When you, or your teen offspring, decide that the time has come to get a job, to make some cool cash, Rockin in the Free World (or maybe that would be your grandparents?) -- a job offering a LOT of cash can win the day. Unfortunately, the ads for these jobs can be quite misleading, for the young people reading them, and for the parents hoping they will have a fun first job experience.
Before being tempted to go all out and apply for a big money job-- and the money is a big lure for any of us, face it-- a little research is not a bad thing.
Here are some examples of "jobs" that are often actually scams to watch out for:
Money Mule/Reshipping Jobs - Getting paid to receive and reship packages/money from others. This usually involves laundering money from theft/fraud.
Social Media Promotion - Jobs asking you to artificially inflate social media metrics through fake accounts, bots, etc. This is considered spam.
Free Product Testing - Having to pay for certification or purchase product samples upfront before getting paid to test them.
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| Getting "recruited" at a "Make Over Party" |
Work-from-Home Scams - Fake customer service, data entry or other remote jobs that require paying upfront fees for training, equipment, etc.
The above are potential scams targeting young people for unethical work. So what exactly is an ethical job?
DEFINING AN ETHICAL JOB
Defining what makes a job ethical can involve several important considerations:
Fair labor practices: An ethical job should provide fair wages, reasonable working hours, safe working conditions, and respect for workers' rights, including the right to unionize and collective bargaining.
Respect for human rights: The job should not involve any activities that violate fundamental human rights, such as forced labor, child labor, or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or other protected human rights.
Environmental responsibility: The job should minimize negative impacts on the environment and promote sustainable practices, such as reducing waste, conserving natural resources, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
Social responsibility: The job should have a positive impact on society and contribute to the well-being of the community, either directly or indirectly, by providing beneficial products or services or supporting social causes.
Ethical business practices: The employer should operate with transparency, integrity, and accountability, adhering to ethical standards and avoiding practices such as bribery, corruption, or unfair competition.
Personal values alignment: The job should align with an individual's personal values and ethical principles, allowing them to feel a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their work.
Work-life balance: The job should provide reasonable accommodations for personal and family commitments, ensuring that employees can maintain a healthy balance between their professional and personal lives.
It's important to note that the definition of an ethical job can vary depending on individual perspectives and cultural contexts, but these points provide a general framework for evaluating the ethical aspects of employment opportunities.
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| 25 ideas for ethical starter jobs |
Of course, there is potential for violations of ethics in "regular" jobs-- "expectations of overtime" is one that I hear about from young people when working somewhere that is short-staffed, and a young person I know complained to me about feeling harrassed by another employee in a supervisory position. But ultimately there is the good possibility of having a safe and ethical resolution to most issues that arise.
Retail associate (clothing store, bookstore, etc.)
Restaurant server or host
Barista or cafe worker
Grocery store clerk or bagger
Library assistant
Office assistant or receptionist
Pet sitter or dog walker
Tutor (academic subjects, music lessons, etc.)
Lifeguard
Summer camp counselor
Landscaping or yard work
House cleaning or housekeeping
Babysitting
Food delivery (restaurants, groceries)
Call center representative
Data entry clerk
Social media assistant
Virtual assistant
Online tutor or teaching assistant
Freelance writer or editor
Graphic designer
Website tester
Market research participant
Rideshare driver (if age requirements are met)
Freelance photographer
These jobs generally have flexible hours, don't require extensive experience, and allow young people to earn money while gaining valuable work experience in a ethical manner. (See my article: Turning Gap Year Jobs into Future Success)
great article! we definetly need to be more mindful, especially since scams can happen at any given time.
ReplyDeleteVery wise-- and it seems that the scams change form fairly often, so mindfulness is indeed very important. Thank you so much for your comments!
DeleteInsightful! It’s hard nowadays to differentiate between legit jobs and ones that seem too good to be true.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds right. I have not had an offline job for several years but when I did work, and apply for jobs, it was pretty clear what was an actual ethical job and what was something to beware of. Thanks for your comments!
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