Find jobs and check adverts
Choose a place to look, read the advert carefully and check who you are dealing with.
1. Look for vacancies
Use a job title and your town or area to begin. Try related job titles too, such as “customer assistant” and “retail assistant”.
This service covers England, Scotland and Wales and links to the Northern Ireland service. You can also check employers’ own careers pages. Read the closing date, location, hours, pay and essential requirements.
2. Understand recruitment agencies
An agency helps employers find people. Ask which employer or role a conversation relates to, whether the work is temporary or permanent, and what happens next. Keep a note of who you spoke to.
Verify the agency through its own official contact details before sharing personal documents. Ask for unclear terms in writing.
3. Check the advert before sharing details
- Find the employer’s website independently. Check whether the vacancy is listed or ask the employer to confirm it.
- Check that messages and web addresses match the organisation they claim to represent.
- Pause if someone pressures you to pay quickly, move money or share bank details before you have checked the offer.
- Be cautious about unexpected offers with little information about the work or recruitment process.
Warning signs do not prove every offer is fraudulent. Verify it through a contact you found independently rather than relying on a link in the message.
Open JobsAware for safe job-seeking advice and reporting options
4. Keep a record
Save the advert and note the closing date. Write down when you applied and what you need to do next.
External information checked 18 October 2026. Links below take you to another website.