Previously I wrote about information overload when it comes to wrriting your résumé and the information you can trust. Several people brought to my attention that the same trust factor holds true for job postings as well.
Just like job seekers, career changers, and professionals looking to move up and across the lattice who websites, blogs, and Linked-In groups to seek legitimate information on how to write a résumé and conduct their job search need to trust the advice people offer there, so too they need to trust the jobs posted om them.
The problem is many people posting jobs, especially on Linked-In groups, do not exist and post for an ulterior motive that can be detrimental to you as a job seeker.
What I find is there are two reasons these people, real and non-existent people alike, do what they do.
1: Many jobs are posted by an employee who assumes a Nam de Plume, or on occasion uses their own name to post opportunities to drive traffic to a site they are affiliated with. The catch is an online application is required and this can be problematic. Since this model pays a CPC fee these people’s intention is to get paid for clicks. The more clicks they generate the more money they make. Their intention is not to fill jobs but to fill their coffers.
For you the question is how safe your information is if you apply online and what is done with it. I can not answer this question, but once you lose control beware of what may happen to your resume and personal information. Also when you click you are likely to get some spyware on your computer and perhaps a virus of some sort.
2: A more serious problem is identity theft scammers use job posting as a way to gain your personal information.
In my early 20’s when I started in personnel with a Wall Street employment agency every applicant who came into the office filled out a form that went to the consultant they were assigned to and was available to others in the firm.
Truth be told this is one of the reasons I accepted the job. Let’s face it how many positions do you know where women come into your office everyday and give you their name, address and phone number? This allowed me to call them at home each time I had a new position to discuss with them, and I can say I was brazen enough to call many of these women at home to ask for referrals of their friends and others they might know looking for a new job. Some I even called and asked them out for lunch or a cup of coffee to get better acquainted.
Times were different then. Today there are several people and companies postings jobs that are stealing or selling your personal information for their personal financial gain, and on occasion they do so for outright identity theft.
What I suggest is before you post your resume online or file a detailed application– especially if it asks for a Social Security number – that you validate who the person who posted the lead is and who they work for to see if they are legit.
If you see certain people posting on a Linked-In group on a consistent basis, Google them and their firm and if the results don’t look quite Kosher, I suggest you comment on this so the group monitor can look into them.
The bottom line is, as technology expands you need to be more cautious about how you go about looking and applying for a job.
As usual I am available to offer a professional critique of resumes and social media profiles and offer thoughts on how to improve them. Just send your resume to perry@perrynewman.com. No cost/no obligation.
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