8 Tips to avoid Job Scams.

It's the middle of recession; you are looking for a job. As you become more desperate, you are more vulnerable to fake job ads, online scam, and labor abuse. Yes, these traps are everywhere - in fact, new legislations are necessary to protect job seekers like you. Before we ask our politicians to take actions, here are eight tips for you to avoid job-hunting traps.
1. Spot fake job postings. Why does anyone post fake job ads? Because recruiters build their own job seekers database by collecting resumes - even jobs don't exist at that moment. In addition, companies in bad shape, usually start-ups, publish fake job ads, so they can make their potential investors believe that the company is hiring and expanding. Fake jobs ads appear on both free and non-free websites. If you have seen a recruiter repeatedly advertising a common job position, that's probably a fake one.
2. If a job posting doesn't contain the company name or contact information, the company is not confident about its reputation, or the employer is not serious at all. In either case, you don't want to work for a company like that.
3. Avoid being abused as free labor. If a small company gives you a take-home test of writing an article about its product or designing the company's website in two days, refuse it. This isn't a test; this is labor abuse. However, it's okay to take a 4-hour exam at an established company. Don't accept any non-payment internship at a small company of less than two people. After all, that company may disappear after your internship.
4. If a job posting requires your credit card number or ask you to buy their products first, that's a scam. A real job pays you, not the other way around.
5. Don't apply for any sales job that doesn't offer a base salary. Pure commission usually means pure exploitation. A genuine sales position always offers a fixed base salary, with commissions to reward great performance.
6. Avoid pyramid schemes and multilevel marketing traps. Here is a classic example: "you recruit 10 people, then each of them recruits 10 people, who in turn recruit 10 people each...you will make millions in commissions". This is a scam, not a business model.
7. Use reliable job search websites. Even in the recession, there are still lots of well-paid and secure jobs, especially in the expanding public sector. For example, USAJobs.gov provides federal government jobs; GovernmentJobs.com offers state and city-level government jobs; JobOversight.com lists many university and school staff jobs.
8. Always question experts, even on CNN. Experts are not always correct - that's why we are now in recession. Moreover, every individual is different; you know yourself better than those experts talking on TV to attract advertisers. If you need any career advice, ask people around you first.
Without laws to protect job seekers, fake ads, online scam, and labor abuse become increasingly common. Raise your awareness, and I hope my tips can help you avoid these traps and eventually land you a great career. Good luck!

How to know job opportunities that are scam.

This is to expose the way most scams operate online.
Due to the level of unemployment in Nigeria and other countries of the world, most people are having a field day reaping job seekers of the little money they have with the fake promises of giving them employment.
I have been a victim in some cases. Based on the experience, i want to give you a tip of the iceberg on how they operate or rather how to know them before they collect another which you might have borrowed from a relative.
1. They are after your money and will not bother to look at the CV or Covering letter you sent.
2. They will always demand for people with little or no experience.
3. They will reply your application even if you send it 2 weeks after the deadline they gave.
Now this is how to catch them if you see these elements or if you suspect any opportunity.
Moreover, no reputable company will ask you to part with money for interview or whatsoever before they give you job. Again, recruitment agencies are supposed to collect money from the employer and not you the employee.

When you see a questionable opportunity, respond with 2 different email address and 2 different names. Have you CV attached in the main application and attach anything you like in the other application.
If they reply and ask for payment, check the other email.
Since they are after money and do not have time to go through all the applications received, they will reply all the applications without even opening your CV. This is so because the more replies they send, the more money they are likely to make.
So you will surely receive a reply even in the other email that you attached a blank page.

THE BALL IS THEN IN YOUR COURT.
Come here regularly for more tips and you can subscribe to my newsletter where i will expose them more and also give you tips on how to pass job interviews.