Jobs Openings are Down, so Scams are Up

Why is it that the opportunists seem to come out of the woodwork whenever times get a little tough and whenever people are feeling a little frightened?  It always happens, doesn't it?  The sad thing is that there are always people who are ready to believe that there is a simple solution to their troubles, so they are easy prey for the scam artists.  The best way to avoid being a victim is to keep a few simple rules in mind.

1. You only need one job.  What this means is that the total number of jobs available in the overall market is nothing more than something to fill the pages of newspapers unable to find anything better to print.  You don't need 10,000 jobs or 20,000 jobs.  Those numbers are just headlines, statistics that are used to sell newspapers.  All you need to concern yourself with is the single position that is right for you.
2. Landing the perfect job is not luck; it's preparation.  Even in a tight job market, the people who get the good jobs are generally those who have prepared themselves by writing a good resume, learning about the company before the interview, and doing what they can to acquire the skills needed for a particular situation. Those who think they can improve their odds by littering the landscape with their resumes are generally disappointed with the results.
3. You can only be "scammed" if you allow it to happen.  Since the beginning of time, con artists have known something that their victims apparently do not know: It is very difficult to con or scam someone unless they are greedy and lazy.  If you want to get rich without working for it, you are the perfect target.  The con artists are counting on that.  So when you see job offers that promise a $100,000 annual salary with no experience or one that promises $10,000 in the first week in your spare time, you can now say that you have been warned.  If you pay them the $39 (or whatever the amount is) for the secret to their astonishing success, you will have been conned.  Pretty basic, but you would be amazed by the number of people who fall for that con every day.  The really sad thing is that the numbers go up as the economy goes down.  Save the $39 and use it for a good haircut on the day before your job interview.

Comments

[Rich Kulakowski]

Interesting article. It is kind of pessimistic though. I used to feel the same way.."if it's too good to be true..it probably is." The truth is that there are, in fact many good opportunities to work from home or something that isn't traditional. Do your research first. Check out the company and it's financial positioning and then use your common sense.
Keep smiling,
Rich Kulakowski

[Jim Clark]

When people are going through a rough patch, that's when they're most vulnerable. Losing your job is tough. Finding a new job immediately to cover for all payment obligations is even tougher.

The pressure can be immense for many people. That's why scams thrive in situations where people are most vulnerable. It's a sad reality indeed