How To Identify A Fake Job Vacancy In Nigeria

The desire and goal of every graduate in Nigeria is to get a good job or employment. However, there is still a wide gap between the demand for jobs and its supply making it a frustrating cycle for job seekers.

As the rate of unemployment continues to rise in Nigeria, so is the surge in fake jobs.

A fake or scam job is a job that is not legitimate and cannot be verified. The brains behind these fake jobs lure naive and unsuspecting job seekers who are desirous of finally earning a living for themselves.

The intent of some of these fake recruiters is to swindle these job seekers of their money while others go diabolical by harming and killing them.

An example is the story of Iniobong Umoren who was raped and murdered in Uyo after she was lured under the disguise of a job interview.

In order to avoid falling victim to these scammers and fake job posters, here are some ways to identify a fake job vacancy.

1. The company has no online presence

We live in a digital world where we live and breathe on the internet. A job or company whose presence can’t be verified online (website, blog, social media) is a scam job.

A quick Google search should help you know if a job is legitimate or not. Failure to bring up any queries should give you the answer you need. Some scammers now go the extra length of creating a website and social media, however, if there is no concrete information there, it may be a fake job.

2. You didn’t apply for the job

Have you ever received a text message or email for a job interview that left you wondering when you applied for the job? Well, your guess is as good as mine, it is most definitely a scam job.

A genuine job or company will reach out to you via their company e-mail, call, then follow up with a text message scheduling you for an interview. Sending just an SMS is a major red flag.

A typical example of such invites would read, ‘You have been scheduled for an interview at No 9, Adetona Street, Ikeja on May 5, 2021’. Call this number 080xxxxxxxx and come along with your CV. If you get this kind of invite, best believe it is a fake job.ALSO

READ: 5 Ways To Deal With Frustration While You Wait For That Dream Job

3. The Venue

The company venue is an important way to know a fake job.

Even though there are lots of jobs interview conducted via Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, etc, there are still a number of interviews that take place physically.

Many job seekers have shared stories of how they knew the job was a fake one on arrival at the interview venue.

If you notice the interview is taking place in an unconventional environment or you are even taken to another venue entirely, then you should be worried.

The people (staff) you meet at the venue should also give you a clue as to whether it is real or fake. Being physically at the venue will show you a lot of signs that you should pay attention to.

4. The e-mail is unprofessional

Legitimate companies usually have their company domain email e.g. info@fabwoman.ng.

If you get a message from a company using the general email ending in @gmail.com, that’s a sign that it is a fake job.

Also, pay attention to the content of the e-mail for obvious grammatical and spelling errors.

5. You are told to pay an amount of money

Any job that requires you to pay a certain sum of money before you are employed is a scam one. Some of these fraud recruiters may tell you to pay a certain amount of money as a registration or commitment fee before the job offer is completed.

The only exceptions here are if you are working with a career recruiter and even, in this case, recruiters get their money only after you have been hired.

6. The offer is too good to be true

If you see a job posting where the pay is not commensurate with the company’s brand or your experience, e.g a small company wants to pay you N500,000 as a graduate trainee, then you should be wary and cautious.

A lot of fake recruiters use this technique as bait to attract unsuspecting job seekers who are enticed at such offers.

Remember the saying, ‘If it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t.

7. You are employed immediately

A credible job usually has a time frame for employment. A job posting usually has a number of candidates who have applied. Each candidate would then go through a rigorous process of interview(s) before a job offer comes through.

If you are being offered a job immediately, the probability of it being fake is very high.

In conclusion, you need to be alert and intuitive to avoid fraudsters. here are a few things to take note of before attending that job interview.

Research the company to be sure it’s genuine
Don’t pay money for a job
Avoid giving out personal information
Use only trusted job platforms e.g Jobberman, Hot Nigerian Jobs, and My Job Mag for your job search
Be vigilant and trust your guts