let you choose your own hours or work from home, but doesn’t list themselves as a freelancer, it may be too good to be true.

Some other claims made by these parties may include offers of unrealistic wages or insurance benefits even though they are not listed as full-time work. Be sure to temper your expectations and know what is typically offered for similar positions in the field so you can spot when promises are too good to be true.

Trust the process

Real, honest jobs can take a while to come by, and that’s just the reality of things sometimes. It’s easy to fall into the traps of lofty promises of quick interviews for high-paying jobs, but organizations that really value you as a candidate will need to take the time to review your qualifications, which may take some time .

It can be frustrating to wait days or even weeks to hear back from a potential employer, but the result is likely to be a more satisfying and honest experience. Scammers and fake listings abound, and while they can be tempting at times, it’s best not to give your precious time to unappreciated parties or applications that lead nowhere.

When you’re looking for the next step in your career, or even just looking for a side hustle to make some extra money, keep some of these things in mind to avoid wasting your time. Not everything is always a scam, but sometimes a recruiter hasn’t updated their listings or a post has already been filled before they take it down, so it’s best to pick your battles and stick to the ones with real potential .