Gentle Readers . . . and Maxwell,
After I sent my cover letter and résumé to "William George" of Sas, which is a real company that has a beautiful, professional Web site, I was surprised to find another email from Sas in my inbox the very next day.
This time "Jessica Julious" wrote:
Hello,
Sas Institute has approved your application for the position
of a Content writer/Editor after careful review of your resume/portfolio and we
want to arrange you for an immediate interview with our Human Resource hiring
Manager Dexter Jackson ASAP.
To begin the process you need to get a Gmail account and install Google
Hangout on your PC or phone and add Dexter on his hangout ID then send him a
message on hangout to communicate with him, you can do the hangout chat interview
either on your computer or mobile.
We look forward to hearing back from you asap and i wish you best of
luck with your interview.
Human Resource,
Interview code:
Saswriters007.
I had already started to suspect that the job was too good to be true. When I received the second email, "scam scam scam scam" wouldn't stop running through my brain.
What is it about the second email that you think tipped me toward believing it was a phishing expedition?
Once again, to be continued . . . .
Infinities of love,
Janie Junebug
Run-on sentence and lower case "i"?
ReplyDeleteThat's one reason.
DeleteI gave that some thought, but having worked in the business world before, I didn't give this too much weight. It's amazing how many of them need an editor. And after all, weren't they planning to hire one? Seems to me they need one. But that's not what made me suspect them. It was the directions of needing to set up that whole hangout thingy. :-)
DeleteThe hangout thingy was another red flag.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCould it be the grammar? (we want to arrange you) Could it be the lack of punctuation? Could it be "i"? Could it be singular where plural was called for? (resource) Could it be all of the above??
ReplyDeleteYou have to LISTEN TO THE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD, JANIE!!
You are the voice in my head. I noticed all of those, and some more.
DeleteTrust your gut/voices.
ReplyDeleteI have had similar emails but given that I haven't applied for any of the positions they have received short shrift.
I suspect it was the clumsy use of language which set off warning bells, but am waiting anxiously to know more.
Yes, the clumsy language was a big old red flag.
DeleteI would say my first warning bell was that the person wanted you to use Google Hangouts. Why would a real interviewer not want to call and speak with you on the phone if they wanted to see about hiring you? Also, the email itself was hideous.
ReplyDeleteYou've added another good point: Google Hangouts.
DeleteWhat tipped you off? Run-on sentences? Poor punctuation? Dodgy grammar? The unprofessional tone? The necessity to set up a special line of communication? "ASAP"?
ReplyDeleteAll of those and more.
DeleteI'm waiting with bated breath for the conclusion of the story (or at least the next part).
ReplyDeleteWho knows how long this story can continue?
Delete"we want to arrange you..."
ReplyDeleteAs if I'm a vase of flowers.
DeleteYour previous commenters covered the things that would have made me cautious. Hell, I never even heard of Google Hangouts. Some Google stuff is good, like its search engine, Blogger, YouTube, but things like Google + and now this "Hangouts" thing don't interest me.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, having said that, I really wish someone would program Blogger's spell-checker to recognize "commenter" as a proper word!
DeleteI had to Google "Google Hangouts."
DeleteIt's pretty much like asking you to do an interview on Messenger. Class act all the way.
DeleteOh, yes. Very classy.
DeleteRun on sentences, lower case letters, the wording. I don't look forward to looking for another job.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Jessica
Job hunting bites the big one. It's right up there with divorce in terms of a good time.
Deletei speak and write Klumsy !
ReplyDeletePlease do not keep us waiting too long for the next installment.
cheers, parsnip
I'll try to write again soon, but I have a stomach bug and have to finish editing a book.
DeleteRed flags are popping up in my head over this.
ReplyDeleteWith good reason.
DeleteThe grammar seems to be a mess. That would be a big red flag!
ReplyDeleteDefinitely.
DeleteI don't know what tipped you, except the general principle that if it seems too good to be true it probably is... But this is a great story. I'm hooked to the (bitter) end.
ReplyDeleteToo good to be true was the first hint.
DeleteSounds like they're in a rush to hire you.
ReplyDeleteI want to know more!!! ASAP!
Too much of a rush.
DeleteGoogle Hangouts, clumsy wording, mistakes, and just the ASAP ASAP and the quick responses are all red flags. And how about the code name! Saswriters007 007?
ReplyDeleteAll good points.
DeleteAre you arranged yet?
ReplyDeleteNo, I'm not. I wish I were.
DeleteI'm not sure what Google Hangout is, but I surely don't need to get involved in any more internet stuff and don't feel much like "hanging out" with anyone I don't know, potential employers or not.
ReplyDeleteI get some interesting sounding job openings in my email sometimes, but to date I haven't actively pursued any of them other than looking at the additional job descriptions. Seems like there is always a disqualifier for me and I'm never bold enough to pursue them anyway.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Google hangouts allows you to video chat with someone and I don't remember what else.
DeleteThe whole email sounded fishy to me. I am glad you did not take the bait.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad, too.
DeleteI guess it would be when they start making demands, or asking for private info. I hate that you had to even be exposed to these people.
ReplyDeleteIt was a cruel thing to do to someone who wants a job so badly, but they don't care.
DeleteYeahhhhhhhhhhhh, that second email? Something smells fishy. And it ain't bacala.
ReplyDeleteGoogle Hangout? Raise shields.
Very fishy.
DeleteOkay, the wanting to arrange you and other problems with the message only made me giggle. I thought they were trying to show you how desperately they needed an editor. :-) But the Google hangout? uh-ungh. Walk away.
ReplyDeleteI walked--very quickly.
DeleteYou want to arrange me? Whoa, not on the first date. I'm not an easy gal.
ReplyDeleteI'm very eager to see where this goes, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't a HUGE surprise that this was a scam.
I'm pretty easy. I'll be arranged if enough money is involved.
DeleteI knew it was a scam the moment you said Jessica Julious... Plus the writer of the email (previous post) seemed to have an unhealthy penchant for commas. Run-on sentences are criminal.
ReplyDelete"Jessica Julious" was one of my first tip offs, too.
DeleteNo matter the salary, I tend to be suspect of such a redundant extent of a hangout factor. I mean, yeah, I'm desperate, but somethings are best left to the imagination.
ReplyDeletePS I'm back. Great post about dialog below. I'll post shortly. First, I'm visiting some faves. (Hint: that's you.)
Love ya.
I love being a "fave." Thank you.
DeleteOh, Janie... So sorry you had this crap experience. Yeah, I fell for one of those, too, a while back. Live and learn, right? ;)
ReplyDeleteP.S. — the tip-off for me would've been the weird "arrange you for a meeting"... "Arrange for a meeting", maybe. But that whole sentence is off.
Thanks for the visit over at Quiet Laughter. If you do get around to seeing Julieta, I'd love to know what you think :)
I sort of fell for it, but didn't fall completely. If I see Julieta, I'll try to let you know.
DeleteI watched Beatriz At Dinner (Salma Hayek) on DVD earlier this week. I liked it a lot. Thought it was interesting and unusual.
DeleteI actually know a woman named Jessica Julius. Lives in LA and I think works for Disney but got married so probably has a new name. It was still weird to see her name on your blog!!
ReplyDeleteMy Jessica's last name is spelled Julious, which I found odd. Anyway, she's not a real person. It's nice to see you. I found your Facebook today. I didn't realize so much was going on with you.
DeleteThey used the word Hangout 4 times in one sentence.
ReplyDeleteMy son used to always click on the free x-box links. I think he has finally learned, at the age of 17, that if it's too good to be true, it probably is. Too bad that's so true.
ReplyDelete