According to a new survey, 62 per cent of professionals in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are actively looking for a job or plan to look for one this year and this will likely to give rise to a competitive job market.
However, it is also creating a space for scammers and fraudsters who may be on the lookout for desperate jobseekers.
There are some ways that you can protect yourself during the job hunt. Here are five red flags to watch out for:
1. No official email address
A possible red flag could be when a recruiter uses an email ID that does not belong to an organisation. Scammers could use free email ID domains, such as Gmail or Yahoo, to contact people.
Legitimate recruiters will always reach out to people using their official email addresses which feature the organisation’s name.
2. Random contact
If you have received an invitation for an interview or a job offer without having applied for it, then be on your guard.
A legitimate recruiter will only reach out to you for an interview if you have applied for a job at their organisation or if they have received your reference through someone you know.
3. Promises of unusually high salary
If a job posting offers an unusually high salary from the get-go, you should take a second look. It may be possible that the ‘recruiter’ is attempting to lure people in by promising a big paycheck.
4. Grammatical errors
Just like with any other scam, you would do well to look out for spelling mistakes and other grammatical errors, as fraudsters may not be fluent in English or proofread the posts they create.
5. Asking for money
Fraudulent recruiters often ask applicants for money under the guise of fees. They may ask for money for other purposes too, such as visa issuance, which is illegal in the UAE.
A legitimate recruiter will not ask for money at any stage during the process of recruitment.
By Desmond Nleya, Daily Times
