Identifying Job Red Flags

WORD OF WARNING JOB SEEKERS! A dear friend of mine was recently contacted by someone presenting as a recruiter about a role with a well-known software company. He provided very specific details — the role, company, salary, and benefits. He even boasted that the candidates he puts forward “always get interviews” because he prescreens their references and submits both the resume and the references to the client. Trusting the process, she provided several references. Soon after, all of those contacts received calls — not about her candidacy, but with sales pitches for the recruiter’s services. Here’s what she uncovered: there was no job. When she called the company directly, they confirmed they weren’t hiring for that role and had never heard of his recruiting firm. She documented everything with screenshots and reported him to LinkedIn. Red flags to watch for: • Requests for multiple references before you’ve had any interview or confirmation of candidacy. • A recruiter who emphasizes “prescreening” or “special access” to gain your trust. The job market is challenging enough without tactics like this. Sharing this as a reminder to all candidates: protect your network, and trust your instincts.

𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 “𝗳𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀” 𝗜 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁? 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗺. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻. My post about fake jobs went viral. 150K+ views, thousands of comments. And buried inside those comments was a pattern that honestly made me sick. Here’s the playbook you all described: • You apply to a role that (surprise) turns out to be fake. • A “recruiter” or “career expert” reaches out. • They tell you your résumé or LinkedIn profile needs to be “updated” or “optimized for ATS.” • The price? $250… $300… $500+ for a quick fix. What you get back? A generic, copy-pasted, AI-generated résumé that doesn’t sound like you, doesn’t reflect your experience, and doesn’t get you any closer to a real job. Let’s be clear: This is not career coaching. This is not a professional branding service. This is a scam built on people’s fear and desperation. And where is all of this happening? Right. Here. On. LinkedIn. People in my comments said: “I reported the posting as a scam and heard nothing back.” “LinkedIn reviewed it and said they found no evidence of a scam.” “No evidence.” Read that again: Job seekers are flagging scams. LinkedIn is shrugging and moving on. If your entire business model is built on “economic opportunity,” You don’t get to look the other way when scammers target the most vulnerable people on your platform: • Laid-off parents trying to keep a roof over their kids’ heads. • New grads who don’t know what’s normal yet. • Career switchers who already feel like outsiders. Yes, the BBB and others have been warning about this exact scheme for years. Yes, the red flags are obvious to us: → “We found you on LinkedIn, you’re a perfect fit…” for a job that doesn’t exist. → “But first, pay to reformat your résumé for our ATS.” → “Pay now, we’ll talk about the role later.” But here’s the thing: When you’ve been job searching for months, When you’ve been ghosted after 100+ applications, When your savings are running out… Those red flags don’t feel like red flags. They feel like hope. To every job seeker reading this: You do not need to pay $250–$500 to be “ATS-ready.” You do not need to pay a recruiter to “consider” you. You do not owe anyone your banking info “to set up payroll” before you’ve even met. If someone dangles a dream job and asks for money first, It’s not a shortcut. It’s a shakedown. If this has happened to you: Drop your story in the comments. Report the posting. Report the account. Warn one more person than you did yesterday. And if anyone from LinkedIn reads this: Don’t bury this. Prove you actually care about the people who built this platform. Because right now, it’s not just resumes getting scammed. It’s your reputation, too. We're watching.

A rigid hiring process does not just cost you candidates, it costs you money long after the role is filled, and most businesses never trace it back far enough to see it. Every stage built for convenience instead of judgement adds friction. Long forms, arbitrary cut offs, screening that filters for compliance rather than capability. That might get someone through the door, but often the wrong someone. And the real cost of that mistake rarely shows up in the actual recruiting budget. It shows up in the team that has to cover the gaps while the new hire gets up to speed, or worse, while they quietly fail. It shows up in the manager pulled away from their own work to manage a mis-hire instead of growing the business. It shows up in the colleagues picking up dropped tasks, absorbing the disruption, and slowly losing confidence in how hiring decisions get made around here. That ripple does not stay contained to one team either. Deadlines slip elsewhere, other departments adjust their expectations downward, and the disruption compounds well past the desk it started at. The businesses spending the least on hiring long term are rarely the ones with the cheapest process. They are the ones willing to slow down enough to avoid setting all of that in motion.

Jobseekers, this one’s for you. If you’re applying to every job that says We’re hiring, stop right now. Because sending your CV everywhere doesn’t increase your chances. It just increases your frustration. Let me tell you about one candidate. He was excited when a reputed tech firm called after he applied through a job portal. Two quick interview rounds, lots of praise for his portfolio, and a verbal offer. He told his family, stopped attending other interviews, and waited for the email that would change his life. Weeks passed. Then silence. No offer letter. No replies. No updates. When he finally checked online ❌ The company had no website. ❌ No real LinkedIn presence. ❌ The HR email was from Gmail, No proper domain. It was all fake. A data scam. He didn’t just lose time, he lost his confidence too. That’s why, before applying anywhere, do these 5 checks: 1️⃣ Google the company. No real presence? Big red flag. 2️⃣ Check LinkedIn. Real people or fake accounts? 3️⃣ Verify the email domain. Legit companies rarely use Gmail for HR. 4️⃣ Ask for a written offer letter before resigning anywhere. 5️⃣ Trust your gut. If it feels off, it probably is. Remember,  The goal isn’t to get a job. It’s to get the right job safely, smartly, and confidently. Have you ever come across a fake job posting? Share your experience, it could save someone else’s time and trust. #jobsearch #career #corporateworld #hiring #fraudalert #jobseekers #company

I'm hoping this guide to spotting recruiter scams will help people avoid them, because job scams are exploding. The FTC says reported losses jumped from $90M in 2020 to over $501M in 2024, with reports tripling. 😯 Scammers are impersonating real recruiters like me and many others using their names, photos, and links to their real LinkedIn profiles which makes them look legitimate. While these scams have been around for a while, they're now AI polished. AI makes it ridiculously easy to create highly personalized & relevant emails...I've seen emails from "me" to cybersecurity professionals, licensed counselors, oil & gas executives - you name it. Anyone can generate hyper-relevant outreach to any professional with practically zero effort - see the attached examples. Here's what's changed: the old tells are dead. Polished writing, personal details, specific job descriptions, realistic salaries - AI fakes all of it for free. Scammers will even answer your verification questions smoothly and patiently, right in the thread. I've seen it happen - people have sent me screenshots. So judge what can't be faked: → Where money flows. Anyone who contacted YOU about a job and asks you to pay anything - fees, "equipment," training - is a scammer. No exceptions. → Where your data goes. Never share your SSN, bank details, or ID with anyone you haven't verified first. Verify the firm and the person - then decide. → The actual sender address, not the display name. Anyone's name (like mine!) can sit on top of any Gmail account - scammers impersonating me use addresses like glencathey0@gmail.com. I work for Randstad, so real outreach from me comes from a Randstad domain. (Some legit solo recruiters do use personal email - one more reason to verify rather than assume.) → The anchor. Text, WhatsApp, even fully chatbot-run hiring can be 100% legitimate - the question is whether it connects to anything you can find on your own: the firm's real site, careers page, and domain. → The confidential search rule: the client can be confidential - the recruiter never can. A real recruiter can always give you a firm name, a firm-domain email, and a way to confirm them through the firm. The single best move when unsure? Verify OUTSIDE the thread. Don't interrogate the sender - AI answers questions fluently. Find the real person and company through your own search and ask if the outreach was theirs. People message me regularly on LinkedIn asking, "Did you actually email me about this job?" It works every time. If it's a scam and you live in the US, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and flag the impersonation on the platform it came from. Full guide in the graphic below. Reposting will help more people avoid these scams - please help spread the word. What red flags or advice would you add? 👇

Some managers mentor you up. Others block you out. Spotting the difference will save your career. We were halfway through our How to Be Seen and Heard at Work workshop. And as Jingjin Liu and I gave out Power Moves one by one, this question came up again. And again. 👉 “I’ve just joined a new company and my manager keeps blocking me from accessing the leadership team.” 👉 “What do you do when your boss is the blocker for your visibility?” The chat blew up the moment that question landed. I could feel the collective exhale. Women there had either met that manager or feared they’d meet one next. My short answer was honest, maybe too honest: Find someone else to work for. The silence that followed was recognition. They knew what I meant. Once you’ve tried everything - influence, communication, over-performance - and your visibility is still filtered through someone else’s insecurity, the only real move left is strategic exit. Then one woman asked the smarter question: “So how do I know, before I join, if a future manager will be the same?” That’s when I shared this: Interview Questions to Spot Insecure Managers Who Might Block Visibility “How do you like to see your team’s achievements shared with senior leadership?” ✅ Healthy answer: “I want you to share them directly, I’ll amplify you.” ❌ Red flag: “Run everything through me first.” “When your team presents to senior leaders, what’s your role?” ✅ Healthy answer: “I open the door and back you up in the room.” ❌ Red flag: “I usually present on behalf of the team.” “Can you share an example of when you promoted someone else’s idea to your boss or the C-suite?” ✅ Healthy answer: They tell a real story, and they gave credit upwards. ❌ Red flag: They centre themselves in the story. “How do you handle it when someone on your team gets more visibility than you?” ✅ Healthy answer: “That’s a win, it reflects well on me too.” ❌ Red flag: Nervous laugh, or deflection. “What do you see as the next step for someone in this role if they do it really well?” ✅ Healthy answer: There’s an upward path beyond their team. ❌ Red flag: “You’ll just keep doing more of the same - better.” Insecure managers reveal themselves fast: they need to control credit, they block direct access to senior leaders, and they speak in vague platitudes instead of concrete examples of lifting others up. Visibility is, at its core: the safety to be seen, without someone dimming the light to feel taller. P.S. If you missed this session, we’ve released the replay of How to Be Seen and Heard at Work - every Power Move, every real question, every live example. You’ll walk away knowing exactly how to design your next 90 days of visibility even if your boss isn’t cheering you on yet. Link in comments.

You don't need to find the right job. You need to avoid the wrong boss. Companies are on their best behavior during interviews. That's exactly why the warning signs matter. Spot them to save yourself years of regret. Here are 7 manager red flags (ordered by how often they show up) 🚩 Vague Expectations Watch for ambiguity dressed up as autonomy."We need someone who can figure it out" usually means they don't know what they want. If they can't define success, you'll never achieve it. 🚩 Chaotic Communication The hiring process is a preview of daily operations. Reschedules, mixed messages, and silence are quiet warnings. If this is them trying to impress you, imagine what it'll be like when they're not. 🚩 Stalled Growth Ask whether recent leaders were promoted or hired in. If the path up is persistently blocked, your career stalls with it. When they show you the ceiling, believe them. 🚩 Toxic Culture Watch how employees actually treat each other. Forced enthusiasm speaks louder than real energy. Ask yourself: are these people fountains or drains? 🚩 No Real Training Ask who you'll turn to in your first 30 days. If there's no clear answer, expect to sink or swim on your own. Strong teams systemize. Weak ones improvise. 🚩 Energy Vampires Exhaustion is hard to hide, even in interviews. Watch for fatigue masked by surface-level positivity. Drained people are a symptom of a deeper problem. 🚩 Bureaucratic Inertia "That's how we've always done it" kills momentum. Ask for a recent change that made things more efficient. If they can't name one, don't expect that to change once you show up. Remember: The interview goes both ways. You're evaluating them as much as they're evaluating you. Questions worth asking: - "What does success look like in 90 days?" - "What's the most recent thing you changed?" - "How does this team handle disagreement?" - "How do you develop your people?" - "Why did the last person leave?" The best time to spot a bad boss? Before you ever started working for them. ♻️ Share to help someone find the right fit. 🔔 Follow Dave Kline for more career insights.

“It’s just how things are here.” If you’ve ever heard (or told yourself) that at work…STOP. That sentence often hides something much bigger —and much more harmful. A toxic work culture doesn’t always start loud. It can start quietly. It creeps in slowly, and before you know it, it becomes your “normal.” But it shouldn’t be. Here are 10 red flags that could be telling you something’s wrong — even if no one says it out loud: 1. Lack of Transparency ↳ Secretive decisions create mistrust. 👉 You're always the last to know.  2. Micromanagement ↳ Constant control kills independence. 👉 You’re trusted with nothing.  3. High Turnover ↳ Lots of people leaving due to systemic issues. 👉 New faces come and go.  4. Poor Communication ↳ Silence or confusion disconnects teams. 👉 You're left guessing — daily.  5. Unrealistic Expectations ↳ Impossible demands lead to burnout. 👉 “Just figure it out” culture.  6. Blame Culture ↳ Pointing fingers stops growth. 👉 Mistakes become public shame.  7. Favoritism ↳ Hard work is ignored, the inner circle gets the credit. 👉 Performance doesn’t equal progress.  8. No Work-Life Balance ↳ Overwork becomes expected. 👉 Rest feels like rebellion.  9. Disrespect or Bullying ↳ Tolerating bullying or disrespect =makes excuses & creates fear. 👉 Toxic behavior goes unchecked.  10. No Growth ↳ No chances to learn or move up kill motivation. 👉 Same work, no direction. Sound familiar?  Then this is your sign. Toxic culture isn’t always obvious, but it is dangerous. It can wear down your confidence. It damage your mental health. It can make you question your worth. And here's the truth:  It’s not you. A healthy workplace will challenge you. It will also support you, trust you, and help you grow. You deserve that. Have you experienced any of these red flags? How did you deal with them? Let’s talk about what a healthy culture actually looks like — and why we should never settle for less. ♻️ Share this with your network if it resonates. ☝️ And follow Stuart Andrews for more insights like this.

“Not every job posting on LinkedIn is real. But every fake one looks convincing.” Every week, I talk to professionals who got excited about a “dream opportunity”, only to find out it was a scam. And it’s not just happening to freshers. Even experienced managers and senior leaders fall for these traps. Because today’s job scams don’t look fake anymore. They’re polished, personalized, and painfully believable. Here’s what every job seeker needs to know 👇 ⚠️ 8 Red Flags of Job Scams 1️⃣ Unrealistic Salary Offers If it sounds too good to be true, it is. A 15L package for a 2-year fresher? 🚩 Major red flag. 2️⃣ Grammatical Errors in Job Posts Legit employers review their communication. Scammers copy-paste and move fast. 3️⃣ Vague Job Descriptions If the role sounds generic, unclear, or doesn’t specify deliverables, step back and verify. 4️⃣ Early Requests for Personal Information No genuine recruiter needs your Aadhaar, PAN, or bank details before you’ve even received an offer. 5️⃣ Unusual Interview Methods Telegram, WhatsApp, or “chat-only” interviews are NOT professional hiring channels. 6️⃣ Paying for Jobs or Equipment Real companies don’t ask you to pay for training, security deposits, or joining kits. 7️⃣ No Online Presence Search the company and recruiter on LinkedIn and Google. If you can’t find a trace of them, walk away. 8️⃣ Pressure to Decide Immediately Scammers create urgency. Legit companies give you time to think, discuss, and decide. 💡 Always verify before you celebrate. Before responding to any job offer: ✅ Research the company website ✅ Check the HR’s LinkedIn profile ✅ Ask for an official company domain email (not Gmail/Yahoo) ✅ Talk to someone who already works there 🎯 Remember: Your job search should make you feel empowered , not anxious. If something feels off, trust your instincts. It’s better to lose one fake opportunity than lose your money, data, or peace of mind. 👉 If you’re job hunting and want to learn how to spot fake offers, build credibility, and attract genuine recruiters, connect with me on DM if interested. I’ll share proven visibility strategies to help you build trust and stay safe in your career journey. #JobSearch #JobScams #CareerCoach #PersonalBranding #LinkedInTips #SnehaSharmaTheCoach

New week, new hiring scam. A few days ago, one of my connections reached out with a shocking experience. She received a job offer from TELUS Digital Digital. Or so she thought. The process seemed legit: - A telephonic interview - An assessment round - A final interview with an "Operations Manager" who refused to turn on his camera Then came the catch She got a feedback email saying she performed well but needed an ASP.NET Professional Certification before joining. The HR directed her to CodemindsEdu, claiming it was Microsoft-authorized. The fee? ₹18,000. Reimbursable after joining. Trusting the process, she paid. That’s when things went silent. She later found out from real TELUS employees that the offer letter was fake, the email domain was fraudulent, and the certification was a scam. Signs to watch for: 1️⃣ Fake domains (real companies don’t use .co.in or similar unofficial domains). 2️⃣ Mandatory paid certifications tied to job offers. 3️⃣ Recruiters pushing you towards specific training providers. 4️⃣ No video interviews or LinkedIn presence of interviewers. Scammers are getting smarter, using real company names to trap job seekers. Stay cautious. Always verify. And if something feels off, it probably is. Share this to protect others from falling into the same trap. LinkedIn #hiring #interview #career #job #linkedin