With Chris "Birdman" Andersen's case finally being sorted out, two pro athletes have been 'catfished' in the last year-plus. Birdman and NFL linebacker Manti Te'o both caught quite a bit of grief in their respective investigations. Andersen was called a pedophile and Te'o was the laughingstock of college football. (Now that Chris Andersen has been cleared, he can get back to getting his own groceries at the store if he chooses. Te'o may never be taken seriously again after what we went through leading up to last season's NFL Draft.)
How To Not Get 'Catfished' In Your Job Search
To avoid going through a catfishing fiasco during your job search, try these tips (we promise they're more real than Lennay Kekua):1. Make Sure The Resume Writing Service You're Using Is Legitimate
Some resume writing companies have created lists of their own that claim their service is best. Some even outsource the writing to people with poor English skills, according to Don Goodman of Got The Job. When you're deciding on a company, make sure you ask for samples they have produced in the past and any client testimonials they have (especially if they're willing to give out a phone number to speak with you).2. Sniff Out The Work-From-Home Scams
There are many false ads and e-mails out there claiming that you can earn large amounts of money for minimal hours at your computer. If you can't find out what the company does and how it makes money from it, then it's probably a scam. There's never been an easy route to making a lot of money (unless you count the lottery, which you obviously can't control).3. Buff Up Your E-mail Protection
The sad truth is that no matter how often you refuse to give out your e-mail address, someone has the capability to find it. The "cream of the crop" scams can occasionally be well-written e-mails, so be skeptical of any unwarranted messages you get . If it's a referral from a person you know but haven't spoken to in a long time, try an alternate form of contact for them in case their account has been hacked, and don't click any links in their message to you until you've spoken to them.4. Don't Lie About Your Work Experience
When you're trying to get a job, the last thing you want to do is mislead your potential employer. If they find out about it, your chances of getting the job are about as good as winning the lottery. Don't catfish any companies out there. We don't need MTV to create a spin-off of their hit show Catfish just for businesses.
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