get a job through craigslistWhen we think of Craigslist, we typically think of scoring a cheap couch or getting rid of our old stuff. There are many other uses of Craigslist, one of which is landing a job. Now you may ask why a company might place an ad on Craigslist as opposed to using a major career search engine like Monster or CareerBuilder. There are several reasons, including:

  • Looking for local candidates. A firm might not want to pay relocation costs to a new hire, so only advertising locally limits the possibility of this coming up.
  • Expanded reach. We know the big job search engines, but not everyone is on those two sites. If you aren’t actively looking for a new job, then you have no reason to go to these sites. But you still might be on Craigslist for other things and just happen to browse the job boards.
  • Free. It’s free to post an ad on Craigslist as opposed to the other job search engines.

So if you are in the market for a new job, then Craigslist should definitely be a site you visit to look at additional jobs. However, you need to be cautious. Because it is free to post ads on Craigslist, there is a much higher number of scams on Craigslist as opposed to Monster or CareerBuilder. Below are some tips to keep you safe.

Tip #1: Know The Company

Most reputable companies will list their name in the job ad. This will allow you to visit their website or even call them up to make sure nothing seems fishy. Many times you can tell from the beginning if something doesnÕt feel right with a company. This is your first step before submitting anything.

Tip #2: Protect Your Personal Information

Most people list their name, address, phone number and email address on their resume. When submitting a resume for a job on Craigslist, I recommend being much more cautious. There are times when you wonÕt know the company for the job you are applying. With Monster and CareerBuilder, you can rest assured that for the most part, the jobs posted are on the straight and narrow. Not so with Craigslist.

On your Craigslist resume, only include your name and email address. If you feel the need to add your phone number, sign up for a free Google Voice number. Not including all of your personal information will not stop you from landing the job. I have my job because it was listed on Craigslist. I took the precautions of not giving out all of my information because I didn’t know the firm I was dealing with.

One last point on this, never under any circumstance, give out your Social Security Number until you have interviewed with the firm and are offered the job or are requested to have a background check completed.

Tip #3: Be Smart

As with anything in life, if it sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is. If you see a job ad for a grocery store clerk that pays $80,000 a year, you know to keep looking. Even if you find a listing that describes your dream job, make sure you are still smart. We tend to let out guard down more easily when we encounter something we really want. The same holds true for a job. Even if it everything you want in a job, still be cautious and be sure to ask a lot of questions so that you know the job and the company is legitimate.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Craigslist can be a great place to find a job. Not many people use or think of Craigslist to do their job searches so if you do find a possible match, you might not face as much competition as you otherwise would if the job were on Monster or CareerBuilder. The bottom line though is to be a smart job searcher and protect yourself so that you don’t end up in a worse situation.