Safeguarding Your Job Search

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), during the first quarter of 2022, Americans lost a reported $68 million to recruitment scams. At the UVA Career Center, we have noticed a recent uptick in recruitment scams targeting UVA students specifically. This typically begins with a widespread “phishing” email where bad actors will advertise job and internship opportunities to lure as many people as possible to respond. The ultimate goal of these scams is to obtain personal data, or more often, money, from their victims.

It is important to be vigilant and know how to spot scams masquerading as employment opportunities.

Avoiding Fraud

Unconventional recruitment: Be suspicious of recruiting emails that do not lead to Handshake, Workday, or a company’s official recruiting platform. Be very suspicious of webforms, text message recruiting or other direct messaging.
Requires urgent action: The recruiting process is inherently urgent. Those looking to run scams rely on that response to urgency in the hopes that their targets will make poor decisions. The normal recruitment process does not force quick decisions. It is a good idea to question why if being asked to make a hasty decision.
Attachments, links, files: Scams will often start with opening a random attachment, clicking a suspicious link, following a QR code, or downloading a file. Most legitimate recruiting processes will direct you to a website such as Handshake, Workday or other recruiting systems.
Too good to be true: If an unsolicited email is offering an opportunity that seems too good to be true, that is probably because it is not real! Beware of job offers without a comprehensive interview process or where the application process seems too easy.

If you spot any of these signs, especially if you can identify more than one, do not answer or directly interact with this email. It is likely fraudulent and an attempt to steal information and/or money from you. The best thing to do is forward it to [email protected] before deleting it from your inbox and blocking the sender.

If you are still unsure as to whether the employment opportunity is real or not, ask a friend or parent for their opinion (and show them the above tips). You can also find a company’s phone number or email on their main website and directly contact them to verify the recruitment email’s authenticity. Finally, if you are looking for some real and safe employment opportunities, check out Handshake or come visit the Career Center. We would love to help you secure a job or internship!

Navigating High Pressure Techniques

What is an exploding offer?

An exploding offer is a job or internship offer with a very short decision timeline, typically set to pressure the candidate into accepting without exploring other options. Such offers may have conditions stating that the offer will be withdrawn if not accepted within the set timeframe. While this practice is frowned upon by many institutions, including UVA, it is still used by some employers. Employers recruiting at UVA are encouraged to follow UVA recruiting guidelines and students should be cautious when navigating exploding offers.

How to respond to an exploding offer

Being given an exploding offer can put enormous pressure on you. If you decide you need additional time, be prepared to enter negotiation. Remember that this will not guarantee success, you may need to compromise and be flexible. Here are some tips:

Express Enthusiasm: Show your interest in the position as well as the company and explain that you need some time to think over and make a conscious choice.

Request More Time: Ask politely for more time on the deadline and if possible, give a reasonable timeframe.

Communicate Openly: Be transparent about your situation. If you are waiting for a response from other employers, do not hesitate to inform this in a professional way.

Understand Your Worth: Learn your worth in the job market and use it as a point of reference when negotiating.

Prepare for All Outcomes: Be ready for a scenario where the employer may choose not to extend the deadline. Decide now whether you can walk away from this offer or not.

Stand Firm: If you are pressured into a job, remember that after some time it may lead to unhappiness. It is important to make informed career decisions that are right for you.

Seek Support: Utilize resources like the UVA Career Center, we are here to offer support and advice in these scenarios.

If you are in a high-pressure circumstance and feeling overwhelmed, do not hesitate to reach out to your network, including friends, family, and professional advisors. The UVA Career Center is also here to support you in making informed decisions about such offers.