The LinkedIn platform has many job listings, but many users ask, are LinkedIn jobs legit? While the platform has a lot of legitimate job listings, you must be aware that scammers also take advantage and list fraudulent jobs on the platform. Cybercrooks understand that LinkedIn is a popular professional networking platform where employers and job seekers meet. They will stop at nothing to ensure they have scammed desperate job seekers by listing non-authentic jobs.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn has put in place measures to ensure that the jobs advertised are legitimate, but a few scammers post fake job offers.
- In a legitimate job application, you should not pay any money when applying.
- It would be best to be cautious when you come across jobs with an abnormally insane payment that doesn’t match the job description.
- In a legitimate job advert, there must be contact information given on the advert, and the company’s contact information should match the ones on their website and social media platforms.
- The first step to ascertain the legitimacy of a job listing on LinkedIn before applying is to search for the hiring company’s information online via the Google search engine.
Why are LinkedIn Jobs Legit & How Will You Detect a Scam?
LinkedIn has many legit job listings because it is a reputable platform with strict job posting guidelines. The platform has numerous features that can detect and prevent possible scams. For instance, LinkedIn monitors and removes fraudulent job listings and other suspicious activities using its machine-learning algorithms.
In addition, users can report suspicious job listings and profiles to LinkedIn for immediate action.
However, despite all these measures to thwart job scams, some intelligent scammers might manage to arm-twist the system and post fraudulent job listings. Therefore, it will be helpful if you can see the tell-tale signs of illegitimate job listings on the platform. Let’s explore how you will detect job scams on the platform to protect yourself and other users.
How to Detect LinkedIn Job Scams
LinkedIn has its share of scammers, like any other online platform. The first line of security when doing anything on an online platform such as LinkedIn starts with you. You must be able to see the red flag and keep off the lurking danger.
If you are job hunting on the LinkedIn platform, here are the tell-tale signs that a job listing is fraudulent:
1. The Hiring Company Has no Online Presence
The first step to ascertain the legitimacy of a job listing on LinkedIn before applying is to search for the hiring company’s information online via the Google search engine. Also, you can check whether the company has a social media presence or a functional website.
It must be questionable if the advertising company has no online traces. Any reputable or even startup company operating in the 21st century must have an online presence.
2. A Mismatch of the Contact Information
Clever scammers might pretend to be from a reputable company and provide a link to the company they are impersonating. The only difference is that they will give you contacts that don’t match the ones on the company’s official websites and social media platforms.
Sometimes, job scammers fail to give contact information to enable you to send your job application.
For instance, it sounds crazy when you find a job offer on LinkedIn, but instead of providing contact information, the advertiser asks those interested in the job to comment “interested” on the post.
Do you think an organization can scan the profiles of all who will comment to select a suitable candidate? No. Such job listings are scams, and you must stay away from them or become fodder to the scammers.
3. Huge Salary and Benefits
Let’s say you’ve just woken up and logged into your LinkedIn account, and the first thing you see is a job listing in your industry. The perks sound good since the salary and benefits exceed the standard rates by double. You’re about to hit the link provided and submit your application, but then you pose and ask yourself, are LinkedIn jobs legit?
Come on. LinkedIn jobs are legit, but this one is not! Do you remember the adage, “when the deal is too good, think twice?” Here the scammer is dangling money so that you don’t look at the job details. You might be infected by malware that will compromise your data if you click the link.
4. Money Request
Have you ever seen a LinkedIn job advert requesting money before processing your application? If you come across such job offers, run for your life. No reputable company will ask you to send any money for processing applications.
In a legit LinkedIn job advert, the only thing they should ask for is to submit your job application documents. As a thumb rule, you should not pay any fee to process your application if the job advert is legit.
5. Urgency in Hiring
If you find a job listing on LinkedIn, apply for it, and get accepted immediately, there are more questions than answers. Ideally, professional job recruiters plan early in the recruitment process as they must take time to go through all job applications submitted.
They also give more time for the application process, which helps them to attract more job applicants. In the case of an extensive recruitment process, it takes a little time to ensure that they have picked the best applicants. Therefore, nobody should tell you that you got the job immediately after submitting your application.
If you come across an advert on LinkedIn that says they are doing urgent mass recruitment and they give little time for the application process, my friend, don’t fall for it.
6. Type of Job Offered
There is no way a company that deals with transportation can hire doctors. If you came across an advert from a company announcing jobs irrelevant to what they do and specialize in, that LinkedIn job advert is fake.
The other thing to consider is if a U.S.A company does this recruitment, the advert should contain information such as, “to get this job, you either must be a U.S.A citizen or have a work visa.” Because this is the standard requirement for anybody who is not a citizen, if the post does not contain such information, it may be a scam.
7. Request for Personal Information
If you see a job listing on LinkedIn that requests your personal information, be wary of it. A genuine employer should not seek your details before hiring you. Yes, it’s a common practice for an employer to have your personal information, but this should not happen until you formally get the job offer.
Any potential employer asking for your bank information via a link sent through email, WhatsApp, or any direct communication is a scammer.
8. Incomplete Company Profile
Scrutinize the LinkedIn profile of the company that has advertised the job you wish to apply for. Authentic recruiters have complete profiles filled with activities over a long period. Suppose the advertiser hasn’t posted anything or commented for an extended period; it means that engagement is non-existent; thus, you should be suspicious of the advert.
Generally, it’s good to be cautious when applying for a job on LinkedIn or any other online platform. Do your research, trust your instincts, and be wary of job listings that seem too good to be true.
References
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/6-warning-signs-job-posting-fake-jt-o-donnell