Job search red flags
Job Searching Feels Like One Big Scam—Here’s How to Spot the Red Flags
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind. After months of refining my resume, LinkedIn, and personal branding, I finally saw a surge in interview requests—six different companies reaching out for VP or CMO roles. I thought I had cracked the code.
But now? I feel bamboozled.
Out of those six, only one felt legitimate. The others? A mess of one-way video interviews, AI recruiters, and bizarre requests that made me question whether there was even a real job on the other side.
The modern hiring process is broken. And for job seekers, the biggest challenge isn’t just finding a job—it’s figuring out whether the job is even real in the first place.
Let’s talk about the red flags that signal a scammy (or at least highly questionable) hiring process.
Red Flags in the Hiring Process
1. The Sudden “Updated Job Description” After You Apply
I spent an hour completing a one-way video interview—seven detailed questions, recorded responses, no human interaction. Twelve hours later, I got an email saying they had "updated" the job description and wanted me to reapply.
Why This Feels Like a Scam: Companies don’t rewrite job descriptions overnight. If they do, they should be reaching out to qualified candidates—not making them start over. It smells like a tactic to collect market insights or free labor disguised as an interview.
What to Do: Push back. Ask if your existing application is still under consideration. If they insist you reapply, assume they were never serious about you in the first place.
2. One-Way Video Interviews With No Human Contact
Video interviews are common, but when a company asks you to record responses with no human on the other side? That’s a red flag.
Why This Feels Like a Scam:
You have no idea who is reviewing your responses—or if anyone even is.
It’s an easy way for companies to collect free insights on how senior leaders would approach business challenges.
Some businesses use AI to scrape responses and build hiring models without actually intending to hire.
What to Do: If you get a one-way video request, research the company. Do they have a real hiring team? Do past employees mention a legitimate interview process on Glassdoor? If not, it might be a fishing expedition, not a real job.
3. Recruiters Who Might Be AI (or Who Never Seem Available During Normal Hours)
I was invited to interview for a Head of Marketing role. Every email I received felt AI-generated, and responses only came in during East Asian business hours. Was I talking to a person? I honestly don’t know.
Why This Feels Like a Scam:
Some companies use AI recruiters to screen candidates—sometimes without oversight from an actual hiring team.
If responses feel canned and always arrive at odd hours, it may be outsourced to a low-cost offshore recruiting agency that isn’t actually filling real roles.
If you can’t get a human on the phone? It’s not a serious opportunity.
What to Do: Ask for a real conversation with a hiring manager. If they can’t provide one, move on.
4. Job Applications That Require You to Download an App, Create a Public Profile, or Submit Extensive Unpaid Work
One company asked me to download their proprietary hiring app, create a public profile, and submit detailed responses to both general and job-specific questions.
Why This Feels Like a Scam:
Are they hiring, or are they building an audience? If an app forces you to publicly engage before applying, it’s likely a data-gathering scheme.
If a company requires unpaid work before even speaking to a hiring manager? They’re using the hiring process to extract free labor.
What to Do: Never submit work that you’re not comfortable sharing for free. Real companies will discuss projects during later interview stages—not demand them upfront.
How to Protect Yourself as a Job Seeker
Research the company before engaging. Do they have a history of ghosting candidates? Are there real employees talking about their experiences? If not, be skeptical.
Push for real human interaction. If a company refuses to schedule an actual conversation, the job is either not real or you’ll be treated like a number if you do get hired.
Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. The hiring process should be transparent, structured, and respectful of your time.
4️⃣ Call it out. Employers need to know that these tactics are driving great candidates away. If the hiring process feels like a scam, say something.
Hiring Teams: If You Want to Attract Top Talent, Act Like It.
One-way video interviews, ghost recruiters, AI-driven hiring, and vague job postings don’t build trust. They drive people away.
Job seekers are watching. If the hiring process feels transactional, robotic, or just plain shady, you’re going to lose the best candidates.
The modern job search is already brutal. The last thing candidates need is to feel like fools for playing a game that was never real to begin with.
It’s time to bring the human touch back to hiring. Because right now? It’s feeling like a scam.