If you are one of the 1.56 million unemployed in the UK, you would be forgiven for believing the authenticity of every job posting, hoping that an offer may come to fruition. However, when it comes to applying for jobs and sending your CV to recruiters, you should be vigilant. Fake job postings are commonplace and are often used for CV harvesting. Not only will you waste your time with applications and perhaps even raise your hopes, but you could also expose your details to scammers.
What is CV Harvesting?
Your details are on your CV, including your address and telephone number, which may be used for activities such as phishing schemes, and identity theft as well as many other scamming techniques. Unfortunately, CV harvesting doesn’t just happen on obscure job sites, it can occur on some of the most popular job boards, such as LinkedIn and Indeed.
Fake Job Postings
Although one of the reasons for fake job postings is for CV harvesting, there are other reasons. Recruiters may use fake job postings to gather a database of candidates for future roles or to make it appear that they’re growing. Recruitment agencies may use CVs to try and gain new clients. Although this in itself is not a scam, it is immoral.
How to Identify Fake Job Postings
You can never be sure that a job posting is legitimate unless you receive a response to your application. However, there are some things you can look out for to try and identify fake job postings.
Lack of Details
A fake job posting will have little information and may look generic. It might not mention the company or any specific aspects of the role. You should check any links to ensure they are a genuine company, and look for contact details on the job posting.
Exaggerated Benefits
If the salary is well above the market rate and there’s a load of other benefits associated with the role, this may indicate a fake job posting.
Direct Offer
If the job advert states that you only need to apply to receive a job offer, it is probably a scam. Genuine jobs will require an application and an interview before considering an offer.
Spam Links
Be aware of links that take you to external sites, as they may cause viruses on your computer. In addition to your CV, scammers can also try to acquire information through external links. Avoid clicking on any that you are unsure about.
Spelling Errors
You won't find a professional organisation that would publish job adverts with spelling errors in them. If the advert is littered with errors, or poor English or it just doesn’t sound professional, it may be a sign that a scammer is in town!
Dealing with Fake Job Postings
There is no point in wasting your time on lengthy applications only to discover that the job posting is fake. If you are concerned about a job posting but are extremely interested in the role, it may be worth reaching out to any contacts mentioned in the job advert to discuss it. This will give you a better idea of whether the job exists.
You can increase your chances of success with your job search if you have a professional CV. At Inspired CVs, we can provide you with a CV in either traditional or graphic form, as well as support you with career consultations. Order your CV today or contact us to find out more about our services.
