When you’re looking for a new job, it can be tempting to jump at new opportunities. However, if a job offer seems too good to be true, it could be a scam.

Many jobs scams have a few things in common that you should watch for:

• The potential employer says you can make fast money working from home.
• You are asked to pay money to the employer up front.
• Emails from the employer are full of spelling and grammatical errors.
• The employer asks for personal and bank account information upfront.
• You are asked to transfer money through Western Union or MoneyGram.

Learn more about how to avoid job scams.

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By Dr. Michael S. Gutter and Amanda Blanco, part of the USDA eXtension program

There are typical places to look for jobs like job websites or classified ads. The problem with these methods is that hundreds of people could apply to one job posting. It is very hard to stand out among hundreds of other applicants.

One alternative to job websites is networking. Networking allows you to connect with others who share your career interests. Your network could help you in the job search process if you are unemployed.

You can start to network by creating a professional online presence on a professional networking site. These sites allow you to formalize your network of colleagues, former colleagues, mentors, friends, family, and acquaintances so that you can learn more about opportunities. People you are connected to can endorse you or recommend you.

Do you submit a résumé or curriculum vitae?

Once you find a job that seems like it might be a good fit, you need to apply. Different job applications have different requirements, so make sure to read them carefully.

What is it?

A resume is a brief summary of education, experience, leadership skills, job skills and awards received

A curriculum vitae or CV is a detailed record of activities related to your career. This can include education, work experience, publications, courses taught etc.

How long is it?

A resume is typically 1 to 2 pages long.

A CV is a long as it needs to be. Those who are further along in their career will typically have longer CVs than those who are just getting started in their career.

What type of job is it for?

Resumes are used in various industries because they are shorter than CVs. Sometimes a potential employer may ask for a CV after they have seen your resume.

A CV is mostly used for academic jobs.

When do I update?

You should update your resume when you have a change in education, experience, leadership skills, job skills, and/or receive a reward.

A CV should be updated more frequently than a resume since it includes activities related to your career.

Keep in mind that a potential employer many pull a credit report prior to hiring you. Learn what other things employers may check when reviewing your application.

To learn about other free resources to help you no matter what your financial situation, sign up for our e-mail list or visit our page.

By Colleen Tressler, Senior Project Manager, Federal Trade Commission

Looking for a job can be a full-time job. So when you do come across a promising prospect, you might be tempted to leap before you get a good look.

But job hunters need to know that scammers also are in the mix, posing as real employers. They may pretend to be a business looking to hire, or they may claim they can give you access to special job listings or interviews. Some even guarantee to place you in a job. What’s more, they often advertise in the same places real employers do.

Whatever their angle, job scammers are looking for the same thing — to convince you to send money — or your credit or debit card information — before you catch on to their schemes.

So how do you know when you’re dealing with a scam? The surest sign of a job scam is someone who wants you to pay for the promise of a job. That’s true even when they say they’ve got a job waiting and that the money is for certification or some other fee. If you have to pay, it’s not a job offer.

Some popular job scams to look out for include:

Government and Postal Job Scams: Scammers pretend to have access to special government job listings, or guarantee to get you a job with the postal service. But information about federal and postal job openings is free and available to everyone. Applying also is free. Find out more about federal jobs at usajobs.gov, and postal jobs at usps.com/employment.

Work-at-Home Schemes: Making a great income from home is an appealing prospect. But promises of guaranteed incomes and big returns for little work are the sign of a scam, whether it’s envelope stuffing, craft work, rebate processing, online search work, or medical billing. In reality, you’re left with useless starter kits or certifications, and broken promises.

Mystery Shopping Ads: Getting paid to shop and eat sounds hard to beat, but that email or ad for a mystery shopping job is likely a scam. Con artists send fake checks, convincing you to wire back money before the check bounces. When it does, you’re on the hook for the money you withdrew and sent.

If you’re not sure about a company, check it out with your local consumer protection agency, state Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau, and find out what others are saying by entering the company’s or person’s name into a search engine with the word complaints.

And be sure to check out the FTC’s Job Scams video and learn more at ftc.gov/jobscams, or ftc.gov/EstafasDeEmpleo for Spanish.

To learn about other free resources to help you no matter what your financial situation, sign up for our e-mail list or visit our page.

If you’ve lost a job or want to change career paths, you can take advantage of education and training opportunities to help you build new skills.

The Department of Labor offers training programs through Career OneStop. You can find short-term trainings, certification programs, apprenticeship opportunities and more.

You’ll also find resources for further professional development in your current career and ways to update your skills to be more marketable to employers.

If you’re considering student loans to help finance any training or education, learn the process of applying for student loans and managing student loan debt.

Find more education and training opportunities.

To learn about other free resources to help you no matter what your financial situation, sign up for our e-mail list or visit our page.