The Internet is truly a machine of convenience that has made our lives easier. What used to require face to face interaction, such as job hunting, can now be done with a few clicks of a button and a few taps on the keyboard. With so many social networking sites on the Net, more and more companies are relying on these sites to spread the word of a job opening rather than pay for a listing.
Of course, with such convenience—and sometimes anonymity—comes a few caveats that you have to take to heart when looking for a job through the Net. A few things to remember:
1. Applying for a job never requires any payment on your part.
Applying for a job within the country entails no processing or application fees. Run the other way when questionable would-be employers seek this from you.
2. Verify the job’s legitimacy by calling the company.
Job postings by a company usually carry a phone number for further information. Do not depend on this. Do your own fact-checking and check if the company has a trunk line that will refer you to the same department.
3. When looking for a job from site aggregators, visit the company’s website directly.
A lot of companies now have their own website complete with contact details as well as a tab listing for job openings. When searching for a job via jobseeking websites, check out the company’s external site for information purposes.
4. When meeting a prospective employer for an interview, opt to meet at the office.
Insist on meeting at the company’s office when asked to meet at a random public place for the job interview. Legitimate job advertisements will list the name of the contact person to look for and the complete office address where job interviews are conducted.
5. Ask around before applying.
If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a company or a posting, ask other friends in the same industry regarding the company’s reputation or whether they are familiar with it.
SIDEBAR
Dream Job or Scam?
Former headhunter Jovin Javier tells SIM how to weed out bogus job offers from legitimate ones.
1. Job ads usually list the job openings available and are very specific as to qualifications they are looking for. Income and salary are not listed.
2. Special circumstances notwithstanding, human resource personnel would usually ask you to go for the interview at their office instead of a coffee shop.
3. Company ads will often list the position or title of the person who will interview you so you can prepare in advance.
4. Don’t trust generic ads that highlight income potential—these are typically done by people who are out to get vulnerable recruits for their pyramid schemes.
5. If job ads are vague and unspecific on details like job title or position, qualifications required or the hiring process, be wary and look for other alternatives.
