Canadian Immigration News

How to Tell if a Canadian Job Offer is Real

4.5 minute read
"People from all over the world come to Canada with job aspirations. Canada is the land of opportunity with a thriving economy and growing job opportunities for foreign nationals. A Canadian job offer can be lucrative and rewarding for foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Canada. Unfortunately, this also means that there are opportunities for many dishonest people who will try to take advantage of people’s aspirations by offering them fake job offers."
Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on:  Apr 29, 2021
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People from all over the world come to Canada with job aspirations. Canada is the land of opportunity with a thriving economy and growing job opportunities for foreign nationals. 

A Canadian job offer can be lucrative and rewarding for foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Canada

Unfortunately, this also means that there are opportunities for many dishonest people who will try to take advantage of people’s aspirations by offering them fake job offers.  

Securing a job offer is a pretty big deal if you are hoping to immigrate to Canada. However, you should be cautious of fraudulent job offers and scams. Scammers usually impersonate as an entrepreneur, recruiter or company executive. They will quote you attractive job offers that will sound too good to be true.

However, being beware of them will save you and your finances a lot of trouble. Spotting a scam can be a tricky task, but remembering a few tips can make all the difference. The first step is knowing what a real job offer looks like. 

Features to Look for in a Real Job Offer 

A job offer should include information about the specific occupation and must be less formal than an employment contract. It should be in writing and come directly from the employer and not a third party. 

It should contain details about the nature and responsibilities of your position, the rate of pay, deductions and employment conditions. 

Apart from the exemption cases, it should include a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and an employment offer number. 

How to Spot a Fake Canadian Job Offer?

Look for the following to spot a fraudulent job offer:

Unsolicited Offers: The most obvious sign of a fraudulent job offer is when the salary offered is too high for the offered job. You can check the average wage rate of your occupation on the Canadian Government’s Job Bank site. 

If the job offer has a serious gap between the relevant wage rate on the site and the offered salary, this can indicate a fake job offer 

This can be a  too good to be true scenario. If there are too many attractive benefits related to the job, this should also raise some concerns. These benefits can include free airfare from your home country, free accommodation, unrealistic holiday packages, etc.   

Additional Costs and Fees: This is the most common type of job scam. You are asked to pay for a job that does not exist. You should never pay for a job offer because:

  1. Employers pay recruiters to fill positions for them
  2. The Canadian government has made it illegal to exchange money for a job offer or job offer letter

Submitting a fraudulent job offer can lead to your application being denied with serious long-term consequences. 

Scammers can also ask you to pay money for obtaining a work permit in Canada. In most cases, the amount does not reflect the actual cost of obtaining a work permit. You must verify the correct amount and deal accordingly.

If they are asking for any sort of monetary exchange for employment, it is a red flag.

No Interviews: Companies and employers need to process and navigate through a very complex immigration system to hire a foreign worker. 

It is highly unlikely that they will do so without conducting a face-to-face interview with the applicant whether through video conferencing or face-to-face.

A no interview requirement for a job offer is a big red flag. It is also because the applicant will be required to obtain work authorization in Canada which can not happen without their direct involvement. An employer can't hire you without your involvement in obtaining a work permit. 

Missing or Incorrect Employer Information: This is one of the most obvious signs of a fake job offer. If there are clear and objective mistakes in the information provided in the offer, then it may be fraudulent.

You can verify the contact information to check the validity of your job offer. The contact information and email address must be correct and reachable. If there are any discrepancies, this should be a red flag.

Poor Language Quality: Most Canadian employers are proficient in the English language. Grammatical errors in your job offer may be an indication of illegitimacy. 

Incorrect punctuation, misspelled words or incorrect verbs should have no place in an official job offer from a Canadian employer. 

What are the Most Common Red Flags?

The most common and easy to spot red flags in a job offer are:

  • Grammatical errors and misspelled words
  • Recruiters contacting you through a strange or free email address
  • Unconcerned about past work experience or skills
  • Work from home or self-employed job offers
  • Asking money for the training period or any supplies for the job
  • Remuneration based on commission or unrealistic sales targets

How can You Avoid Job Scams?

To avoid getting scammed by fake employers, you must do your research thoroughly. Verify the company details online and check if everything is legitimate. 

Beware of false promises and high-end offers. Be skeptical of employers who promise fast processing and high salaries. 

No one can guarantee your entry to Canada except the government. 

Do not pay for any job offer or job offer letter. If the recruiter asks for any sort of monetary exchange for the job offer, you should decline immediately.

Find out where they got your contact information. Getting a job offer for a job you did not apply for is a significant red flag. 

Remembering these tips can save you from future disappointment for investing in a scam.

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