Finding a job in the current softening market can be stressful and exhausting. With the continuous rise of AI and remote work, the recruitment market has evolved faster, and you’ll be seeing new types of jobs, automated application processes, and AI-led interviews. While much of this is positive, it’s important that you’re also able to distinguish between legitimate jobs with potential and those that are suspicious and are likely to be a scam.
McAfee reports that job-related scams have risen by over 1000% just from May through July this year, while Remote.co’s recent survey shows that at least 27% of job seekers have fallen victim to a job scam. With the continuous mass layoffs leaving workers-turned-job seekers feeling frustrated and desperate to land a new job, more scammers are lurking around waiting to take advantage of them.
In this guide, we’ll teach you how to spot red flags for potentially fake jobs. We’ll walk you through the signs to look out for at each stage of the job-hunting process, from scrutinizing job posts and reviewing the application and interview process, to checking job offers.
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Job post red flags
The first red flags you’ll see will likely be on the job advert. If a job promises terms that seem too good to be true, or doesn’t give you a full picture of what is required, proceed with caution. These might include:
1. Salary way off the average pay bracket
Scam job postings often offer wages that are either too low or too high compared to the average rates. Extremely high wages are obviously meant to draw you in, but if you see that the job description requires no experience or lists tasks that sound too simple and too easy, that’s a big red flag.
You might also see suspicious or unfair clauses, like commission-only roles (no proper base wages) or excessive working hours. Make sure you do some research into pay scales for the role, the background of the company offering the job, and any verified employee reviews.
2. Lack of details on benefits
It’s a major red flag when a job ad doesn’t even mention benefits. Recruiters typically use employee benefits to attract applicants, and the lack of it, especially statutory benefits, could mean they’re not even compliant with labor laws to begin with.
If you’re applying for a contract or freelance position, check with your state laws which benefits should come with your job type or employee classification, and if the basic requirements aren’t met, you’d know well to steer clear of the company mentioned in the job post.
3. Vague job description
A job ad with very little information that makes the post vague might be hiding something. If you apply for a job that isn’t clearly defined, you wouldn't know the employer’s expectations or the demands of the role. A job post that comes with broad criteria that anyone can meet is another red flag.
Similarly, a job advert that asks for a long list of skills and experience that seem unrealistic might be looking for someone who can pick up multiple roles, covering several jobs. Make sure job responsibilities are reasonable and be aware of anything that seems excessive and signals that the employer might only be looking to exploit job seekers who are badly in need of a job.
Application process red flags
If the job advert didn’t trigger raise your suspicions, don’t let your guard down just yet. Because the more obvious red flags could be in the application process.
4. Being asked for sensitive, personal details
A recruiter should not ask you for personal details beyond your name and contact details. If the application process requires bank details, national insurance numbers, or any sensitive information that doesn’t make sense for them to ask, this is a major red flag.
Why would a recruiter ask for your specific financial information in the process of qualifying you for a job that you’re yet to be hired for? Besides, legitimate employers who require more of your details will either do a background check on their own or only require you to submit more documents once you’re officially hired. If you’re asked for something that doesn’t sound right, specifically details that can be used for identity theft and fraud, it’s safer to walk away.
5. Unpaid test tasks
Some companies ask candidates to complete tests as part of the application process. For example, some copywriting jobs ask for a short test to assess comprehension. This is fine, but watch out for test tasks that are lengthy but aren’t paid.
If a recruiter is asking you to complete a whole piece of work, like writing an article, this should be a red flag. They may use your work, and others’ too, without payment, which just means they’re collecting articles they can use for free. It may also be a sign that the employer has unrealistic expectations and demands, which could spell a toxic work environment.
6. Multiple bad reviews
Always do a quick research of the company before applying for a job with them. It should be no different from verifying new brands or sellers when making an online purchase. When Temu ads kept popping up on your feed, you probably looked for Temu reviews first before you gave in to the cheap retail therapy they tempted you with. Be vigilant in the same way. And of course, don't forget to check social media and Google reviews.
If a company is getting multiple bad reviews from customers as well as employees, especially if they mention the same issues, this is something to be wary of. Look at the complaints and assess whether you think they’re only minor and not something you should worry about, or if there’s anything more underneath that may affect you as an employee.
Interview red flags
If you get to the interview stage before spotting suspicious details that don’t feel right, keep looking out for the following red flags:
7. Disorganized interviewer and interview process
How recruiters act during the interview stage can give you all the signs you need to make a decision on whether you want to work for them or not. With this in mind, they should be conducting themselves professionally. Expect clear information about the process, a proper introduction to the company, as well as the interviewer themself.
The person interviewing you should come prepared, the first sign of which is being familiar with your CV details already, since they would’ve reviewed your files first. They should also be able to answer all your questions about the company and the job position with confidence. If your experience is the opposite, consider how this first impression could be a sneak peek of what it would be really like to work for their company.
8. Inappropriate questions
Employers shouldn’t ask you anything too personal in an interview, for example, asking your age, whether you plan to have children, or anything about your sexual orientation, to name a few. Making small talk is one thing, but if you feel that the recruiter is asking you inappropriate questions, you might want to rethink whether you’d be comfortable working for them. It is, in fact, illegal to ask inappropriate questions in an interview, especially if they appear to be discriminatory, and legitimate employers and recruiters would know this.
9. Vague answers to your specific questions
It’s normal for applicants to be curious and ask specific questions during interviews. Experienced recruiters would, in fact, expect and encourage this. So, if you feel that the answers to your questions are vague or that they’re trying to avoid your questions, note this as a red flag. An employer who side-steps questions or doesn’t seem to know the answers could be hiding something or could be recruiting for a job that they haven’t really defined yet.
10. An overall mismatch
Sometimes, a job can look great, and then when you get to the interview, something just feels off. It could be that you simply decide that you don’t align with the company culture or the expectations of the job, or it could be that you just can't warm up to the interviewer, who will be your superior. If your interviewer comes across as aggressive, for example, or you get indications that the workplace might be a toxic environment, it’s completely fine to change your mind.
Job offer red flags
You’ve completed the interview, and you’re now faced with a job offer, but something is still holding you back. Even at the job offer stage, potential red flags may still come up.
11. Change in job terms
If, at the job offer stage, the employer starts to change the terms of the job role, such as salary, work hours, or tasks and responsibilities, hold your horses. This is your chance to negotiate your terms, and the employer should not be changing what you previously agreed to, unless they’re offering you something better. It’s not acceptable to be offered a job that’s different from the one you interviewed for without your prior acknowledgement.
Also, be aware if an employer is not willing to negotiate at all. At the point of offering a contract, they should expect that you might ask for a few changes, and if they’re not even willing to hear you out, it’s another big red flag you shouldn't ignore.
12. Agreements without proper paperwork
Once you’ve been verbally offered the position, you should receive the offer in writing shortly after. It’s important not to quit your current job before receiving a written agreement from your new employer. A verbal agreement is not legally valid and will only leave you at the losing end, whereas a written, signed agreement is proof of the terms of employment that both parties have agreed to.
13. A job offer without an interview
Being offered a job without going through an interview might feel great—you’ll probably think you’ve impressed the employer enough with your application. However, while there’s a rise in skills-based recruitment processes that don’t require a panel interview, having no form of interview or test at all is a major red flag, unless you’re being hired as a highly recommended candidate by someone you know well, of course.
The lack of an interview process could be due to a need to fill the role quickly because of high staff turnover. A high staff turnover could signify a toxic workplace, poor work-life balance and employee wellbeing practices, or disorganized management.
More tips to avoid job scams
There are more red flags that might surface outside the usual recruitment process mentioned above. Here are some more general red flags you should be aware of:
- The company asks for payment: You should never be asked for payment when applying for a job. This is perhaps the most common and most obvious indicator of a job scam.
- Poor communication and grammar: A rushed job advert or paperwork that isn’t checked for errors doesn’t give a good impression of an organized and competent company. It might also be a sign that the job isn’t even a real one.
- Lack of contact details: If you’re applying for a job that doesn’t include names or a way to contact the recruiter, skip it, no matter how good the details look.
Key takeaways
With so many platforms to search for jobs online these days, not to mention the popularity of remote recruitment, it can sometimes be tough to differentiate legitimate jobs from those that are genuine but are just poorly advertised, and those that appear genuine but are straight-out scams.
In the age of tech, where fraudsters are becoming even more sophisticated than ever, you have to be vigilant at every stage of the recruitment process. Always do your due diligence with thorough research, and if a job doesn’t feel right to you at any point, trust your gut and just walk away.