Job Scams Surge & Nearly Half of Americans Feel Effects of Government Shutdown

Additional Resources

• New Partnership for Public Service polling
• Job scams on ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn

Transcript

Pete Newsome: 0:00

In today’s job market headlines, Americans are feeling the impact of the government shutdown. Job scams are skyrocketing on LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter, and an Ivy League psychologist says just being yourself is terrible career advice. I’ll get to that in a minute, but first, nearly half of Americans say their federal government shutdown has already impacted their communities. In a partnership for public service poll, 48% said they’ve noticed tangible impacts from the shutdown. That includes things like slower mail, delayed benefits, or canceled services. The survey shows 69% of Democrats, 38% of independents, and 27% of Republicans report seeing the effects firsthand.

0:41

The partnership’s president, Max Dyer, summed up the situation by saying, our government employs over 2 million people across the country, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to see how much of a burden the public is carrying from this completely avoidable shutdown. He also warned that the worst effects are yet to come, and nearly half of the respondents in the survey seem to agree, saying they’re worried about what will happen next if mass federal layoffs start to kick in. It’s too early to tell how widespread the layoffs will be if they happen at all, since the Trump administration’s plans for job cuts are currently held up in court. Polls like this show that federal jobs go way beyond Washington bureaucrats.

1:21

And when those jobs disappear or go unpaid, everyone eventually feels it. The question is, how long will this linger? Today’s day 20 of the shutdown, which makes it the third longest in history. And unfortunately, as the time I’m recording this, there’s no end in sight. Now let’s switch to something every job seeker needs to hear. Fake job listings continue to spread on major platforms like LinkedIn and ZipRecruiter.

1:46

NBC News reports that scammers are increasingly creating job posts that are nearly indistinguishable from real ones using spoofed recruiter emails or hacked accounts from legitimate companies like JP Morgan. According to the Federal Trade Commission, online job scams are up 19% this year, costing Americans nearly $300 million, with the average victim losing about $2,000. These scams often ask applicants for personal information like Social Security numbers, bank accounts for quote, direct deposit, or even upfront equipment purchases paid for with fake reimbursement checks.

2:22

Cybersecurity experts say many of these schemes trace back to criminal networks in Southeast Asia, the same groups behind romance and investment scams. As the labor market slows with fewer jobs being created, more desperate job seekers are being targeted. And the sad part is people fall for these scams because they’re operating in a system that already feels dehumanized. And as I’ve said many times before, AI and automation tools like OneClick Apply, that one in particular drives me insane.

2:50

They’ve made hiring so impersonal that it’s easier than ever to fake it. Canots are fighting algorithms, ghost postings, and AI job-generated ads. And now they have to worry about whether the job is even real or it’s a complete scam. And that’s not progress at all from technology. It’s just complete chaos. Hiring should be personal, it should not be a volume game. And it’s on employers, the platforms, and yes, recruiters like the ones that work for me at my company to make the process transparent and human again. Let’s end on something potentially useful for your career. 

3:27

A Columbia University psychologist says just being yourself at work is terrible advice. In his new book, Don’t Be Yourself, Why Authenticity is Overrated, and What to Do Instead, Tomas Tomorrow Permusic describes four authenticity rules to avoid in the workplace and in life. Here’s what they are: always be honest with yourself and others, be true to your values and follow your heart no matter what. Don’t worry about what others think of you, and bring your whole self to work. Here’s a quote that sums up his thinking. A world in which everybody is just focused on being themselves and expecting others to adapt to their uncensored, uninhibited, or unedited self is a self-obsessed, egotistical, and antisocial world, not something we should aim for. That’s pretty direct. He’s been doing this a long time, and it’s all backed by science. 

4:19

So, what does he say you should do instead? Adapt and evolve, actively seek direct, even harsh feedback, and pay close attention to how others see you, and then adjust your behavior to fit the situation you’re in. Now, if you’re someone who’s surprised to find out that authenticity above all else isn’t the best approach, this book might be worth a read.

4:40

And I can say from my own experience that I found people who are most successful do a great job of reading the room and are the most adaptable. So it’s advice I definitely think is worth paying attention to. Here’s a fun fact to close today. Did you know that procrastinating on a project can actually increase focus inefficiency? Researchers say stepping away briefly allows your brain to keep processing ideas in the background.

5:07

So sometimes that last minute burst of productivity really is science at work and not just waiting till the last minute. It certainly makes me feel better about my approach over the years where I have been too big of a procrastinator at times. Well, maybe that’s been for a much better reason than I thought. So I won’t feel bad about it anymore. So those are your headlines for today. Thank you for listening. Please like, subscribe, share with anyone who might be interested. And as always, I welcome your feedback. Talk to you tomorrow.