Job Offers – Real or Fake?

Our teachers always say, “In school you are protected. You are in a cocoon. You will know the real world only after you’ve completed 10th std.” The same thing is told when a student is in 12th, that a degree course will change lives.

Therefore, once students enroll for a degree course, they have a tendency to feel independent. Although, only after finishing a course and going out for a job is when we actually get out of the cocoon which has so carefully been protecting us right from the start of school up to finishing professional education.

Physiotherapy, just like other medical courses, does not have the system of placements. Physiotherapists have to fend for themselves after completing the course and that’s when the truth of jobs is realized. While some easily get jobs, others have to truly work for it.

Fake job offers have always existed. Due to Covid-19 lockdown, there has been a rise in fake offers for medical professionals. The news always portrayed a shortage of medical staff. Having worked in a hospital, I know that was true, but there can only be a certain number of professionals in a particular hospital, which is decided by the management, hence finite recruitment.

Fake job scammers use the public’s low awareness about the job recruitment process to scam them into believing that they have gotten a job and gain a substantial amount of money from it. Here are some of the points to look out for to differentiate between a real job and a fake job offer.

1. Too Much Description

The offer will give a lot of details about the institution, the work life, work culture, etc. The number of vacancies and the salary will also be mentioned in the advertisement. Usually, they will portray a large number of vacancies, 100, 200, etc. They will also deem you as one of the few lucky candidates to be selected and shortlisted.

Solution – If the job has a tiringly long description, it’s fake. While advertising for a job, the hospital will just mention who they require along with qualifications, the location and the number/email to be contacted for an interview. The description of the institution, information about work life is given in the website but not in the job advertisement. In real companies, salaries are NEVER mentioned in the job advert. Salary negotiation most often happens in person on the day of the interview.

2. Poor Grammar

The job description will evidently have a lot of spelling, grammar and sentence construction mistakes, possibly even in the company name because it’s not written by authorized personnel.

Solution – Check for these mistakes. Professional job advertisements are reviewed before being put up and are written very professionally, hence reducing or completely eliminating any mistakes.

3. Too Good To Be True

Are they offering to provide stay and accommodation, food inclusive of all meals, travel, huge pay, a large number of holidays as well as comfortable working hours and family care?

Definitely one of the signs of being a fake offer.

Solution – While each hospital does provide facilities, it is always discussed in person between the HR (Human Resources) and the employee and is based on the employee’s needs.

4. Immediate Interview and Payment

The interview will mostly be scheduled almost immediately, i.e., the same evening or the next day. To attend the interview, payment will be asked and the payment will have to be done as a prerequisite for the interview. The amount is always varied based on how much the scammer wants, hence will range from as low as Rs. 500 to as high as even Rs. 30,000.

Solution - A genuine job offer NEVER asks for payment in return for an interview or employment, no matter how big or small the hospital is. Even if the other points in detecting a fake job offer are missed, this is a clear red flag. Immediately reject the offer or interview if payment or confidential details are asked.

5. Hospitals which you haven’t applied to may also contact you, stating that they received your resume from a job network site. To prevent getting scammed, always check the hospital website for the vacancy or call the hospital to ask for vacancies. Fake job offers are usually advertised through SMS, call or Email but will not be available on the website.

Solution - These jobs will also have the signature and contact number of a supposed ‘HR’ and the recruitment email id. Cross check all these details on the hospital’s actual website. The fake email might be very similar to the original email.

Happy Job Hunting!