Are there obvious clues in how to spot a fake IT job advert?

[thunderlizard]

Any spec containing any of the following is fake:

(1) "All applicants must provide references"
(2) "An ideal opportunity to get into the lucrative banking sector"
(3) "Please call Huxley Associates"

[topgun]

Agreed. Had one this morning "we can't put you forward without references as we pro actively check them"

"The client can have them when they offer the role"

"Thanks for your time" <click>

Guess you won't be putting me forward then.

I had same experience. They contacted my ref. I wonder if it makes sense for them.

[Epiphone]

I would agree with the refs up front thing though. I generally never supply refs unless I've sat the first interview.

Agreed. Had one this morning "we can't put you forward without references as we pro actively check them"

"The client can have them when they offer the role"

"Thanks for your time" <click>

Guess you won't be putting me forward then.

[privateeye]

Has that EVER worked?

I generally find that agencies are extremely cagey about revealing their clients identity, generally because just like we don't know if they're 100% genuine, they can't be 100% that we aren't another agent trying to bum an easy lead.

The only time I think an agent revealed the client to me straight off the bat, the agent turned out to be a complete noob who had just got into the game.

I would agree with the refs up front thing though. I generally never supply refs unless I've sat the first interview.

I find it works no problem just push them for the info they are commission mad. It may take some effort but my CV goes nowhere without me knowing where it's going. They can easily check through my CV to know I'm genuine and I let them know that.

[topgun]

I don't really care about that... i work on the sales mans approach

1000 leads = 100 call backs = 10 potentials = 1 contract

Gotta love the numbers

My experience is

100 applications -> 10 interviews -> 1 offer

[Faust]

In addition to the above try asking the agent some searching questions on the contract role that they would have the answers to if they were in contact with a client - and of course the name of the client.

Has that EVER worked?

I generally find that agencies are extremely cagey about revealing their clients identity, generally because just like we don't know if they're 100% genuine, they can't be 100% that we aren't another agent trying to bum an easy lead.

The only time I think an agent revealed the client to me straight off the bat, the agent turned out to be a complete noob who had just got into the game.

I would agree with the refs up front thing though. I generally never supply refs unless I've sat the first interview.

[TheMonkey]

I don't really care about that... i work on the sales mans approach

1000 leads = 100 call backs = 10 potentials = 1 contract

Gotta love the numbers

Ironically I've not actually not got offered a contract I've applied for yet! Strange!

Then again I am an agent's cum receptacle as far as "in skills" go and I'll work for peanuts and take abuse for a wage.

[Spacecadet]

I don't really care about that... i work on the sales mans approach

1000 leads = 100 call backs = 10 potentials = 1 contract

Gotta love the numbers

[TheMonkey]

Anything that bigs you up in the advert is guaranteed to be crap because they're trying to sell it too hard!

[privateeye]

In addition to the above try asking the agent some searching questions on the contract role that they would have the answers to if they were in contact with a client - and of course the name of the client. The wrong mix of skills and too many skills quite often give clues ie I once saw an add to deploy Websphere on Weblogic - that would have been fun.

You may also find that the same job has been advertised with several different locations.

The biggest clue is if the add is from a certain group of recruitment companies.

I don't see the need for fake advertising - all they have to ask is register with us and if they are good enough people will. It shows me fake job posters have no faith in their business skills. Fake advertisng only gets peoples backs up when they find they have wasted their time and its exceptionally cruel to those who have not worked for a while.

[Mordac]

If it gets you on the agency database, and subsequently into a contract then wgas? Although with more agencies using online searches (e.g. CW Jobs) there's less need to post "CV attractors".

[Lucifer Box]

Given that 95% of ads on Jobserve are fake anyway, it would probably save a lot of time if you just assumed it was.

You used to see ads that said something like "don't phone, just email in your CV" - that is highly likely to be fake. Obviously any statement that references are required up-front means it is a fake for sure.

[oxtailsoup]

Vague job description.

[Boolean]

Any ideas?