Finding Roles and Spotting Scams

Introduction

Jobs are found in more places than a single website, and many are filled through people. You also need to stay safe, because scammers target job seekers.

Where to look

• Public job boards and government job services: free, and often reliable.
• Company websites: the careers page of organisations you like, often updated before boards.
• Professional networks and communities in your field.
• Recruitment agencies: they find candidates for employers. Reputable agencies do not charge candidates for finding work.
• People you know: friends, family, former colleagues, teachers, community groups. Many roles are never advertised widely.
• Local sources: shop windows, community notice boards, local news.
• Direct approaches: a polite message to a small organisation can reach a need before it is advertised.

Keep track

Use a simple spreadsheet with columns: organisation, role, link, date applied, contact, status, next step. Review it weekly. Set a realistic routine, such as a fixed number of quality applications per week instead of hundreds of rushed ones.

Scam warning signs

Job scams are common. Be alert if you see:

• Payment requests from you: fees for training, equipment, uniforms, background checks or "registration". Genuine employers do not charge you to be hired.
• Sending you a cheque and asking you to forward part of it.
• Too good to be true: high pay for little work, no experience, no interview.
• Interviews only by chat message, with unusual urgency.
• Requests for bank details, ID documents or passwords before a real contract.
• Vague company details, a free email address, or a company you cannot verify.
• Roles that involve moving money, receiving parcels or "processing payments" for strangers.
• Messages out of the blue from unknown recruiters with offers you did not apply for.

Protect yourself

• Verify the organisation through an independent search, its official website and official phone number.
• Share only what is needed at each stage. Full ID, bank details and tax numbers are usually needed only after a genuine offer, through proper channels.
• Do not put your full home address or date of birth on a public profile or CV unless you must.
• Use a separate email address for job hunting if you like.
• If something feels wrong, stop, and report it to the platform or your national fraud service.

Try it yourself

Create your tracking spreadsheet. Find five real roles from three different places. For each, check the organisation's official site and note one verification you made.

Summary

• Look at boards, company sites, agencies and especially people, and track your search.
• Watch for scams: upfront fees, cheques, vague companies and early requests for sensitive data.
• Verify employers independently and share personal data only when needed.