The joy of online job search- how to spot a "scam"?

[powderfinger]

Ill tell you, in my job search Ive encountered several opporunities that just seemed borderline "scam"-like. If not a true scam, maybe just shady. Anyone else have these experiences.

For example, I get a call re; a resume I sent to a company that sells surgical supplies. They have never had a rep in my area before. Ive never heard of the company either. They want me (or whoever they hire) to be the 1st rep ever in this geographic region.

The closest office they have to me is 3 hours, and they would require me to drive 9 hours to training.... and pay my own gas, hotel, etc. for 4 days of training. No reimbursements, etc. Stricly my own money.

Beside that, and never having heard of the company (Ive asked around... no one else has either, and I cant find much about them online), it seems like not a good move for me. I mean, trying to knock on surgeons doors in the first place isnt easy, but with an unknown company? Does this opportunity sound like something to "run away from" to you all?

BTW- most of the jobs Ive been asked to interview for seem shady, and some outright scams. I guess its easy to prey on desperate people in desperate times.

[Jim Nazium]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

Does this opportunity sound like something to "run away from" to you all?

Yes it does.

[TJ55]

I am on the hunt as well so I know exactly the type of thing you are talking about. IMO, the fact that you have any doubt at all is enough to disregard the "opportunity".

[Stumbo]

What's the company name?

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

Ill tell you, in my job search Ive encountered several opporunities that just seemed borderline "scam"-like. If not a true scam, maybe just shady. Anyone else have these experiences.

For example, I get a call re; a resume I sent to a company that sells surgical supplies. They have never had a rep in my area before. Ive never heard of the company either. They want me (or whoever they hire) to be the 1st rep ever in this geographic region.

The closest office they have to me is 3 hours, and they would require me to drive 9 hours to training.... and pay my own gas, hotel, etc. for 4 days of training. No reimbursements, etc. Stricly my own money.

Beside that, and never having heard of the company (Ive asked around... no one else has either, and I cant find much about them online), it seems like not a good move for me. I mean, trying to knock on surgeons doors in the first place isnt easy, but with an unknown company? Does this opportunity sound like something to "run away from" to you all?

BTW- most of the jobs Ive been asked to interview for seem shady, and some outright scams. I guess its easy to prey on desperate people in desperate times.

Bolded part - egg freakin zactly dude. The 9 months I spent unemployed, almost every job prospect I had was either a scam, or some kind of shady business.

This surgical supply company - don't mess with it dude. It may not be a "scam," but it ain't worth the time and money you'll put into it.

[Metal Matt]

On my areas Craigslist there's always a ton of jobs that seem sketchy. Lots of companies that are "great to work for and have an awesome reputation" (but they can't tell you anything like who the hell they are or what you would be doing). Every other job that seems like it might be legit... "need X years of prior experience".

[powderfinger]

Well.... I guess these sort of scams and schemes are par for the course in a country with unchecked capitalism. Rat races will ensue when there are limited means to unlimited resources.

I wonder if Sweden and Finland have these sorts of scams. I doubt it.

[Radical Edward]

I recently got a phone call from a place I had sent my resume to on CL. They went and did a "phone interview" and such, but then things started to get shady. I asked where the place was at, that I was applying to and the man on the phone said he wasn't allowed to give out that information. Just a general area, until I was hired in. I thought this was weird enough, but then he went on to tell me that they were looking for people who were interested in going to college and furthering themselves in that particular field, so they could move up in the company.. Then he went on to transfer me to someone to talk to about that, and next thing I know I've got 3 different colleges bothering me about stuff, no call from the "job", and have wasted about 2 hours of my time talking to them on the phone. Grrrr.

I hate all of these scams. It's hard to avoid them.

[bongomania]

Regarding the specific case of the surgical supplies, did you see the movie "Pursuit of Happyness"?

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by Radical Edward

I recently got a phone call from a place I had sent my resume to on CL. They went and did a "phone interview" and such, but then things started to get shady. I asked where the place was at, that I was applying to and the man on the phone said he wasn't allowed to give out that information. Just a general area, until I was hired in. I thought this was weird enough, but then he went on to tell me that they were looking for people who were interested in going to college and furthering themselves in that particular field, so they could move up in the company.. Then he went on to transfer me to someone to talk to about that, and next thing I know I've got 3 different colleges bothering me about stuff, no call from the "job", and have wasted about 2 hours of my time talking to them on the phone. Grrrr.

I hate all of these scams. It's hard to avoid them.

Yeah, lots of companies have an "angle". For sure. Im still wondering what the angle was for the surgical supply folks. They paid a base salary, but they wouldnt pay for training expenses. What reputable company makes new hirs pay their own way for training? There has to be more than meets the eye.

[powderfinger]

You know, there are so many scams out there, I almost hate to miss a true opportunity out of paranoia ya know.

[Radical Edward]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

Yeah, lots of companies have an "angle". For sure. Im still wondering what the angle was for the surgical supply folks. They paid a base salary, but they wouldnt pay for training expenses. What reputable company makes new hirs pay their own way for training? There has to be more than meets the eye.

Well, I work at Taco Bell and to become a manager, you have to go through un-paid training. *shrug* I dunno. I'm always willing to apply anywhere, within reason, but I think that unfortunately, most of the ads on CL are scams.

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by powderfinger

Yeah, lots of companies have an "angle". For sure. Im still wondering what the angle was for the surgical supply folks. They paid a base salary, but they wouldnt pay for training expenses. What reputable company makes new hirs pay their own way for training? There has to be more than meets the eye.

From what I've seen, these are the companies that haven't been around long enough to be able to pay your training, and all that good stuff. It's basically guerilla warfare for you.

The question you have to ask yourself is this: How much time and money will you dole out in driving to training, driving to the office, and driving to your territory, versus the amount of money you'll stand to realistically gain?

[macaroni tony]

Originally Posted by Radical Edward

I recently got a phone call from a place I had sent my resume to on CL. They went and did a "phone interview" and such, but then things started to get shady. I asked where the place was at, that I was applying to and the man on the phone said he wasn't allowed to give out that information. Just a general area, until I was hired in. I thought this was weird enough, but then he went on to tell me that they were looking for people who were interested in going to college and furthering themselves in that particular field, so they could move up in the company.. Then he went on to transfer me to someone to talk to about that, and next thing I know I've got 3 different colleges bothering me about stuff, no call from the "job", and have wasted about 2 hours of my time talking to them on the phone. Grrrr.

I hate all of these scams. It's hard to avoid them.

I ran into one of those myself. It's not really a job agency at all; it's a company that tries to get you signed up to one of those career colleges. I was so pissed when I caught on; they tricked me into thinking that I had a decent job lead going

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Radical Edward

Well, I work at Taco Bell and to become a manager, you have to go through un-paid training. *shrug* I dunno. I'm always willing to apply anywhere, within reason, but I think that unfortunately, most of the ads on CL are scams.

I want a crunchwrap supreme!!! sans meat, of course...

BRING IT TO ME!!!!

[MJ5150]

At one time, Microsoft, Apple, Sears, Nike, Timex, and so on were companies no one ever heard of and there wasn't much information about. Paying your own way to learn a career/job is nothing new.

What is the name of the company? I'm tied into that stuff a little bit, so I might know about them.

-Mike

[powderfinger]

I have a job at the moment, and I doubt Im going to take a risk on something like this. I like food and the roof I have right now.

[powderfinger]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

At one time, Microsoft, Apple, Sears, Nike, Timex, and so on were companies no one ever heard of and there wasn't much information about. Paying your own way to learn a career/job is nothing new.

-Mike

Yep, you are right. This might be a golden opportunity. However, in this day and age of schemes, ponzis, and scams..... who wants to risk leaving a stable job to find out.

[L-A]

Honestly, unless they state upfront why it is a sensitive subject, a company that doesn't name itself when searching for employees is a scam.

[MJ5150]

How are they going to scam you by going to the training and taking the job? Unless it is like what bongomania is talking about, I don't see how you would be scammed by going to the training.

-Mike