As graduation nears and job hunt stress rises, Baylor University students are finding that not all job offers are what they seem.
Many students have recently reported receiving suspicious text messages posing as legitimate job or internship opportunities. The messages are even coming from companies they’ve already applied to through platforms like LinkedIn, Handshake, or Indeed.
Baylor senior Brinley Darling, who has been actively applying for jobs, said the messages have made an already overwhelming process even more confusing.
“Getting these text messages about internships at the same places I’ve applied to has been really weird,” Darling said. “I get confused very easily.’’
Darling said some of the messages seem believable enough that she and her friends have had to do multiple checks to be sure they’re not falling for a scam.
“I haven’t seen anyone actually fall for one, but I have friends who are really gullible,” Darling said. “It’s easy to see how they might fall into the trap if they weren’t triple checking everything.”
To help students avoid scams and apply with confidence, Baylor’s Career Center encourages students to slow down and seek guidance before responding to offers.
“If you’re just going to fire up your phone, do a quick search, put in a few keywords and roll the dice, that’s where you might run into trouble,” Ken Buckley, Assistant Vice Provost of the Baylor Career Center, said.
Buckley said the Career Center can help students identify red flags and verify listings. With a team dedicated to student success, he added that students are much more likely to find real opportunities they’re excited about when they work with advisors.
“When you get engaged in the process, especially with a group of people who care deeply about your success, it gives you a much better chance of finding the right opportunity,” Buckley said.
Students are encouraged to report suspicious job messages to the Career Center and take advantage of their resources before clicking any links or providing personal information.