Avoiding Scammers When Job Searching

Finding a job in the age of World Wide Web has become much simpler than it used to be and nowadays you don’t have to wear out your feet going from one office to another to leave out resumes. While this, more personal approach may have some unexpected positive outcomes, you can be so much more productive by simply applying for the jobs online. And while this is excellent because it gives you so many opportunities, these online job quests can have some potentially problematic aspects that you need to be aware of at all times.

Scammers have found ingenious ways to take advantage of people in desperate need of employment, which is unfortunate but still true. However, this threat shouldn’t put you off of finding a job online, but you should take extra care about your web security and privacy. This is why the topic of this article is how to avoid scammers when doing your job search.

Be Mindful When Applying

Our resumes contain a huge amount of data about us and any piece of that information can be used against us if someone’s really keen to bring us down. This is why you need to be extremely careful with how much details you’re sharing with the potential employers or resume databases.

Scammers are able to take full advantage of the fact that you left your address on your resume and can seriously endanger not just your virtual, but also your physical security. Of course, this is a more extreme example, but you get the gist of how much damage you could inflict just by not carefully managing your internet presence. We strongly advise to do a checkup of any resume database you’re thinking sending your resume to and if you see any alarming “it’s fake” reviews, just move on. Needless to say that you should steer clear from ever sharing any of your confidential information online, which includes your SSN (Social Security Number), bank account details (unless you’re paying for something) or driver’s license number.

Be As Protected As Possible

There are different ways to protect yourself from scammers, hackers and any other cybercriminals slithering through the web, as long as you know what you’re up against. There are some very effective tools that you can use to fend off online pests trying to steal your identity and some of the best ways to keep yourself safe while applying for jobs is to have good security software, and optimally a virtual private network.

Using a strong antivirus program is a must-have, not just when it comes to safely applying for jobs online, but for general protection of your device and identity. Depending on the level of security you require, you can opt out for free or paid versions of antiviruses like Avast, AVG, Panda etc. which will then efficiently protect you from malware and any other threat you stumble across. When it comes to virtual private networks (VPNs), they were made to take care of your online privacy by encrypting you internet connection, so that even if hackers did target you and manage to extract something out of your activities, they wouldn’t be able to use it any way, as it would be a bunch of gibberish to them. If you want to protect internet privacy, then VPNs are probably the best solution you’ve got on the table.

If It Sounds Too Good To Be True, Step Away!

Too many people became the prey of those infamous offers where you can make in one day as you would usually earn in a month, but it’s really high time to surpass this. Whenever you see that someone is offering a job that is instantly a-dream-come true, chances are that there is something fishy about it. When you see that the employment conditions are really vague and great salary is offered, don’t fall for it. There are websites created to lure you in and make you click on untrustworthy links that can then wreak havoc on your internet security and by the time you realize what’s happening, it might be too late. You should also practice caution with your emails, because when you’re looking for a job, search engine machines recognize the pattern of your searches very quickly and start targeting you with ads and what’s worse, scammers find you very quickly too. When you see an email from a strange email address or from someone you don’t know, the wisest thing to do would be to simply delete it and move on with your life, even if the title of the email sounds enticing. Don’t fall for these usual scam attempts, because cybercriminals count on you really wanting to get a job and they’re taking the worst possible advantage of it.

In truth, you don’t need be incredibly informed to ward off scammers when you’re searching for your next job, some common sense will do just nicely most of the time. Just be aware that there are people out there who will stop at nothing to get their hands on your confidential information, so know how to keep them away and continue your job search with caution. – Adam Ferraresi

Though Adam really loves his job of web developer, he’s also quite passionate about his writing, which is always gladly accepted at wefollowtech.com. As every Texan, he loves spending time outside playing sports with his friends. He may have graduated from college a couple of years ago, but he’s already working on his dream job and couldn’t be happier about it, as well as his new life in Dallas.