How I Fell Victim To A Recruitment Scam

On Wednesday 8^th April I was going about my usual day – procrastinating from doing some uni work when for some reason I felt inspired to go on the job hunt. I’m due to graduate in less than three months after all so it’s about time I started looking.

I sent my CV to some local jobs and within an hour, I had one reply.

‘Great, I must be really employable,’ I thought.

It was from a company in Newcastle for an Event Marketing position. I had no idea what that meant, but I’m a pretty sociable person; I like going to events so what could go wrong?

I gave her a call and it went to voicemail, not wanting to miss out on this amazing opportunity I emailed back asking her to call me instead.

“Our manager has seen your CV and we’re think you’re perfect. We want you to come in for an interview tomorrow.”

Eeek tomorrow? I already had plans so I rearranged for Friday 10^th April and felt pretty chuffed with myself.

She sent a follow up email with details of when and where to go – no preparation needed but I did some anyway, I wanted to show them I was keen.

When I attended the interview I was a bit surprised to find it was in a hotel bar. Rowdy with a group of hens on one side and youngish lads on the other, it seemed a bit out of place for a job interview.

He asked me a few questions; what makes me happy, where I want to be in five years and if I were a superhero, what would my special power be. It wasn’t until afterwards that I realised he didn’t actually explain the job to me.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #1

That night I was eagerly waiting a phone call to hear if I’d be successful and as a matter of fact, I’d been invited back for the second round on Monday 13^th April.

The office, situated on a street full of run down shops and greasy takeaways was a little door leading up to the second floor room. There were no company logos anywhere; the office was just a desk and a plant.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #2

I filled in a form about what I wanted from the job. I blurted out words like confidence and motivation – still unsure of the actual job so just hoping I was writing the appropriate words.

Next to me was another guy going for the same position, I instantly felt rivalry - he was some 30-year-old guy in a suit talking about his Sunday league football and there I was; just a little 21-year-old hoping to get her first big-girl job.

We were taken off to separate rooms to meet our ‘mentors’ and headed off to Blyth until 6.30pm – hold on, I was told this would be a brief meeting that would take no longer than an hour?

When we arrive Mr Mentor takes me to a cafe.

‘This is where he’s going to explain the job to me,’ I thought.

Nope.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #3

He had me writing down ten strengths about myself and why. Okay, fair enough – this is a chance for me to really show off.

After that I had to write down ten of my weaknesses. I wanted to show that I was a strong person, perfect for the role with not too many weaknesses so I rattled off four pages about how I’m a worrier and picky at times.

When I was finished I went to find him – on the streets with an iPad pestering someone about their gas and electricity bills.

‘Uh oh, is this the job? How am I going to tell all my friends that my glamourous event job is just asking people questions on the street?’

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #4

In another cafe he had me writing down positives and negatives about different types of advertising along with where I want to be in five years and ten years time. I drew some pretty awesome pictures to back this up so I’m pleased with that one.

Once that was over, he went through the job with me – finally!

Okay, the job? It’s a set of six stages that you complete in anywhere between 2 weeks and 6 months. The higher you progress, the more you earn.

Wow, money – I’d love £300 a week. I’m interested.

The hours are 8am-6.15pm Monday-Saturday.

Great, still no actual clear explaining and now he’s got me learning the companies mottos off by heart.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #5

The cafe owner asked what we were up to – spending all day in there along with a notepad, of course he was going to wonder what was going on. Mr Mentor was shady about answering and used words that I didn’t understand so there was no chance Mr Cafe Owner would.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #6

Now he takes me onto the street and I have to watch him pester a few more people while they hurriedly run in the opposite direction. It’s also freezing cold.

Next task – the café has shut so I’ve been left on a bench in a shopping centre jotting down the strengths a manager has. THEN (yes it carries on) I had to pick five out of my 40 and write a meaning and an example me being this.

It’s the end of the day, the shops are shut but there’s one more thing I have to do – I have to write a closing statement about why I’m right for the company and vice versa. Mr Mentor described it as the X Factor but I would describe it as a big fat scam and my finger really hurts because I’ve written over 25 pages.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #7

When we get back to the office-with-only-a-desk-and-a-plant I’m thrusted another clipboard in my face and have to fill out an exam style questionnaire with their mottos, working habits, and the definition of fancy-pancy words they use to look cool.

Next comes the final interview. I’m sat in a big room with a side door that keeps on bursting open with Beyonce is blasting. It looks like the other workers are having a party – is this trying to show me that this job is full of fun?

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #8

The big boss from the first interview sits me down and I suddenly feel a bit strange – almost patronized but I ignore it – what do I know about interviews, anyway, this is my first one!

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #9

He asks about my day and I lie and say I had fun and got a real insight into the job.

Why am I lying? I can’t seem to think of anything else to say.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #10

He asks me how I think I’d be at the job. And by job if you mean asking people to fill in my survey – then what’s hard about that?

I didn’t want to be rude and say it was the easiest (but most boring) job in the world so I rattled off a few more keywords about confidence and being approachable etc.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #11

Mr Mentor comes in, he’s very red faced and embarrassed for some reason. Mr Big Boss says they’ve decided that I need a bit more experience but in a few weeks I’d be the perfect candidate.

Cue a few awkward silences and he proposes a ‘one-off’ deal – he’ll give me a job if I promise to put in all my effort and work as hard as I can.

Also, I start tomorrow. TOMORROW.

But hold on, how does Mr Mentor know I’d need a few weeks to build my confidence. He didn’t see me running around after people in the streets. He just saw me sat at a table with a cup of tea sprawling out my life story for six hours.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #12

Woohoo! I have a job! I phoned my mum straight away. She didn’t sound over the moon, but I hadn’t told her about the wages and progressing through the ranks yet – she’d get excited then I’m sure.

On the train home, I suddenly get this feeling of worry and I’m on the brink of tears but I have no idea why.

What happened? I was so pleased, I have a job – I should count myself lucky!

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #13

When I get home, I’m beside myself with worry.

How am I going to finish my uni work? This is the most important part and there’s only five weeks left.

How will I find time to wind down from work and see my friends and family? I’ll be out the house from 7am-7pm everyday. Six days a week.

How am I going to tell my friends that I think my job is doing surveys in the street? I’m still not sure though because even though I’m due to start in 12 hours, all my questions about it were diverted.

Alarm-Bell-I-Didn’t-Notice #14

I quit the job before I even started. Because I would have been self-employed I essentially just fired myself.

I was upset, but looking back at it now I’m so relieved. If I’d have bitten the bullet and gone to the training days I’d have had to pay back what I would have earned when I quit. Plus whatever else they would have dwindled out of me.

It’s been an experience, one I’ll carry forward for future interviews for proper jobs. Deep down, I knew this wasn’t for me as I didn’t feel motivated or excited – my smiles were fake and I was constantly checking my watch to see when it was home time.

I know, that when I get a job I actually want I’ll feel excited and scream it from the rooftops but this ‘job’ I didn’t want anyone to know about.

My message to you is trust your instincts. These job scams look so tempting and if they sound too good to be true – they probably are.

A fast track management course that could have me earning £75,000 a year within eight months? No thanks, I’d rather keep on looking.