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Recruiter Scams Are on the Rise. Here’s How to Avoid Them.

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When you’re hunting for a job, you always have to be on the lookout for scammers–people who prey on desperate job seekers by pretending to offer legitimate job opportunities only as a ruse to get their personal information (or their money). This is especially true during times when jobs are scarce. But now, with a job market that is especially hot, a different type of scam is on the rise–namely, scammers posing as recruiters.

In one recent example, a human resources firm in Portland, OR called Mineral detected a group of scammers posing as recruiters for their company by setting up fake profiles on LinkedIn and connecting with actual employees of the firm to make them look legitimate. Thankfully, the scammers didn’t get any money out of it, but it wasn’t until a corporate VP for Mineral noticed a LinkedIn profile for a graphic designer she didn’t hire that the scam was detected and thwarted.

How Do Recruiter Scams Work?

Scammers are always looking for new angles, so scam recruiters can sometimes be difficult to tell apart from the real ones. But generally speaking, here’s how a recruiter scam works:

  • A scammer reaches out to you, claiming either to be a third-party recruiter or a recruiter for a company, and says they are looking for someone with your skill set to fill one or more positions.
  • The scammer typically sets up a fake online profile so when you look them up, they appear legitimate.
  • At some point in the dialogue, the scammer will create a pretense to ask you either for personal information, an advance payment, or both.
  • The scammer disappears, leaving you with no job offer–and possibly poorer, if you gave them money.

Tips for Detecting and Avoiding Recruitment Scams

So, if a scam recruiter reaches out to you with an offer, how can you tell if the offer is legit? Here are a few practical tips to avoid getting scammed:

  • Check the recruitment link, if you’re given one. If you’re emailed with an offer to apply for a position, the link typically takes you to the company website or an applicant tracking site (ATS) like Taleo or Jobvite to fill out the application. Look at the URL (the website address). If it’s a legitimate company taking you to the applicant tracking site, the company name will usually appear somewhere in the URL (e.g., “companyname.jobvite.com”). If the URL looks suspicious or doesn’t look like a legitimate company name, it probably isn’t.
  • Look for grammar errors. In the world of a global Internet, many scammers don’t speak English as their first language. If there are spelling and grammatical errors in their email, it’s a red flag.
  • Reach out to the hiring firm or the hiring company directly. If you’re unsure whether a recruiter is on the level, find a phone number for the company they tell you they represent, call them, and ask whether that person is a recruiter for them. If they don’t recognize the name, it’s probably fake.
  • NEVER give a recruiter money or personal information. A true recruiter will never ask you for an application fee, nor will they ask you for your driver’s license number, Social Security Number or other personally identifying info. You should NEVER have to pay the recruiter (the hiring company does that), and as for your SSN, you only give that to the employer if you get hired.

It may feel good to get a call or email from a recruiter because it makes you feel like your skills are in demand. And don’t get me wrong–there are lots of legitimate recruiters out there, especially in this job market. Just keep your eyes open, ask questions, and watch for the warning signs. As always, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

As always, I’m available if you want help positioning yourself to land the job you want. Just click here to access my calendar and set up a free 30-minute consultation.

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What Recession? Job Market Is Still Hot (For Now)

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Apparently, rumors of an imminent recession have been greatly exaggerated.

Despite ongoing issues with inflation and rising interest rates, recent reports show that the job market is still going strong. According to the most recent data from the Labor Department, the number of open jobs in the US continues to increase (as many as 11.2 million new job openings in July). In fact, ironically, while most of us are struggling under the weight of higher prices, employers still are having trouble finding enough people to fill their open positions!

While the economy has in fact shrunk over the last 2 quarters (which is usually the definition of a recession), there are enough positive numbers in other areas (like jobs) that the experts are holding off on calling it a recession.

For now.

What Does All This Mean for Job Seekers?

For the time being, it’s good news. If you’re currently on the hunt for a new position or career, your prospects are still good. Companies are still hiring, and they’re willing to pay competitive salaries to attract the best candidates. However, experts are warning us to be cautious–that this boon of jobs could still reverse course in the next few months. Here’s why.

The Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates to try to tamp down inflation–and in some respects, it does seem to be working. But ironically (there’s that word again), a hot job market also feeds inflation, which means the Federal Reserve may have to continue raising interest rates to combat it. Eventually, those rising rates could start affecting cash flow for employers, which would in turn mean fewer jobs and a sluggish economy.

The Bottom Line

Things are good right now for you, job seeker–but don’t bank on it for the future. If you’re looking for a new job or career, the job market is currently in your favor, and you have a lot of bargaining power with employers–IF you act now. If current trends continue, this window of advantage may soon close.

Even with jobs in abundance, finding the very best position to match your passions can still be challenging-and that’s where I can help. As a career coach, I can help position you not just to get a job (because if you’re okay with any job, you can do that on your own)—but rather to help you land the job you really want, the one that you can see yourself working in for years to come. Just click here to access my calendar and set up a free 30-minute consultation.

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Will Fears of a Recession Affect Your Job Search?

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I don’t know about you, but I can only take the news in short bursts these days. We won’t dwell on it here…let’s just say things have been better. (Just for context…things have also been worse. In my lifetime.) However, one bit of news that might be of concern to job seekers is that with spiking gas prices and out-of-control inflation, there’s now talk of a possible recession coming our way. And although those fears have lessened just in the past couple of weeks, the talk still hangs in the air. If you’ve been working on finding a new job or changing careers, what might this mean for you? Could all the talk of recession hurt your chances of getting hired? And if recession does come, how much would it impact your job search?

The short answer is…not as much as you think. But it might mean adapting some of your strategies.

Let’s unpack this a little.

How Recession Affects the Job Market

By definition, a recession means the economy is shrinking (or experiencing “negative growth”). They consider it officially a recession when the economy shrinks over two consecutive quarters. Historically, this has usually meant a rise in unemployment because companies don’t have as much money to pay workers, or there is less demand for their products because consumers aren’t spending. During the forced recession of the pandemic during lockdowns, people were thrown out of work in record numbers. During the Great Recession of 2007-2008, millions lost their jobs there, too. And obviously, if people are getting laid off from jobs, it’s harder to find job openings, as well.

What Is Different This Time

That was then. This is now. In 2022, despite all the talk of inflation and a possible recession, the fact remains that unemployment is very low (3.6 percent at the time of this writing), and in many parts of the country, there are still twice as many job openings as there are people to fill them! So even if we were to go into a recession right now, the number of people getting laid off would be considerably fewer. Instead, what would probably happen is the number of overall job openings would decrease–but since there’s already a massive surplus of job openings that employers can’t fill anyway, many job seekers would barely feel the difference.

Now, that’s not to say that some sectors of the economy wouldn’t feel the pain of layoffs. Recession hits different industries differently, so it would largely depend on where you live and what line of work you’re in. But generally speaking, job seekers are less likely to have a hard time finding work even if the economy “goes negative” for a little while.

Making Your Job Seach “Recession Proof”

All that being said, the state of the economy still tends to affect how employers view prospective job candidates, and it affects how they hire and whom they choose to hire. So wisdom says you shouldn’t take for granted the sheer number of job openings when you’re looking for work. Rather, you should adapt your approach to the mood and attitude of the job market itself. Some tips to optimize your chances of success in the event of a recession:

  • Focus on your skills and how they can benefit the company as a whole. When you apply at a company, you should tailor your resume specifically to the job opening you’re seeking to show how you are qualified to fill that position. However, in your cover letter, don’t be afraid to position yourself as someone with skills the company needs in general and the type of person they want on their team. That way, if the specific job opening you’re seeking happens to evaporate, they may still keep you in mind for other options.
  • Be prepared to negotiate. In a recessionary climate, employers will be looking for ways to save money–and that often means they’ll lowball their initial salary offers. Be prepared ahead of time by researching typical salary ranges for the position you’re seeking, as well as deciding on a salary range that you can live with. Don’t be afraid to stand your ground (politely) during negotiations, and resist the urge to accept a low-ball offer if it won’t properly cover your expenses.
  • Keep your skills sharp. In order to make yourself as attractive as possible to potential employers, it’s important to keep your skills up to date. Take classes, get certifications, and otherwise stay on top of the latest developments in your field so you’re more in-demand than your competitors when job openings appear.
  • Network, network, network. In any economy, your best bet for finding job leads and getting hired is to go through someone you know. Personal recommendations carry a lot of weight in the job market–even more so during an economic downturn.

The Bottom Line

No one knows for sure whether we’re headed for a recession or not. But even if we are, there’s no need to panic–the job market is much different now than it was during the last recession, and as long as you adapt your job search strategies accordingly, you should be able to weather any economic storm. Of course, my job is to keep my finger on the pulse of the job market and help my clients position themselves in the best light—so if you’d like some help with your job search, I’m here as always. Just click here to access my calendar and set up a free 30-minute consultation.

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The “Great Resignation”—What Is It and Why Is It Happening?

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Sometimes, a major world event can have far-reaching and unexpected impacts well beyond the event itself. In the case of the global COVID pandemic (which apparently we are STILL not done with), something’s happening in the job market that is causing economists and sociologists to scratch their heads in wonder. It’s a phenomenon they’ve named “The Great Resignation.”

Here it is in a nutshell. After millions were thrown out of work during the lockdowns, when the economy finally began opening up in 2021, not only were employers having problems filling positions…but a record number of people started quitting their jobs.

That’s right. Not only were people not applying for jobs, even after pandemic unemployment ran out…but people who were working, were quitting.

It hasn’t happened just once. A record number of people resigned in April 2021. Then again in August. Then September. Then November. It’s still happening.

And the thing that’s been baffling the people who study this stuff is that many of these people aren’t quitting to pursue other job offers. They’re just quitting.

Why?

What the Data Shows

After months of watching this trend, experts are finally getting a bead on what’s been happening with “The Great Resignation” and what’s triggering it. Here are some of the main reasons they’re seeing people resign their jobs:

  • They didn’t like their job to begin with. After months of being out of work (or working from home), people got a taste of what it’s like to be out of the rat race. They didn’t like how they were treated at work before the pandemic, but they put up with it because they felt they didn’t have a choice. When they went back, they found they didn’t have any tolerance for unpleasant work conditions, not being appreciated, or not being valued or included as a member of the company.
  • They are finding more favorable work opportunities, especially at home. Remote work has taken off big time during the pandemic. A lot of workers are either taking these remote jobs or looking for them because they’ve discovered they can do their work faster and have more flexibility and autonomy at home—and still have time for their families.
  • They are going into business for themselves. The “gig industry” was already big before the pandemic; it’s even bigger now. While they were out of work, millions of people figured out they could make money freelancing online in one way or another. Since the pandemic hit, the number of new applications for federal tax IDs jumped 56 percent, and most of those applicants. expected to hire no employees besides themselves.

My Take on It

These trends are telling, but in my humble opinion, they don’t tell the whole story. I think there’s a deeper “why” at work here, and it’s something you’ll be hearing me talk about a lot in the upcoming months…

What I’m observing is that people are seeking to reinvent themselves.

When something major happens like this pandemic, it has a way of jerking people out of their comfort zones and causing them to have a fresh perspective on what’s important in life. The pandemic forced us to slow down, breathe, and realize that even though it was hard, we could survive without going 90 miles an hour. You could feel it here in New York City during the shutdowns. Yes, there was a lot of worry and financial stress—I’m not downplaying that—but at the same time, I’d never heard the streets so quiet. The noise level went way down. The city air became crisp and clean because people weren’t mucking it up with their cars. When you slow down like that, you get a better grip on what’s really important to you.

I think that’s what’s really happening here. The pandemic has reminded many of us of what really matters to us, of what actually makes us happy…or at least, it’s let us know that we weren’t really happy, and it’s set us on a road of rediscovery to find out what that is. It’s changed our priorities. We don’t want waste time on the hamster wheel anymore just trying to make a living. We don’t want to go back to the way things were before the pandemic. We want to be better. We want to be fulfilled. And we want to make a difference.

And for many of us, that means reinventing ourselves—including reprioritizing our schedules and finding new careers that are in line with what’s important to us.

There’s a lot more to say about this, and there’s not space in this blog to into all of it. For now, just know that if you’re one of those people who’ve been feeling this way…you’re not alone. Most importantly, you’re not wrong. There are ways for you to find rewarding work in this life that actually fulfills you. In the months ahead, we’re going to explore what that looks like.

As it turns out, being a career coach isn’t just about helping people find a job; it’s about helping them find the right work that fulfills them. If you’re on that journey, I’d love to help. To schedule a free 30-minute consultation, email me at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com, and let’s chat.

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Job Hunting in the Time of Coronavirus

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For most of us, if not all, the world is a much different place than it was just a couple of weeks ago. It seems like the news about the Coronavirus pandemic becomes more profound, disruptive and downright scary by the day. Here in NYC, a huge percent of the workforce just got forced out of work or furloughed due to the shutdown of most restaurants, theaters and gathering places. If you’ve been recently “unemployed in the time of Coronavirus”, or if your job hunting plans have been interrupted, you might be tempted to buy into the despair—to throw up your hands and decide it’s useless.

But I’m here to tell you…don’t. Don’t despair. Don’t give up.

Don’t.

The fact is, jobs are still out there, and because this particular pandemic is happening in the digital age, we have more tools available for a job search than people did the last time something like this swept the earth. Here are some important tips to help you re-tool your job search—even if you’re sheltering-in-place.

Re-think the Job Market and Look in the Right Places

When unemployment numbers seem to be shooting up, it’s easy to assume there are just no jobs available. But that isn’t true—the work is still out there. The available jobs have simply shifted according to the nation’s current priorities, and there are plenty of companies out there who need good people now more than ever. You just need to know where to look. Some examples of industries and job sectors to investigate:

  • Delivery and order fulfillment companies. (Perfect example—as of the time of this writing, Amazon just announced it is adding 100,000 new jobs to keep up with the increased demand from people ordering from home.)
  • Logistics companies.
  • Grocery stores and pharmacies. (Especially those who deliver.)
  • Internet and tech companies. (More people will be relying on the Internet and/or have more time on their hands, and many tech jobs can be done from home.)
  • Healthcare and pharmaceutical.
  • Communications industries (e.g., cellphone, cable, streaming services).
  • Data processing.
  • Research. (Especially as it relates to Coronavirus.)
  • Any other job where you could telecommute.

Bear in mind that companies in these sectors don’t just need entry-level people; they need skilled professionals of many types, including accountants, human resources, data analysts, sales reps…pretty much any role that a company needs to fulfill its primary objectives. (In other words, don’t assume Amazon won’t hire you for anything except to pack boxes. Send your resume out!)

Move Your Job Search Online

I’ve mentioned in times past that having an online presence is important during a job search, but it shouldn’t replace in-person networking. Scratch that—for now. During times of social distancing, you’re not going to have the face-to-face opportunities you once had—either for networking or for job interviews—and it’s not really safe to go to those, anyway. So for the time being, work on ramping up your online efforts. Some quick tips:

  • Work on developing a winning LinkedIn profile—along with profiles at other job sites you use (e.g., Indeed).
  • Ramp up social media engagement. Spend more time interacting with other professionals who might refer you. Follow and engage companies you’d like to work for.
  • Practice interviewing via phone and video chat. The dynamics of online interviews are a bit different than in-person, so it helps to get used to these outlets ahead of time.

Navigating the Change

If you know me at all, you know my motto: Change happens—take control! What’s happening in our world is a huge change—but those who thrive during change are those who are willing to adapt. Yes, there are more obstacles, and yes, your job search might not be as cut-and-dried as before.  And yes, life certainly offers no guarantees. But if you’re willing to be fluid and adapt your methods with the changing times, you’ll be in a much better position to find and land work when it becomes available than the 20 other people around you who threw up their hands and gave up.

In the meantime, if you want an extra boost with your job search, I’m always here to help. Shoot me an email at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com.

You can do this! Don’t give up!

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Book Excerpt: “What I Learned from the Giraffes”

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The following is an excerpt from my upcoming book, What I Learned from the Giraffes, due out this spring. Just to give you a taste of what I’ve been working on. 🙂

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When I was in high school, I went out for the cheerleading squad. I was always very athletic as a kid, but growing up in Rochester, New York in the sixties, there weren’t really a lot of opportunities for girls to play school sports. Cheerleading was one of the few outlets girls had for being physically active, so it felt like a good thing for me to do.

There was stiff competition among the girls for the few slots on the team that were available. I wasn’t the prettiest girl in the class. I was thin and lanky, and I was already at my full adult height of five-foot seven, which was considered tall in those days. But being naturally athletic, I could do all the tricks and jumps very easily, so it was hard to turn me down.

I was so excited to come home and share the news with my family that I’d made the squad. But when I made the announcement at the dinner table that night, my father’s reaction stopped me cold.

In contrast to my mother’s outspokenness, my father was the other kind of person—the “strong, silent” type, stoic, a man of few words. Where my mother led with her personality, my father led by his quiet, disciplined example, having first served in the army, then following his father into the city fire department, where he eventually served as a battalion chief. He could speak volumes with the expression on his face, and by a single glance you could instantly tell if he was pleased with you or terribly disappointed.

I was accustomed to being the apple of my father’s eye. He supported almost everything I did, and most of the time I could do no wrong in his eyes. But when I shared my news about becoming a cheerleader, he looked like he’d seen a ghost. In fact, he broke his typical silence. “Terry, I don’t think that that’s appropriate behavior for you,” he said. “I don’t like the idea of you jumping around in front of a lot of people yelling and screaming. I don’t think it’s very ladylike.”

The noisy dinner conversation fell almost silent. I was shocked, crushed and deeply embarrassed.

Of course, looking back at it now, I understand why my father was upset. All he could envision in his mind was his little girl in short skirts and tight sweaters, jumping around, showing maybe more than what you should be showing to a stand full of people. But in that moment, it hadn’t even occurred to me that there would be an issue.

I pled my case, explaining how there weren’t any other sports for girls and what an achievement it was even to make the team. My mother, ever the progressive thinker, also spoke up in my defense, diplomatically pointing out how this might be a good thing for me. My father was unmoved, so rather than continue the disagreement in front of the family, Mom chose to pivot. “We’ll discuss it later,” she said, shooting a meaningful glance my way. We went on with our dinner.

I joined the cheerleading squad, and my father never brought it up again. He went to a couple of games, but that was about all the support he could muster. I could tell he remained uncomfortable with my being a cheerleader, even though he didn’t say no.

As it turned out, cheerleading couldn’t have been a better fit for me—and in fact it ended up informing almost every job I took as an adult. Cheerleading taught me how much I love working with people, interacting with them, encouraging them. It also gave me some leadership and management skills, the ability to guide people and projects. My career path eventually led me into the world of human resources—starting as a trainer, then ultimately working up to vice-president of HR for a respectable firm where I worked for years. I got to work with people on a personal, emotional level, and I got to be their advocate, their encourager.

Their cheerleader.

That was really the heart of it. Being a cheerleader revealed the heart of who I was and what I wanted to be for people—an encourager. I get such a kick out of helping people move closer to their goals. Even today, in my work as a career coach, it’s basically the same thing. I’m still a cheerleader—just in a whole different sort of way. It’s a perfect fit for me because I get to encourage, inspire and motivate people every day.

Many years later, after I had become vice-president of HR, I had a conversation with my father. “You know, Dad, after all this time, I can now say confidently that being a cheerleader was really the foundation of my professional success,” I told him.

“You’re absolutely right,” he said with a big smile.

© 2020 Terrylynn Smith. All rights reserved.

I’ll keep you updated on the book’s progress, including updates on the anticipated spring release. If you’d like to be added to my email list for further updates about the book release, shoot me an email at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com. More to come!

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Worried About Your Age? Welcome to the Multi-Generational Workplace

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I often find that my clients on both ends of the age spectrum are the ones who are most self-conscious about their job search. On one side, we’ve got high school and college graduates who are sometimes intimidated the big wide workforce where everyone in the office is more experienced (and by inference, more qualified). On the other, we’ve got mid-lifers and older who aren’t quite ready for retirement, but who are concerned about their relevance and are worried about being nudged out by the younger set.

Well, there’s good news for everyone here. A recent survey by Ricoh demonstrates that the whole generational divide in the workplace is effectively a myth. In fact, with the graduating class of 2019, we’re just starting to see the first members of “Generation Z” (born after 1996) entering the workforce, even while the baby boomers are taking longer to retire. That means for the first time in our history, we have four generations of adults occupying jobs in the same work force, even working side by side!

Welcome to the multi-generational workplace.

You might assume this broad span of generations in the same office would create conflict, but the Ricoh survey tells another story. It turns out that overall, the generations actually like each other. 76 percent of workers said they enjoy working alongside colleagues of different ages, and 71 percent believe the cross-generational workplace is an asset to their company. What’s more, the four generations seem to have consistent values when it comes to their careers. About 72 percent of those surveyed across all generations said they believe in their company’s values and ideals.

So…what does this mean for you?

If we’re going to take this survey at face value, what it’s telling us is that right now, like no other time in our history, no one is “too young” or “too old” to have a meaningful career in today’s workplace. Sure, there will be redundancies now and then, and sure, some companies will gravitate to younger blood for fresh ideas. But companies also value seasoning and experience, and fewer and fewer companies nowadays are favoring one age bracket over another.

So if I can put it bluntly, if you want a job, you’re out of excuses for not trying. You can’t say you’re too young/inexperienced or too old to find a good job. There’s literally a good fit somewhere for everyone. You just need a plan and a good strategy for finding it. (Fortunately, that’s where I come in!)

No matter your age or experience level, if you’re ready to find your place in the multi-generational workplace—and if you want some help getting there—shoot me an email at terrylynn@giraffesconsulting.com, or call me at 646-320-1126 to set up a free 30-minute consultation.

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Over 55? Don’t Count Yourself Out of a Job

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There’s a commonly held belief—we call it “conventional wisdom,” although I’m not sure there’s anything particularly “wise” about it—that the older we are, the less appealing we are to prospective employers. Those who are in the “over 55” category are often afraid to leave jobs they hate because they’re afraid they won’t get re-hired. And if you get laid off and you’re over 55, the assumption is you either go into business for yourself, or you retire early and try to make the best of it.

Well, a recent news report from USA Today just might debunk all those presumptions. According to the article, a significant number of older women are taking full advantage of today’s low unemployment rates by re-entering the workforce, many after being absent for a long time. Some are returning to work to recover losses from the recession of a few years back; others may be seeking a new sense of independence after a divorce or other life change. Whatever the reasons, the number of women over age 55 getting hired jumped by a whopping 4.2 percent last year—this compared to only a 1.8 percent increased employment among women of all ages.

And although the USA Today article focuses on older women, older men haven’t been ruled out, either. The Labor Department says employment of men over age 55 also rose by 3.3 percent last year.

What does all this mean? To be brutally honest, it means if you’ve been disqualifying yourself from employment due to your age, you just lost your biggest excuse for not trying. If the job market is embracing that many people over the age of 55, there’s room in the market for you!

Of course, that doesn’t mean employers are going to come knocking at your door to offer you a job. You have to put yourself out there just like everyone else. It does mean, however, that you no longer need to assume the job you’re applying for is automatically going to a young upstart. Don’t count yourself out!

As a career coach, I work regularly with mature people who are pursuing their third or fourth careers. I can teach you how to play to your strengths and position yourself competitively in a field of job candidates of all ages. For a free 30-minute consultation, give me a call at 646-320-1126.