Job hunting? FAQ Guide to a Safer Job Search

Print | PDF

As a student, it is important to approach job opportunities with caution and take responsibility for protecting your personal and professional well-being. While the Career Development Centre encourages employers to adhere to our Employer Recruiting Guidelines and works diligently to offer reliable job postings and connections, we cannot guarantee that issues will never occur. It is ultimately your responsibility to research roles, verify legitimacy, and make informed decisions. Use this guide to help you recognize potential risks and protect yourself during your job search.

Questions and Answers for a Safer Job Search

Some job postings state the compensation is commission-based. What does that mean for me?

Commission-based jobs can be legitimate; but they carry financial risks, especially if you are relying on the income to support yourself during school. Before accepting a commission-based job, you should ask the employer:

Is there a base salary or is it 100% commission?
What is the commission rate?
Are there quotas?
What are the realistic earnings expectations?
What is the payment frequency?
Are partial commissions held back for a certain time? Are there payment delays?
Am I paid for training time?
Am I expected to cover any expenses?
Am I expected to recruit others to work for the organization?
What is the typical work schedule?
What are the average hours per week?
Are these details outlined in the contract or the offer letter?

While some students thrive in commission-based roles, others may find them challenging. Consider whether this type of position aligns with your personality, skills and values before applying.

What are employment scams and what are common signs?

An employment scam is a fake job offer meant to trick you into giving away money or personal information. Listed below are common signs of employment scams:

Do not require an interview before giving you a job offer.
Requests for upfront payments.
Request personal information such as your Social Insurance Number (SIN) prior to accepting a job offer.
Unprofessional communication or vague job descriptions for general roles (e.g., Personal Assistant/Office Administrator with no job tasks identified).
Job postings that mention using your personal funds to transfer money or make deposits.
Email address domains that do not match the organization name.
Unusually high pay for simple tasks (e.g., $500 per day for data entry).
The organization does not have a website.

I have been asked to disclose my Social Insurance Number (SIN) during the interview. What should I do?

Do not share your SIN during interviews or with organizations if you have not been officially hired. Your SIN is only required by the organization’s Human Resources department after you have signed a contract and started onboarding. Sharing it too early may lead to identity theft or fraud.

What is phishing and how does it show up in job searching?

Phishing is when scammers try to trick you into clicking on malicious links or giving away sensitive information (like your SIN, banking info or passwords). Watch for:

Job offers from suspicious or misspelled email addresses.
Links to forms that ask for private information.
Requests for logins to your email, Laurier account or bank.
Job-related emails with urgent language (e.g., “You must act now!”).

Is it safe and appropriate to use my personal vehicle for business-related job duties?

If a job requires using your car, ask the employer for written details about expectations, reimbursements and insurance. Your personal auto insurance may not cover accidents that occur while using your car for work purposes. You may need additional coverage or a commercial auto policy. Be sure to contact your insurance company to learn more about potential restrictions for using your vehicle for work purposes.

What is an Independent Contractor?

An independent contractor is someone who provides services to a business or individual but is not considered an employee. Instead, they work for themselves and typically:

Decide how and when to do the work.
Use their own tools or resources.
Can work for multiple clients.
Are responsible for paying their own taxes and benefits.
Do not receive vacation pay, sick leave or other employee protections.

In short, independent contractors are self-employed and have more control over their work but also take on more risk and responsibility. It is important to fully understand the terms of any contract before accepting work as an independent contractor. Some employers may make the work feel like traditional employment, but if you are classified as an independent contractor, you are taking on the risks and responsibilities of self-employment.

If you have questions about the terms, it is your responsibility to seek legal advice if appropriate and deal directly with the organization.

What is an MLM (Multi-Level Marketing)?

An MLM is a business model where your income depends on both selling products and recruiting others. These jobs are legal but can be risky for students because:

You may earn little or no money for work completed.
You often must buy products upfront to start your own business.
You are encouraged to recruit friends or classmates as employees.

Be cautious and do your research. While some students thrive in this type of business model, others may find it challenging. Consider whether this type of position aligns with your personality, skills and values before applying.

What is a franchise?

A franchise is a business where you buy the rights to operate under a company’s brand. Legitimate franchises often require a large upfront investment and come with legal agreements and business risk. If you are offered a ’franchise’ job, but it sounds more like a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) business model or commission-only sales, ask questions and get advice before committing.

If you are pursuing a franchise, be sure to find out the remuneration details, extra fees/start-up costs, contract requirements, insurance requirements and potential financial penalties for a contract cancellation. If you have questions about the terms, it is your responsibility to seek legal advice if appropriate and deal directly with the organization.

What is a third-party recruiter?

A third-party recruiter is an individual or agency hired by an employer to search for and screen job candidates. They are not employed by the hiring organization but work on its behalf to fill roles. Many third-party recruiters earn commission when a candidate they refer is hired, so it is in their interest to match candidates with available roles. It is important to know the employer that you will be potentially working with and ask questions about the organization, role and recruitment process to ensure transparency.

Can I work as an unpaid intern?

The Laurier Career Development Centre does not support or promote unpaid internships as regulated and outlined through the Federal Labour Standards. The Laurier Community and Workplace Partnerships team supports unpaid experiential learning opportunities when embedded within course curriculum for credit.

What if the organization asks me to pay for training, tools or uniforms?

Be wary if you are asked to cover out-of-pocket expenses upfront. Examples:

Buy a starter kit.
Pay for training.
Purchase uniforms or software.

What if I am told to recruit friends or classmates?

That is a common indicator of a pyramid scheme, which is illegal in Canada. The Career Development Centre does not support organizations that ask individuals to hire others with the expectation they set up their own business, especially when that business model requires recruiting others, relies on payments from recruits, or mandates large product purchases.

Why did an employer come into my classroom to advertise a position?

Organizations may not conduct recruitment or career information presentations in classes without consultation with the Career Development Centre and subsequent permission from professors. If you notice this behaviour, please contact the Career Development Centre.

What happens if I have a dispute with my employer?

Speak with your supervisor and your employer’s Human Resources department.
Understand your rights under employment standards in your jurisdiction (e.g., Ontario’s Employment Standards Act).
If unresolvable, investigate filing a claim with the Ministry of Labour in your jurisdiction (e.g., the Ontario Ministry of Labour)

What are the federal and provincial employment regulatory bodies?

If you are working outside of Ontario, check the regulatory body's website in the jurisdiction you are working in.

I am a co-op student. How does this apply to my co-op job search?

As a co-op student, you will complete the Co-op Fundamentals course and work directly with your Co-op Consultant. Your Co-op Consultant is your primary contact for questions about co-op opportunities. Please reach out to your Co-op Consultant on specifics regarding the approval process for co-op jobs.

I have a concern or a complaint about a recruiting organization. Who do I contact at Laurier?

If you have a concern or would like to report a complaint related to a job posting or employer interaction that you found on Navigator, please contact the Manager, Employer Relations and Recruitment, Dorota Rams Skazinski at drams@wlu.ca. You can also review the policies employers must follow when recruiting Laurier students.

Career Centre Disclaimer: Student Responsibility

Laurier’s Career Development Centre provides employer recruitment services that align with national career centre practices guided by the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE). The Career Centre does not assume responsibility for screening employer organizations nor does it endorse employment opportunities, labour practices, products or services of these organizations. It is your responsibility as a job seeker to adequately research organizations and to verify terms and conditions of employment that may be important in making employment decisions.

Additional Resources:

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) - explore business terms and resources related to entrepreneurship and franchising.

Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre - learn about common scams and how to report them.

Competition Bureau of Canada - learn how to recognize and report deceptive marketing and scam tactics. Review the Fraud and Scams Overview and Multi-Level Marketing and Pyramid Selling information.

Employment Standards Act (Ontario) - understand your rights and responsibilities in the Ontario workplace.

Government of Canada - Labour Standards - learn about federal labour standards.

Ontario Health and Safety Act - learn about your rights and duties related to workplace health and safety.

Ontario Human Rights Code - learn about your rights regarding discrimination and equal treatment in employment and other areas.

The Career Centre acknowledges the use of ChatGPT to generate content for this document. The prompts used included: proofread the document, add additional context and generate a list of references. The generated content was adapted and modified.