This month, our guest editor, Ms Chrissy Jones, has some hard-earned advice to share: how to make sure your marketing job is not a scam?
How To Ensure a Marketing Job Is Legit and Not a Scam
Marketing, especially social media marketing and digital advertising, are some of the biggest industries for modern professionals. Long gone are the days when only a handful of people worked in marketing. These days, every company needs to market itself online if it wants success.
No company is an exception to that rule. Cyprus, for example, has been home to several well-known scams. If you currently work in marketing or hope to break into a marketing position, you need to know how to detect potential warning signs of a scam to protect yourself and your professional future.
Not All Work-From-Home Jobs Are Scams
Some people think that any job that involves remote work or working from home must be a scam. You need to let go of that assumption right now. There are plenty of shady companies that have physical locations and many thriving companies that have employees working remotely.
Instead of focusing on whether or not there is a physical office, there are other factors you should consider. Have you ever heard of the company before? Are they willing to provide you with training or equipment? How much personal information are they asking you to provide? All of these considerations can help you determine if a company offering a marketing position is a real business or a phishing scam.
Ask About Job Titles and Payment Structure Up Front
Many of these scam companies operate by taking advantage of people’s hopes and dreams. Don’t get suckered by a company that just wants to sell you on selling their products. Before you send a resume in, youhave every right to askwhat the compensation range is for a job or what the actual title will be.
If they are offering a very inflated sounding title or are only telling you the maximum amount of income per week, those could be warning signs of a false position. The same is true of any marketing position that is paid by commission, rather than an hourly wage or salary. Also, watch out for changing job detailsfrom conversation to conversation.
Check for References and Well-Known Clients or Staff
One of the fastest ways to verify if a job is a real opportunity or not is to ask the company for references. Most established businesses would be more than happy to provide you with the names of current employees, former employees, or satisfied clients. That information can help you verify that this is a company that offers real pay and real benefits, not just some fly-by-night operation hoping to profit from your personal information.
Be Careful About What Information You Provide
While it is common to use personal information as part of the hiring process, you should be careful about what information you provide upfront. As a general rule, when applying for new jobs, consider making a disposable email address. Gmail and other free email services can provide you with a professional email account that is not your primary email. That way, once you secure a job and have a company email address, you can delete the email that you placed on all of your resumes.
Similarly, you may consider setting up a temporary phone number through Google Voice or similar services to provide a callback point. Protecting your personal private information is an important step when seeking a job. This is especially true in marketing, as many jobs may actually be multi-level marketing scams or similar operations that don’t offer pay.
Pay close attention to the details. Protect your personal information, and watch for red flags. With a little effort, you can quickly focus your efforts on real jobs instead of fake or fraudulent positions.
