Everyone seems to be talking about work-from-home jobs, but it can be a challenge to separate the real jobs from the frauds. We’ve talked about the fact that there are some legitimate options, so we know that they’re out there, and we can help you grab the real opportunities when you see them. Here are some tips for full- or part-time online job seekers:

Be Honest— is it Too Good to be True?

Remember that old adage that our mothers said—“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” Look at the specifics of the job posting. A few factors need special attention, and if you can’t answer all of them in the positive, the job may be a fake.

• Is the pay astronomically high? While it’s a great thought to be paid a ton of money to do nothing virtually, this just doesn’t happen. If the pay seems abnormally great, it’s probably not a real job posting.
• What does the job entail? The job posting should list more than a very generic job description, such as “Virtual assistant” vs. “Virtual assistant needed to keep up with emails, answer phone calls and respond to invitations, and so on.” The heading may not offer a lot of detail, but more detail should be provided within the job description. If there is no information provided, the likelihood drops that it’s a real job.
• Who is offering the job? Be wary of job postings that say “Company name not provided” or something similar. If they’re offering you a job application, you deserve to know whom you’ll be working for, and this should be easy to see within the job description page. Never fill out an application without a company name; you’re probably feeding a phish (also known as an identity thief).
• Is follow-up contact information available? Most reputable online job postings will offer a contact name or similar details at some point during the application process. If a specific name is not provided, take note of the store location if it is a traditional company (even if they’re hiring you to work from home) or “About Us” information if it is an online company. Missing contact information is never a good sign.
• What are the job requirements? Most legitimate job postings will offer details about what the hiring company expects of applicants. For instance, look for education requirements (do you have to have a certain degree or certification?), relevant experience requirements (some require that applicants have months or years of experience), or similar requirements.
• Is the job solely work-from-home or will in-person work be required? While this may not be on the application, most companies will offer this information within the job description. A few online job postings are for positions that require at least a percentage of in-house hours, even if they are just for educational purposes or in-house job training.
• How will you be paid? This means examining more than just pay frequency or currency—you need to find out whether you are paid via a money order, direct deposit, traditional cheque, cashier’s cheque, prepaid debit card, gift certificate, or some other option. If there is no mention of this, be wary of the posting, especially if the job is online only. If there is an in-person interview, make sure to ask this question directly, and if it is online only, email or phone the hiring staff.

As you can see, there are many different things to look at before committing to an online job, most of which should be established before you even fill out the initial application. With all of the identity thieves, phishers, spammers, and others hoping to get your personal information or access to your computer, you cannot be overly diligent in this regard. Secure your personal details, pay attention to the job posting’s specifics, and don’t be afraid to ask questions—this is the way to find a great online or at-home job that meets your needs.

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