Below we list steps you can take when searching for remote work to protect yourself from scams. You'll also find ways to find legitimate work from home opportunities.
Steps to spotting a scam
Trust your instincts. Does the offer seem too good to be true? Are they offering you a six figure salary for minimal skill or effort? Can you find no information about the company or the owners? Then the job offer is likely a scam. Be wary of providing any personal information to these websites or companies as they may be selling your information.
Don’t pay to work. Legitimate employers do not require fees or investments as a condition of employment. If they ask for money up-front, with the promise that you’ll make it back many times over, it may be a scam. According to the Federal Trade Commission, “promises of a big income working from home, especially when the ‘opportunity’ involves an up-front fee or giving your credit card information, should make you very suspicious.”
Take time to learn about the company. If there’s little available information about the company and the people who work there, that’s a red flag that the job offer is not legitimate. You can look up company information on sites like Better Business Bureau or Glassdoor to make sure the company offering the job has a good reputation.
Keep your information private. Websites that require you to give personal information before applying for a job could be selling that information to third parties. Research the website/company before signing up for an account. You can do so by searching for the company name and “review” in a search engine.
Tips for finding remote work
Know where to look. Because more jobs are becoming remote due to the pandemic, large job search sites now have the option to filter jobs by both industry and work from home offers. Try Indeed.com, Google Job Search and Zip Recruiter to find jobs in a large range of fields.
Update your resume. Remote work takes additional skills that you will want to showcase in your resume. This article on LinkedIn will give you a solid foundation of actionable steps you can take to make your resume remote work ready.
Get social. Recruiters and companies are increasingly turning to social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to promote their job openings and look for candidates. Take a look at your social media accounts and consider creating a professional profile separate to your personal account. Follow companies in your industry on social media and share or comment on their posts to add to the conversation. Also make sure to follow local business/industry groups in your field, it’s a great way to network and keep an eye out for job openings.
We’re here to help. The library offers free classes on creating resumes, searching for jobs, using LinkedIn, updating your skills and more. Check out our event calendar for our current classes.
Contact MCL’s Workplace for more help or information at workplace@multcolib.org.
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