Job Search Resources

The Russell G. Weigand Center for Professional Excellence has a wealth of resources to get you started on your search for a job or internship.

Visit Handshake, the University’s online career resource website, or check out the useful resources and websites below. And read below for tips on how to avoid employment scams.

Preparing for the Job Search

General Career Resources

Industry-Specific Resources

Salaries and Trends

A Warning on Employment Scams

It is imperative that you as a job seeker exercise common sense and caution, both with positions you find posted in Handshake as well as with positions you find on other online resources (job sites, social media sites, etc.) Please read position descriptions carefully!

If a position or job offer seems to be too good to be true, if you feel uncomfortable with some of the information requested, or something just doesn’t seem right—walk away or approach with caution. Even if the original position description seems valid, if you receive follow-up emails, phone calls, or job offers that seem unusual, you need to use caution and common sense. Do not ever disclose social security numbers, credit card information or bank account numbers to unknown employers.

Contact the Weigand Center for Professional Excellence at (630) 617-3460 with any questions.

Red Flags

• You are asked to give credit card, bank (ATM / PIN), or PayPal account numbers. (Established employers may suggest using their direct deposit service to be paid, requiring bank name, routing number and account number, but that will be part of a more involved hiring process, not something done by phone, text or e-mail).
• You are asked to send a payment by wire service or courier, or are asked to transfer money, including via e-Bay, PayPal or Western Union money orders.
• You receive an unexpectedly large check or are offered a large payment or reward in exchange for allowing the use of your bank account—often for depositing checks or transferring money.
• You are asked for personal information such as your Social Security Number, or to send a photocopy of your ID, i.e., driver’s license to “verify identity.”
• You are asked to complete a background check before you can be considered for a position.
• The posting appears to come from a legitimate company or organization, but the contact’s email address doesn’t match the company’s website domain (i.e., [email protected] rather than [email protected]).
• The company hires you without an interview, and won’t suggest an interview meeting in a public place like a library, coffee shop or other location away from the business location.
• The job posting doesn’t mention the responsibilities of the job; rather it focuses on the amount of money you will make.
• A Google search of the employer name (or name plus the word “scam”) returns several scam reports.
• In response to your application to a legitimate-appearing job description, you receive a marketing email that sells job search “help.”

Other Tips

• Be wary of postings for Mystery Shoppers, work at home, or virtual Administrative Assistants or Bookkeepers.
• If you are an entry-level candidate with little experience, be wary of an offer with a salary that is above the normal range expected for your experience.
• Legitimate companies won’t require you to buy product inventory in advance, and then require you to sell it in order to recover your investment.
• Multiple misspellings, grammatical errors or all uppercase letters in the job notice or email communications from the employer may indicate that the position originated overseas.
• If the position listing is for an international opportunity, does it include travel expenses? Upfront program fees? Research the company and compare its program/benefits with other similar opportunities.
• Verify that a URL listed in the ad actually goes to the internet domain of the company that listed it. For example, if the ad lists “www.luc.edu/hr” but when you click on it goes to “www.lcu.edu”, it could still be a scam.
• When using other job boards than Handshake, read their privacy policies carefully. Also, read how easy it is for employers to post jobs by going through the site’s employer links.
• The position initially seems to be a traditional job, but upon further research or contact, is actually an independent contractor or franchise opportunity.
• Check Scamadvisor.com to see if the job description is listed as one of their reported scams.

If you Encounter Suspicious Postings

• Please report your experience to the Weigand Center for Professional Excellence at [email protected] or (630) 617-3460 and to The Internet Crime Complaint Center.
• End all communication with the employer, and if personal information was disclosed, monitor your accounts over the next few days, to be on the safe side.
• Contact the police and report the fraud or scam.
• If you have sent money to a fraud employer, contact your bank or credit card company immediately to close your account and dispute the charges.
• If the incident occurred entirely over the internet, file an incident report with the FCC at (877) FTC HELP [(877) 382-4357)] or at cybercrime.gov.