| earch techniques have changed dramatically in the | | | | (2) What about mystery shoppers, work-at-home |
| past decade, spurred on by not only the internet | | | | assistants, and order processors? These can all be |
| itself, but also by the digital economy. Websites like | | | | legitimate jobs. The advent of the internet and cheap |
| Monster and others like it post many thousands of | | | | long distance phone services make working from |
| possible jobs. Some of us search for jobs without | | | | home a reality. However, make sure you are dealing |
| ever touching a newspaper. | | | | with bona-fide businesses. Check with a Better |
| Whenever society changes like this, the scam artists | | | | Business Bureau before moving forward. Just |
| are right in there with the rest of us. As a job | | | | because the job was posted on Monster, |
| seeker, you need to be diligent, and aware of ways | | | | CareerBuilder, Yahoo Hot Jobs, or another well |
| to ensure the security of your personal information. | | | | known site does not make it valid. |
| Here are some important facts to keep in mind when | | | | (3) Be especially diligent when considering a position in |
| you are surfing for a new job. | | | | another country. There are so many legal |
| (1) Think twice, maybe even three times, before | | | | ramifications and if a company is making it sound |
| accepting a job offer without ever meeting your | | | | easy, consider moving on to the next possibility. |
| new employer, or visiting their business offices. The | | | | I want to emphasize the following three points about |
| scam artists will send you an application form which, | | | | legitimate, trustworthy businesses. |
| of course, requires your social security number, your | | | | * Trustworthy businesses want to meet prospective |
| birth date, and your bank deposit information. They | | | | employees face-to-face, discuss their experience and |
| will now have most of what they need to steal your | | | | qualifications, check their references, and only then, |
| identity. | | | | make a job offer |
| A very common scam is the employment directory | | | | * Trustworthy businesses do not ask for personal |
| or training manual. An agency will claim that the job is | | | | information (like social security data or bank info) until |
| currently available, but will require an extensive exam. | | | | after a job offer has been made and accepted |
| All you need in order to ace the exam is the | | | | * Trustworthy businesses do not email you from a |
| agency’s $100 training material, which is | | | | Yahoo or Hotmail account. Trustworthy businesses |
| actually just a cheap copy of a guide you can see in | | | | have a physical presence in the community. |
| your local library for free. | | | | |