I get a lot of questions from students and clients alike about recruiter scams. I got a pretty comical a couple weeks ago (tried to recruit me to my own institution, smh…), so it feels like a great example of what to look for if you’re not sure.
The email address.
If it’s a legitimate recruitment firm, they are not using a gmail address. I use a gmail for my coaching because I am a solo practitioner trying out a 5-9. A legitimate, multi-person organization is not contacting you with a yahoo/hotmail/aol email address.
“Our Client” has “asked us to identify”.
This email is intentionally misrepresenting themselves as recruiting on behalf of Bentley. I happen to know the person managing this particular search. And no, she did not outsource it. Some places will hire an executive search firm for high profile searches. When that is the case, that will be clear in the official job posting.
Incorrect Salary range.
Shoutout to Massachusetts for our Pay Transparency law! If you go to the actual job posting, you will see a different range. Details matter, and if you see things that don’t add up, trust your gut.
“Move forward with submission” (when this is a direct apply role)
Anyone can go to Bentley’s HR site, see the posting, and submit an application (which is, in fact, read by a live person). I got another one of these last week that warned me that the role may be filled “in a couple days” - I have sat on countless higher education search committees. We are not known for “speed” in hiring. This is manufactured urgency to get me to reply.
I have to admit that these scams are getting better - they are pulling real jobs, using logos of real recruitment firms, and have LinkedIn accounts for their “recruiters” (if they have 4 connection or haven’t posted in 9+ years…that’s a sign…)
I get really frustrated that bad actors are preying on job seekers who already have enough stress without having to question if an opportunity is legitimate. All I can do is help shine a light on what to look for, and offer two pieces of advice:
1. Trust your gut
2. Always, always go through the company’s HR site to apply. If there are other (legitimate) instructions, you’ll find them there.
