I Have Met the Enemy and He is Us!

Rick Gillis
Job Search Expert/Author/Speaker

When it comes to employment and job search I am almost continuously in a ‘rage’—-at job search coaches. (Bear in mind that in order to become a coach all you need is a pencil and the nerve to claim your ‘coachness.’)

I want to throw rocks at the TV when I hear so-called “job search experts” tell us, once again, to watch out for typos, yada, yada. This helps no one. The true job seeker is waaaay past such ‘pertinent’ advice.

I regularly speak on panels with other JSE’s (job search experts); pay attention and listen to HR professionals and professional staffing folks to see if I can latch onto something new. It ain’t happening. So if anyone reading this considers my statements akin to throwing down the gauntlet–so be it.

In my view HR professionals provide you with the information THEY want you to have. And let me be clear: I love HR professionals. They work their backsides off for not near enough money or respect.

Staffing professionals, on the other hand, will provide the job seeker with about 70-80% of the information they need. Why? Because the information they withhold is that knowledge they would rather a job seeker NOT KNOW. Why? Because that is where they make their bucks. And this is not a bad thing. I am also a big fan of staffing companies–and of capitalism.

But in the scope of what I do which is to provide individuals with the very best and most up to the minute information I possibly can–I can’t hold anything back if they will benefit from some little bit no matter how insignificant. If I know something that can add value to an individual’s job search it is my ‘duty’ to inform them.

I would like to ask those JSE’s who do more harm than good to just get out of the way. You are the Enemy!

rg

 

BTW–while I’m at it–if you are in job search you may want to subscribe to ERE.net. This site is THE final (and often first) word on electronic recruiting. Some of the thought providers on this site are so far out there that it makes you wonder but….and a very important ‘but’…they bring astounding information to the masses and eventually most of what they have to preach actually becomes gospel. Check them out.

Welcome to AustinJOBSBlog.com.

I wanted to address a topic which I get phone calls almost every day about and that is “Scams” perpetrated on job seekers globally.

There are many people out there whose goal, when they wake up in the morning, is to separate you from as much money as possible.  There tactics range from selling you over priced software that will allow you to learn to type in medical information for doctors to learning how to develop web sites for money from home.

I am going to list some basic “Warning Signs” to look for to hopefully save you from separating from your money and or your personal information!

#1.   Work At Home - Run!  If they want you to work out of your house and will pay you per hour or per entry, it is a scam.   Out of 1000′s of “Work from home business opportunities” there are a handful that are real and reputable.  They do not advertise on Job Boards that often.   Their client flow comes from web sites that are ranked high on searches for “Work at Home”.

#2.    Buying Software - If they offer a job that sounds really good, allowing you to work from your computer at home BUT you need to purchase their software, RUN!   You will purchase the software, work had to get knowledgeable about the system and then never hear from them again.  Because you “bought” the software, they get away with not contacting you.

#3.   Interviewing using Instant Messaging - RUN!  No reputable employer does this.  Never ever give out personal information online as well.  If an employer wants to hire you, they want to do a face-to-face.  Trust me on this.  It is a scam.

#4.    We want to send you a check, you deposit it in your account and then send about 70% to this address and keep the balance - RUN!  Come on people.  The check is not good, even if it is a money order.  It is bogus.  Biggest scam out there!

#5.    You receive and Email that looks like it came from a Job Board in the Subject but not the sender - This is the latest scam.  They even use an existing company with an existing web site to lure you in.  Generally it is a publishing company of some sort.  If they are not able to meet you face-to-face for an interview, RUN!  If you call the number on the address and ask to speak to HR (Human Resources) or ask if they are hiring and get a negative response, RUN!

There are many other scams out there.  Please be careful and approach every job opportunity email or phone call with caution.  Search Google.com for Job Seeker Scams and educate yourself.

Thank you!

Steven Carr

AustinJOBS.com