This is a guest post by Danielle on evaluating potential employers. You can read the guidelines to guest posting at our write for us page.

In the current economic climate, nationwide unemployment levels have reached nearly 10%. As a result, competition for jobs is fiercer than usual, which may result in those desperate for work being taken advantage of by job scams.

Knowing how to identify red flags and bad leads is invaluable to job seekers who can’t afford to waste precious time while looking for work.

Here are some tips for doing just that. Put these to the best use to identify your potential employer.

Evaluating the presence of your potential employer

Make sure the company you’re applying with has actual office space. If a company isn’t established enough to have a real location and/or headquarters, investigate deeper to confirm their legitimacy. You can look up a business’ information via the Better Business Bureau, as well as asking peers in your industry or at the local Chamber of Commerce.

If no one has ever heard of the company or you can’t find any information about them, it’s best to keep moving. Don’t fall for the allure of a fancy website design, as nearly anyone can create this false front.

Checking the Authenticity of the Ads

If an ad sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Some scams are easier than others to decipher, such as those that suggest employees can take home hundreds of dollars each week. While these positions are likely to exist in high-profile industries, approach job ads that make such claims with care.

Many may be commission-only positions that require personnel to provide up-front capital for materials, something that no reputable company should ever do.

Credibility of the mode of advertising

Be careful about applying for ads advertised on Craigslist, especially if a company is located overseas. Some ads can be well written but still be scams. You might submit your resume and cover letter only to find your email address added to a spammer’s database.

As you likely know all too well, getting away from spam emails can be difficult and will certainly add stress when you don’t need any other obstacles to your job search. Sites like Career Builder are far more trustworthy.

Evaluating the position and role advertised for

Avoid job ads that seek individuals to work at home doing tasks like envelope stuffing, email processing, or parts assembly. These tasks are generally handled by companies using an automated process, which essentially means you would be working at a fraction of their pace – and income.

If ever in doubt about a company’s employment process, ask questions. If you can’t get clear and honest answers in a reasonable amount of time, head back to the proverbial drawing board.

Caution about information disclosure

Never submit your Social Security number or bank account information as part of the application process. Submitting your financial information is not necessary for a company to conduct a background check and will only open you up to fraud and deception.

Concluding – Evaluating your potential employer

The longer you are out of work, the easier you likely are to panic about your future and need to get back to work. Living in a state of anxiety, however, isn’t productive to your health or job search process. Keep calm and approach your search with caution and wisdom. You want to devote your precious time to securing employment with a legitimate company, not trying to escape a junk mail whirlpool.

About the Author:

Danielle writes for SuitsAndLadders.co.uk. You can read more about her works at her blog.

This is a guest post by Angelita Williams on the traits of a good job candidate. You can read the guidelines to guest posting at our write for us page

While a strong resume, showcasing professional experience, strong academic marks, and a balanced skill set is a perfect start to landing a rewarding career, there are several other attributes not on paper that employers are desperately seeking in their employees. All too often, job hunters rely too heavily on their resume and cover letter to land them the job of their dreams, without also considering how they present their “soft” skills to a potential employer. Demonstrating your own positive character traits to a potential employer during an interview and through your correspondence is just as important as your written credentials. These three traits are the most highly sought after characteristics of a strong and desirable employee.

Positive Attitude

Your attitude communicates more about your potential as an employee than anything else. Even the best of resumes can be a seriously unfortunate employee, if their attitude is bad. Positivity says so much about a person and can have so much to offer a company. Individuals who display a level of drive and enthusiasm for their work are always more successful at their job. A positive attitude in a professional setting helps to boost the company’s morale.

With happier employees, people are able to be more successful at their jobs. A positive attitude from just one member of a professional team can help to motivate others significantly. Employees look for job candidates that are energetic and excited about their job and their work. Though it sounds like the oldest cliché in the book, a positive attitude really can get you nearly anything. So, work to demonstrate your positive attitude, energy, and enthusiasm at work or during your job search.

Communication Skills

For the most part, the professional world is all about working with others to accomplish your goals. Of course, there are several careers that are more individually motivated, but we will always have to work with someone in some way or another in the professional setting. For this reason, strong communication skills are one of the most important attributes an employee can have. It is essential for the working order of any company or organization that the employees can successfully communicate their ideas and thoughts as well as easily understand the ideas and concerns of others.

With the ability to clearly articulate what it is you are thinking and what it is you need to succeed, you can produce a working environment that is efficient and successful. Communication is an aspect of every part of our lives and is often overlooked during one’s job search. If you are seeking a position, you must display your strong ability to communicate clearly and effectively. Moreover, you must also demonstrate your ability to listen carefully and effectively. Employers desire job candidates that can easily enter a new situation and communicate their thoughts and concerns, while also taking in others thoughts and advice.

Strong Work Ethic

While your work ethic is certainly an aspect of your attitude, it cannot simply be combined with the trait of having a positive attitude about your work. Your work ethic demonstrates your dedication to your work. Employers seek job candidates who love what they do and want produce the best work that they possibly can. Tenacity and dedication go a long way in the professional world. Obviously, if you are passionate about your work and passionate about doing a good job with your work, you are going to be a valuable employee.

One of the most difficult situations employers have to deal with is when an employee is capable of completing a job successfully, but does not have the work ethic to do so properly. An employer would far prefer an employee who has a strong work ethic, but is lacking some of the technical skill sets required to do a job. In this case, the employ will have the tenacity to learn that new skill set and complete their work to the very best of their ability.

Photograph courtesy jonny2love

About the Author:

This guest post is contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes on the topics of online courses.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: angelita.williams7 (at) gmail.com.