How To Tell If A Recruiter is Real

When you're looking for a job-- or even an internships-- it can be tricky to find out if you're dealing with a real person. This is especially true when working with recruiters and company reps.

It doesn't matter if you're looking for entry-level roles or a a part time gig--you want to make sure you're not wasting your time.

Listen, recruiters are everywhere—LinkedIn, FB , even Instagram DMs. 

 Knowing how to tell if a recruiter is real can save you time, stress, and potentially your personal information and protect you from scams.

First, look at how they contact you. Legit recruiters usually use a professional email address that matches the company’s domain, not a random Gmail or Outlook account. 

For example, “name@company.com” is a sign that you're probably working with a real company, while “companyjobs123@gmail.com” is a  major red flag.

 Also you should look at the spelling and grammar. A few mistakes happen, but a message full of errors or awkward wording should make you suspicious. 

The spelling mistakes mean that it's a real person--but not a recruiter from a real company. In this case you're dealing with someone from overseas who's going to run some sort of scam. 

Next, research the recruiter and the company they work for. 

A real recruiter going to have LinkedIn profile with a work history, connections, and activity that looks normal. If their profile was just created, has no photo, or only has vague job descriptions, be careful. 

Check out the company website and see if they exist. If there is no website, then be cautious. 

Another red flag is being asked for money or sensitive information (like your social security card) early on. Legit recruiters will never ask you to pay for training, equipment, or background checks upfront. They also won’t ask for your Social Security number, banking info, or copies of your IDs before a formal offer.

Finally, trust your gut . If an offer sounds too good to be true—like a super high salary for minimal work such as data entry—it probably is. Real recruiters are usually open to questions and happy to clarify details.

If you're looking to calm down before an interview--read this article.