Working in Australia – Opportunities, tips for backpackers and job search advice

Employment scams

You gotta watch for scams when you’re looking for a play to stay, when you’re buying a vehicle… and when you’re looking for work. Fruit pickers may want to read Typical fruit picking horror stories and how to avoid these situations for industry-specific issues.

Just a little reminder—it’s almost impossible to land a job that’s legal, easy and that pays surprisingly well:

• Easy, legal jobs don’t usually pay that much;
• Legal, well-paid jobs aren’t usually easy to get or easy to do (lots of competition, demanding tasks, highly skilled position, etc.);
• Easy, well-paid jobs are rarely legal (either you get scammed or you have to scam people).

If a job offer looks too good to be true, it usually is. Learn how to spot scams and scammers, especially on free classifieds websites. These are some of the warning signs:

• The job offer is very vague and generic (e.g. “amazing sales opportunity,” “part-time work-from-home office work,” etc.). This is usually a bait to join a multi-level marking company, aka a pyramid scheme where you’re supposed to make millions of dollars through direct sales of products to customers. Don’t bother trying, it’s mathematically impossible to make money unless you’re at the very top of the pyramid. Another scam is to sign up you for expensive training to eventually get a job (obviously, you’ll never get the job).
• You have to send money to pay for training, certification, equipment, uniform or just because reasons. This is known as the “advance-fee scam.” Just remind yourself employers pay employees, not the other way around.
• If the wage offered for the job is amazingly high, something is fishy. If you’re not familiar yet with minimum wages in Australia, go back to this section. Trust us, fruit pickers don’t get paid $150/hour.
• Work-from-home job offers are usually a red flag, unless you have an agreement with your employer to work remotely.
• You shouldn’t be asked to provide personal info before getting a formal offer. No potential employee needs your birthdate, banking info, piece of ID, proof of address or TFN before the interview. Protect your personal info to avoid identity theft.

As a newcomer to Australia, you’re easy prey. Scammers take advantage of a casual, seasonal and vulnerable workforce. Knowledge is power!

Don’t hesitate to Google the company, name of hiring manager, location, etc. for more info if you spot a few red flags. Can’t find anything at all? Mmm… does the business even exist? Google “name of company”+scam to find out if they’ve been reported online. Finally, pay attention to details like email addresses. A professional should have a [email protected] or [email protected] address—it’s unlikely that a CEO has a [email protected] email address!

Don’t hesitate to check out the following links:

• Scamnet, a Government of Western Australia website, offers a scam search tool to use if you received a suspicious phone call or email. It also has a comprehensive list of companies known for employment scams.
• Scamwatch, an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) website, also makes the latest scams public.

You can also ask for advice on the forum! Pvtistes.net’s members have seen it all before…