When you are searching for a new job, an offer is all you crave. The job market is hard, and we all know it. If you are desperate for a new role, you might be willing to take anything that people offer you. The problem is that there are a lot of scams out there. Loads of people prey on the weak; they want to take you for a ride. When you get a job offer, you need to make sure that it is legit before you sign anything. Here are six killer signs that an offer is too good to be true.
- The job description is vague
When you read the job description online, you need to make sure that it is not too vague. When people are trying to get people to do horrible jobs, they tend to skirt over the actual duties of the role. If the job description doesn’t tell you exactly what the job entails, something is wrong.
- Your interviewer talks about them, not you
When you attend an interview, your interviewer should want to get to know you and what you are all about. Sometimes interviewers talk about themselves and their business, rather than asking you any questions. When that happens, you have met the most toxic type of boss in the world. This person doesn’t care about their employees. They view an interview scenario as a chance to show off about their company. If you agree with everything this person says, they will likely give you a job, but they will make an awful boss.
- The manager asks you your ideal salary
Let’s get one thing straight – your boss should set your salary. When a manager asks you to define your salary aspirations, it means that they are seeing how little money you are willing to take. This question is a psychological trick. The manager knows that you don’t want to appear too picky, and so they know that you will say a small salary. When a manager asks you this question, they are out of line. It is likely that they don’t have a huge budget for the role they are trying to fill. (See how to answer questions about salary expectations.)
- They want you to start right away
Most bosses understand that you have to give notice at your current workplace. They will allow time for that and give you a reasonable start date for your new role. If your new boss asks you to start straight away, you need to question why that is. Why are they so desperate to get someone in this role? Did the previous person leave unexpectedly? If they did, why did they?
- The contract looks fake
Your employment contract should be extensive and thorough. Legal documents are difficult to understand. Many people just sign an agreement without reading it or paying much attention to it at all. If the contract looks short or fake, you should ask someone else to look at it for you. Companies like Poole Solicitors specialize in employment law. They can tell you whether a contract is legally binding.
- The company has no internet presence
When you apply for a job, the first thing you should do is Google the company. You will learn a great deal about the business from its online presence. If there is no trace of the company online, you need to ask why. Every modern company should have a strong online presence. If this company does not exist online, it may not exist in reality. Even if it does exist, it will be an old-fashioned company who is oblivious to the online world.
Image via Alex France