{"id":2923,"date":"2025-01-14T09:08:14","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T09:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/?p=2923"},"modified":"2025-01-14T09:09:17","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T09:09:17","slug":"how-to-know-if-a-job-application-is-legit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/how-to-know-if-a-job-application-is-legit\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Know if a Job Application is Legit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>by Precious Owoko<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finding a job can be exciting, but it\u2019s important to ensure the opportunity is real. Many fake job postings exist, and scammers are getting creative. Here\u2019s how you can tell if a job application is genuine, using simple and relatable steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. Research the Company<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, check if the company actually exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Look up their <strong>official website<\/strong>. A real company will have one with clear details like an address, phone number, and email.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check their <strong>social media pages<\/strong>. Most companies are active on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter. If their profiles look empty or fake, that\u2019s a red flag.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Read reviews on sites like <strong>Glassdoor<\/strong> or <strong>Indeed<\/strong>. If employees are complaining about scams or shady practices, avoid it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Check the Job Posting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When reading the job ad, pay attention to the details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Legit companies give <strong>specific information<\/strong> about the role, like what tasks you\u2019ll do and the qualifications needed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the job promises <strong>unrealistically high pay<\/strong> for little work, be cautious, it could be too good to be true.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Real job ads are usually posted on <strong>official company websites<\/strong> or trusted job boards like BrighterMonday or LinkedIn.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Verify Contact Information<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always double-check the contact details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A real company will use <strong>professional email addresses<\/strong>, like <a href=\"mailto:name@company.com\">name@company.com<\/a>. Be wary of emails from free domains like Gmail or Yahoo.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Call the phone number if provided, but make sure it matches the one listed on their official website.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>4. Be Careful of Red Flags<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fake job postings often have warning signs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Upfront payments<\/strong>: A legit employer will never ask for money for training, application fees, or equipment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vague details<\/strong>: If the job description is unclear or the recruiter avoids answering your questions, it\u2019s likely a scam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Unsolicited offers<\/strong>: Did you get a job offer for something you never applied for? That\u2019s a major warning sign.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>5. Verify the Recruiter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, scammers pretend to be recruiters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check their <strong>LinkedIn profile<\/strong>. A real recruiter will have a professional account showing their connection to the company.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Call the company directly and ask if the recruiter is legitimate. This will clear any doubts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>6. Pay Attention to the Interview Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How the interview is conducted can also tell you if the job is legit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Real interviews are done on proper platforms like Zoom, Teams, or in person not on random apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the interviewer skips basic questions about your skills and jumps straight to \u201cyou\u2019re hired,\u201d be cautious.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>7. Look for Documentation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A genuine company provides official documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>job offer letter<\/strong> should include details like your role, salary, and responsibilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t agree to anything if they refuse to send proper paperwork.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>8. Compare Job Details<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Real jobs should match what\u2019s listed on the company\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you see the exact same job copy-pasted on many random websites, it could be fake.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>9. Trust Your Gut<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, your instincts are your best guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If something feels off whether it\u2019s the tone of the email, the way they talk, or the process take a step back.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t rush into it. Talk to friends or family for advice if you\u2019re unsure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>10. Report Suspicious Jobs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, if you find out the job is a scam, report it. You can contact the job board or even local authorities to help protect others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>In Summary:<\/strong> Be smart and careful when applying for jobs.  If you research the company, verify details, and watch out for red flags, you\u2019ll stay safe and find the right opportunities!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>by Precious Owoko Finding a job can be exciting, but it\u2019s important to ensure the opportunity is real. Many fake job postings exist, and scammers are getting creative. Here\u2019s how you can tell if a job application is genuine, using simple and relatable steps: 1. Research the Company First, check if the company actually exists. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2924,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121,97,25,98],"tags":[35,49,34,67,50,61,55,53,22,48],"class_list":["post-2923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poem","category-poetry","category-solitude","category-storytime","tag-poems","tag-poetess","tag-poetry","tag-preciousowoko","tag-spokenword","tag-spokenwords","tag-stories","tag-story","tag-walkingshadowpoetry","tag-walkingshadowpoetrykenya"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pexels-photo-5989926.jpeg?fit=1880%2C1253&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2391,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/title-the-shadow-of-narcissism\/","url_meta":{"origin":2923,"position":0},"title":"Title: The Shadow of Narcissism.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"June 23, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Chapter 1: A Fresh Start Moving to the city was a new beginning for Amina. After a series of bad jobs in her small town, she was ready for the excitement and opportunities that came with city life. She found a small apartment, got a decent job at a marketing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;storytime&quot;","block_context":{"text":"storytime","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/storytime\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"woman in blue white and red plaid shirt and black pants sitting on gray couch","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-photo-6003534.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-photo-6003534.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-photo-6003534.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/pexels-photo-6003534.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2687,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/trying-to-get-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2923,"position":1},"title":"Trying to Get By walking shadow poetry","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Every morning, I wake up and try,To make my money last and get by,But no matter how hard I work,It feels like I\u2019m stuck in a tough spot. Bills keep piling up so high,I work more hours, but it\u2019s never enough,The paycheck is too small,And the debts just keep growing.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;POETRY&quot;","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"person carrying container on the head on road","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1108822.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1108822.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1108822.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-1108822.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2679,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/the-quiet-thought-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2923,"position":2},"title":"The Quiet Thought by walking shadow poetry.","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"September 18, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s late, and the silence is loud,I\u2019m here, lying still, but my mind, it\u2019s a crowd.I\u2019ve thought about it, more than I should,What if I just\u2026 stopped? Would that be good? I lost my parent, and with them, my light,Now I\u2019m alone, nothing feels right.The pain doesn\u2019t leave, it just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;POETRY&quot;","block_context":{"text":"POETRY","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"grayscale photo of a person writing on notebook","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-5702412.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-5702412.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-5702412.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-5702412.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/pexels-photo-5702412.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2977,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/is-she-serious-about-me-a-spoken-word-from-the-heart-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2923,"position":3},"title":"Is She Serious About Me? 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On that first date, my mind\u2019s racing,I\u2019m looking for signs, trying to make sense of the pacing.Am I just\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-20-145717.png?fit=439%2C357&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2818,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/stop-corruption-by-walking-shadow-poetry\/","url_meta":{"origin":2923,"position":4},"title":"Stop Corruption by walking shadow poetry","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"December 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I sit here, my heart so broken,By the pain of words unspoken.My father died, not by chance,But because a bribe let danger advance. At the hospital, they turned us away,\u201cNo beds here,\u201d was all they\u2019d say.Yet I saw money pass through hands,And watched them ignore my father\u2019s plans. My sister\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;poem&quot;","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"handcuff hanging on a shelf","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/pexels-photo-6266773.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/pexels-photo-6266773.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/pexels-photo-6266773.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/pexels-photo-6266773.jpeg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2966,"url":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/is-he-ready-for-a-commitment-or-just-testing-waters-by-precious-owoko\/","url_meta":{"origin":2923,"position":5},"title":"10 Signs He&#8217;s Serious About You and Ready for Commitment by Precious Owoko","author":"walking shadow poetry kenya","date":"January 20, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Subtitle: Recognizing the Key Actions That Show He's in It for the Long Haul If you're trying to figure out whether a guy is serious about you, his actions will tell you a lot. It\u2019s not just about the words he says; it\u2019s about how he behaves. Here are some\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;poem&quot;","block_context":{"text":"poem","link":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/SPOKENWORDSandMODERNDAYPOETRY\/poem\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-20-141401.png?fit=768%2C655&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-20-141401.png?fit=768%2C655&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-20-141401.png?fit=768%2C655&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Screenshot-2025-01-20-141401.png?fit=768%2C655&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2923"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2923\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2926,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2923\/revisions\/2926"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2924"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/walkingshadowpoetry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}