Job hunting? Stay safe!

You wouldn’t think that looking for a new role could be a risky business. However, jobseekers are being warned to be on their guard as rising numbers of fraudsters tackle those looking for work.

The government has urged people to be cautious, warning that up to 10 per cent of jobseekers have been conned into calling premium rate numbers for interviews or paying for fake security checks. Damien Hinds, the Employment Minister told the BBC,

Meanwhile SAFER-jobs, an industry organisation that works with law enforcement agencies, claims that it has seen a 300 per cent increase in recruitment fraud.

So what can you do to ensure you don’t fall victim to fraudsters when applying for new jobs?

Our advice for jobseekers:

• Only use a reputable recruitment company which is a member of an industry association such as the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. These organisations adhere to a strict set of standards and make it their business to protect job seekers and clients.
• The posting appears to come from a legitimate company or organization, but the contact's e-mail address doesn't match the company's website domain (i.e., jdoe@gmail.com rather than jdoe@companyname.com).
• Do not part with any money when registering with a recruitment agency. A reputable agency will not expect payment from you in exchange for finding you a job, there are restrictions which prohibits most employment agencies and businesses charging work seekers for this type of service.
• Never include personal sensitive information such as your full address, passport number, bank details or national insurance number on your CV. It should only include an overview of your basic personal details, employment and academic history and skills.
• If you are put forward for a role then ask for a detailed job specification, including pay rates, and research the company in question to ensure that it is genuine.
• A reputable agency will not keep your original identity documents.
• Avoid situations where the process of applying for a job is done entirely online. Ensure that you are interviewed face-to-face or at least over the phone before accepting a role.
• Before attending an interview, research the location to ensure it is not an abandoned building, always inform a friend or family member of the details of your interview location.
• You should never let the interview take place in your own home or accept a lift from the person interviewing you.