Identifying Fraudulent Employment Opportunities
Unfortunately, not every job posting or offer is an opportunity. Scammers know that job opportunities are a powerful tool for gathering personal information, so you need to know how to distinguish legitimate job postings from scam attempts. Below are some tips to follow and red flags to look out for.
Basic Tips
- If a job sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
- Don’t provide financial information or your Social Security number! Legitimate employers won’t ask for your bank account details or your SSN.
- Do not send money! Legitimate employers will not ask you to wire money or pay for services.
- When in doubt, look for the job posting on the employer’s official website. Much like phishing emails, scam job postings often capitalize on well-known names and images. Do not follow links from the suspicious posting, which could take you to a cosmetically similar page, and check the employment page to be sure the opening is real. Calling the company in question (again, using publicly available contact information) is another good strategy.
- If you experience anything unusual about a job posting in Handshake, please contact CCI as soon as possible and flag the posting in Handshake.
Red Flags
- The same warning signs that signal fraudulent emails and websites: bad grammar and spelling, requests for personal information, and difficulty contacting or identifying the poster are all clear signs of trouble.
- Request for an initial investment.
- Request for bank account access.
- Requests for payment or transferring money.
- Offers to pay a large amount of money for little work.
- Offers you a job without interviewing/interacting with you.
- You are contacted by phone, and the number is not available.
- Vague descriptions that focus on money rather than the job.
- Email domain that doesn’t match the employer’s official domain.
- Email domain of a free provider is used such as live.com, yahoo.com, hotmail.com, gmail.com etc. Legitimate organizations almost always have their own email systems.
- Website that has information only on the job you’re applying for, rather than about the company in general.
What if I’m already involved in a scam?
- End all communication and immediately contact the local police and Public Safety.
- Get in touch with your bank or credit card company and dispute any fraudulent activity immediately.
- If the scam happened online, file a report with the FTC’s cybercrime division.
Resources from Handshake
Best Practices for Job Searches
Protecting Your Personal Information
More Resources
Middlebury College – Tips on spotting phishing
Federal Trade Commission – Avoiding and Reporting Scams
World Privacy Forum, Consumer Tips: Critical Tips For Job Seekers to Avoid Job Scams
Future folklore with Dance and Theatre Alumnus Miguel Alejandro Castillo – Monday, January 23!
All folklore is an expression of resilience. For this work in progress showing choreographer Miguel Alejandro Castillo and musician Daniella Barbarito imagine a fictional folkloric festivity inspired by vibrancy of Venezuelan Afro-Caribbean traditions and celebrate the ongoing construction of the Venezuelan diaspora.
Co-sponsored by the Middlebury College Dance department, Theatre department, and the Center for Careers and Internships
Date: Monday, January 23
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Location: Mahaney Dance Theatre
A 9-Week All Expense-Paid Media Experience in NYC!
The 2023 IRTS Summer Fellowship Program application is LIVE!
Please submit your application by Sunday, January 22 at midnight ET.
The IRTS Foundation’s Summer Fellowship Program provides an outstanding diverse group of aspiring media professionals with unparalleled access to the industry.
In addition to their internships, Fellows meet professionals from top networks, agencies, station groups, tech firms, social strategy companies, industry associations, and much more! Many of our speakers are alumni of this very program that has been in existence for more than 50 years – successful role models eager to welcome Fellows to the IRTS family! The knowledge that is gained through our meetings gives Fellows a unique, competitive edge as they launch their careers.
Current College / University Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students are eligible to apply.
We’re thrilled to be back in NYC! The Fellowship Program will begin with a comprehensive orientation week followed by an 8-week internship placement and supplemental programming throughout the summer.
This year’s program will include:
- Round trip travel to and from NYC (air, train, or driving mileage reimbursement)
- Housing at a downtown Manhattan university dormitory in a shared suite setting.
- A paid full-time internship at a top New York media company that aligns with a student’s interests and career goals.
- A comprehensive Orientation Week where Fellows have the rare opportunity to gain unparalleled access to a stellar lineup of leaders while visiting numerous companies.
- Weekly events including panel discussions, company visits, professional development and speaker sessions.
- Mentoring and access to the vast IRTS network.
- Extensive career counseling and networking opportunities to ensure that each student makes the most of this New York experience!
Accomplished students from all majors, including advertising, business, communications, data science, information technology, journalism, math, production, public relations, etc., are encouraged to apply! Students must be a current junior, senior, or grad student who has not graduated before April 2023.
Dates: Sunday, June 4 – Saturday, August 5, 2023
Click here to apply!
Women in Data Science event – all welcome
Come hear about how professors and experts use data science in their work!
When: January 17th, 2023 from 4:30-7:30pm
Where: Axinn 229
WiDS Middlebury is an independent event that is organized by Breanna Guo and Professor Becky Tang as part of the annual WiDS Worldwide conference organized by Stanford University and an estimated 200+ locations worldwide, which features outstanding women doing outstanding work in the field of data science. All genders are invited to attend all WiDS Worldwide conference events.
Anyone affiliated with Middlebury is welcome to attend, regardless of gender or sexual identity. Food, refreshments, and prizes will be provided!
More details and to register, click here
How to Ace your Graduate School Application Essay
Webinar: How to Ace Your Graduate School Application Essay
Date: Thursday, January 19 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Host: Middlebury Institute of International Studies
Sign up: https://learn.middlebury.edu/onlinediscussions (everyone who signs up will receive a recording)
Who should attend: anyone interested in a master’s program
Our admissions directors will guide attendees through overcoming the blank page, avoiding resume repetition, and turning the challenge into an opportunity to showcase how the program aligns with their goals.
Hear about the intersection of creative design and data visualization in the latest MIDDVantage episode with Leah Welch ’11.
This week’s MIDDVantage: Careers in Creative Design interview is hosted by Sol Manual Garza ’22. Sol interviews Leah Welch ’11, Data Visualization Designer at Bottomline Technologies.
Leah is a transdisciplinary designer crossing boundaries between art, graphic design, data science, storytelling, and front-end development. She creates interactive data-driven experiences, algorithmic animations, and illustrated information design artifacts. Prior to her experiences with Bottomline, Leah worked with ModMan Enterprises as a Design Director developing brand identity through logo, web, and store designs. She also has been an Art & Design Teacher with Zhejiang Ivy International Academy and Director of College Counseling at The Orme School. Leah majored in History of Art & Architecture while at Middlebury and is currently pursuing an MFA in Information Design & Data Visualization at Northeastern University.
Exploring Careers in Creative Design is a collaborative series developed by the Center for Careers and Internships and Middlebury in DC with content contributions from members of the Middlebury Professional Network and Middlebury students.
ARTS Grads Wanted! Serve with ArtistYear
Do YOU Have a Passion for the Arts and Serving Communities?
Pursuing a service year in the arts may be the right choice for you!
Deadline date: Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Why ArtistYear?
At ArtistYear we train & place exceptional arts graduates as Resident Teaching Artists (RTAs) to address inequities in creative learning at K-12 schools across the nation.
What is the role of a Resident Teaching Artist (RTA)?
An RTA’s role is to enter into a school community and provide arts instruction or exposure where it may be lacking. RTAs have the opportunity to fill in the gaps in a unique way outside of the parameters of being a teacher or a sub.
Where Can I Serve?
Queens, New York
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Moore & Lee Counties, North Carolina
Denver, Colorado
Aspen, Colorado
How will a service year benefit me?
1. Build lasting connections with your students and cohort of Resident Teaching Artists.
2. Receive best in-class professional development grounded in trauma-informed practices and restorative justice
3. Opportunities to expand your network with ArtistYear alumni and external partners to help inform your career path post service
4. Financial benefits including a living stipend, education award, and student loan forbearance.
How do I apply?
Applications are now open for the 2023-2024 Program Year! (Positions begin July 2023). Please use this link to submit your application!
Please feel free to contact Maryanne Braine, Director of Recruiting & Alumni Relations, at maryanne.braine{at}artistyear.org should you have any questions or to schedule a phone call to speak further about the program.
Learn more at www.artistyear.org!
Find and Fund Your Summer Internship Info Session
Tues, Jan. 10, 4:30-5:30 pm, BiHall 216
Considering an internship this summer but don’t know how to get started? This workshop is for you.
We will walk you through how to find an internship and discuss CCI’s grants for unpaid summer internships.
Register in Handshake to attend the event in-person or if you cannot attend but want a recording sent to you after the event.
Brought to you by the Center for Careers and Internships.
Explore What’s Next with CCI: An Event for Sophomores and Sophomore Febs
Thursday, Jan. 12, 3:00-5:00 pm, Wilson Hall, McCullough
Join SGA and the Center for Careers and Internships (CCI) at this sophomore-specific event to discover CCI resources, learn about CCI’s signature programs, meet advisors and staff (and special invited guests), and take away helpful guides.
Come any time between 3-5 pm; visit tables to chat with staff members from CCI, CTLR, and MiddCore Summer Intern Lab, as well as your Sophomore Dean. Enjoy delicious snacks and earn stamps on your “CCI passport” to win prizes!
Quick Questions with Peer Advisors now available
Front Row L to R: Sabrina Salam, Melanie Leider, Patrick Kuruga Wachira
Peer Career Advisors at CCI are available during Quick Questions to help you with any immediate needs and questions. No appointment necessary, just drop in!
Peer Career Advisors can can share guidance and answers around the following, and more:
- Develop and review résumés and cover letters
- Search for internship and employment opportunities
- Prepare for interviews
- Access resources like Handshake and Midd2Midd
- Connect with the appropriate CCI advisor
Check out the great team and learn about open hours on the website here. Or just remember the shortcut go/pcas. See you soon!
