Tech Tip of the Week
Check if a recruiter’s link or job board is trustworthy. Copy/paste the URL, and it gives you a safety score in seconds.
Let’s talk about fake job postings.
They’re more common than most job seekers realize, and they create very real damage.
Clients tell us about pouring hours into an application, only to discover the role doesn’t exist.
Others get pulled into fake “recruiter” conversations that end with requests for personal information.
Some even hand over money, thinking they’re paying for background checks or application fees.
The fallout is serious:
Emotionally: job seekers lose confidence, start doubting their worth, and wonder if the rejection is their fault.
Financially: some lose money directly, while others waste weeks chasing roles that were never real.
Strategically: every dead end delays their actual search and eats away at momentum.
The part that stings the most is that the client often assumes that they did something wrong, not that the posting itself was fraudulent.
That’s where we come in.
As coaches, we can normalize this reality and teach clients how to protect themselves.
Here’s a checklist of red flags to share with clients:
The job isn’t listed on the company’s official careers page.
The recruiter won’t provide a verifiable company email or hop on a call.
The application link reroutes through ads, job boards, or odd sign-ups.
The role is labeled “remote” but hides location restrictions in the fine print.
The process skips steps: no interview, just an offer, or requests for personal info up front.
The job description looks copy-pasted or too good to be true.
If it feels off, it probably is.
When clients fall for fake postings, the damage lingers.
They start to question their judgment and pull back from applying at all.
The spiral can be worse than a “no,” because it convinces them the whole process is rigged.
That’s why it’s so important for career coaches to educate their clients so they can spot the scam before it’s too late.
We can’t control the scams.
But we can control the support we give when clients hit them.
✔️ We can remind them it’s not their fault.
✔️ We can reframe the wasted time as practice, not failure.
✔️ We can anchor them in what’s real: their skills, their story, their next right step.
Fake jobs chip away at trust in the system.
Our work is to rebuild trust in themselves.
Ultimately, resilience is what keeps clients moving forward.
Heather
The Coach for Career Coaches
3 ways I can help you:
Join the next cohort of my fully online FCD (Facilitating Career Developments) course here
Take my free coaching masterclass for career coaches
Apply for 1:1 coaching if you want honest feedback and real-time support to improve your client outcomes.