At Reed.co.uk, we’re committed to helping you find the right job in a secure environment.
Like anything you do online, searching and applying for jobs should be carried out with a degree of caution and common sense.
Job sites and recruitment platforms do everything they can to minimise the effects of unscrupulous activity online, with various measures in place to detect and guard against scams designed to prey on unsuspecting jobseekers, such as money laundering, phishing and ‘spoofing’.
But being aware of some of the most common online security threats and what you can do to protect yourself will ensure you have a safer, more secure jobseeking experience.
Here are some of our top tips to help keep your job search safe:
1. Be wary of offers that are ‘too good to be true’
An easy rule of thumb when you’re looking for work online is simply to ask yourself whether an opportunity seems realistic.
Most jobs online are genuine and job sites go to significant lengths to ensure the authenticity of advertisers and their vacancies.
However, spam emails or vacancy advertisements offering unrealistic or outlandish salaries and incentives for seemingly little effort should be approached with caution. Many such postings reference working from home, payment processing and may even request candidates supply their bank or passport details.
Remember: if it seems to be good to be true, it probably is. If the salary or situation seem unlikely and you’ve had little to do to prove your suitability for a position, exercise caution.
2. Query requests for payment
Your job search shouldn’t leave you out of pocket. So if there’s a requirement to purchase something, such as training or qualifications, before you’re offered the job, chances are it’s a scam.
Similarly, if you’re contacted out of the blue by someone with a job offer and asked to provide payment details, don’t do it. Recruiters and hiring managers should never ask for payment details as it’s not part of the hiring process, so be extra cautious if someone asks you for money.
3. Check spelling and grammar
Many suspicious positions and online scams originate from outside the UK, so may contain poor spelling and grammar.
So, if the job description contains many obvious spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, or uses lots of obvious Americanisms (such as ‘Resumé’ instead of ‘CV’, or ‘labor market’ rather than ‘labour market’), be suspicious.
4. Be careful what you click
As part of the recruitment process, you may receive emails containing links to external sites. If you don’t recognise or don’t trust a link, don’t click on it. Similarly, if you receive an email relating to a position you haven’t applied for or that doesn’t reference a specific job title, exercise caution.
You’re better off deleting the email and contacting the sender by ‘phone. And, if you’re still concerned, you should contact the job site involved so they can investigate further.
Additionally, always make sure any page you use is secure, and seems to have a legitimate URL. If you’re being asked to enter sign in details, look for the “https://” at the beginning of the website address. If you see anything which doesn’t look like it should be there, don’t take the risk.
5. Don’t provide too many personal details
Never provide someone with your bank details before you’ve been through the interview process and been offered a role.
Similarly, when writing your CV, details such as your date of birth, National Insurance number or a scan of your passport are not legally required, so there’s no need to include them.
Ask yourself: does a recruiter need to know this to help me get the job? If the answer is ‘no’, it’s best to keep it to yourself.
6. Watch out for WhatsApp scams
An increasing number of scammers are using messaging services like WhatsApp and Telegram Messenger to contact candidates with fake job offers.
Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and communication often appears to come from legitimate websites – but look a little closer and you’ll see subtle differences. For example, they might use slightly different branding or their message may contain common errors.
Reed.co.uk doesn’t contact candidates via WhatsApp or any other personal messaging platform, including via Telegram Messenger and text message. We won’t contact you directly about a job you’ve applied for on Reed.co.uk – it’ll always come from the employer. So if you do receive a message from someone claiming to be us, don’t click on any links and report it to Jobs Aware (www.jobsaware.com), who will investigate.
7. Check your browser
Whatever your preference, web browsers have a couple of easy-to-recognise signs to help let you know you’re using the internet in a secure environment.
Spend a little time understanding how to spot the signs for your browser of choice, whether it’s Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer. It’s also a good idea to ensure your web browser is up-to-date.
Many security vulnerabilities have already been spotted by the experts, meaning the latest version of your browser should be well-equipped and ready to tackle the newest threats.
8. If in doubt, don’t take the risk
If you receive anything that claims to be from Reed.co.uk (or one of our recruiters) and looks suspicious or you’re unsure of, get in touch with us directly before going any further. We’ll be able to check the validity of the link and the legitimacy of the recruiter before you click a button, even if it’s just to put your mind at rest.
Other things to avoid:
Engaging with recruiters who provide no personal contact (e.g. offering a job without an interview); engaging with recruiters/job boards which threaten access to your account unless provided you’re your personal details; sharing your password; downloading files directly from emails.
If you’re suspicious about any contact you receive related to Reed.co.uk, contact us and our Customer Experience Team will investigate.
