Canada needs millions of workers. And you just got a Canada job offer right in your inbox. That’s good news? Not necessarily. Know how to check whether the job offer you have received is genuine or not.

Did I Apply for the Job?

The pandemic has resulted in huge job vacancies in Canada. Yet, getting a job offer without actually applying for it is a big red flag. The job market is undergoing churn but there are millions of skilled workers in and outside Canada who are looking for job opportunities in the country.

So, this simple question can help you avoid all fake job offers. If the job offer seems genuine and seems worth pursuing, then it’s better you first ask how the employer knew you are searching for a job. It’s better to play it safe and avoid the offer if you are not satisfied with the answer.

Is the Job Offer Too Generic and Vague?

A job offer is a part of the legal contract that is finalized between the employer and the employee. So, a generic offer that seems as if it can be used for a dozen positions without any change in working and terms and conditions of employment should be a big negative.

No employer creates standardized job offers to be distributed to all candidates. The job offer is connected to your position and the unique duties and responsibilities attached to the same. A vague and generic document claiming to be a job offer is an indication of a scam.

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Is the Language Formal and Professional?

Even the slightest misunderstanding or confusion in the job offer can lead to disastrous consequences for the employer. This is why most job offers are written in a very formal and professional way.

A Canada job offer that uses flowery words and a casual and informal tone should be viewed with caution. Even the smallest business treats the process of hiring an employee as a formal affair. So, go through the offer’s language and tone with a critical eye to weed out frauds and scams.

Can I Get Real-World Confirmation of the Virtual Job Offer?

The pandemic may have forced employers to rely solely on virtual meetings to finalize new hires. However, this does not mean you cannot or should not ask for real-world confirmation from the employer.

Is it possible to call the office on the telephone? Will the employer send a hard copy of the signed job offer via post? Is the employer willing to share details about business legitimacy including the office address, contact info, and other information in public domain?

This is a safe way to confirm the authenticity of a job offer because a genuine employer will never hesitate to share this info while a fake firm will never share this info.

Is the Employer Demanding Money towards Work Permit and LMIA Fees?

The clearest sign that the job offer in your hand is not genuine is if you are asked to pay money to the employer as a precondition to getting the job.

Employers are allowed to help candidates through the work permit process. This is normally done through references to qualified regulated Canadian immigration consultants and attorneys.

The candidate is to bear the cost of the work permit while the rules expressly prohibit employers from recovering the CAN$1,000 LMIA fee from the workers. So, there’s no reason for you to be paying anything to the employer to qualify for the job.

If the employer is genuine and if the offer letter is real, then there won’t be any kind of compulsion on you to work with a specific immigration attorney or the employer for completing work permit formalities.

If you get a job offer letter but are not sure whether it is genuine or not, the easiest option is to work independently with an immigration attorney to verify the credentials of the employer. Every employer hiring a worker under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program must provide proof of business legitimacy to get an approved LMIA.

Being cautious early on and verifying the authenticity of the employer and the offer letter is a much better option than being disappointed later.

Here are three short questions that can help you weed out scam job offers.

• Did I apply for the job?
• Do I have to pay the employer or any representative?
• Has my immigration attorney verified the job offer?

If you answer No to these three questions, then it’s best to simply ignore the fake offer and focus on more genuine options instead.