Been invited to a job interview....

[Thisyearisshit]

I cannot find them online at all.

No website, no office address, (the advert says working in local office) if I type the company name or the MD’s name on search engine it’s like they don’t exist.

The email account they use is hotmail, and the phone number looks like a house number as that brings up nothing either on searches.

It’s apparently a family run business for over 10 years so not a new business.
Is it me or is this very odd?

To be honest, the ‘small family owned business’ would put me off the job straight away

Many feel the same, which is a shame because some can be very good

Unfortunately, with others which aren't so good, there's often nobody to approach if things go wrong, and some object to the families grabbing every benefit that's going for themselves

@1WayOrAnother2

Your CV has your address on. Is the fake-interview a way of getting you away from your home for some reason?

Why does your CV have your address on?

But do those type of employers use Indeed
Yes

@kwiksavenofrillsusername the Duchess of Cambridge's parent's business was referred to as a "family owned business".

@Puzzledandpissedoff

To be honest, the ‘small family owned business’ would put me off the job straight away

Many feel the same, which is a shame because some can be very good

Unfortunately, with others which aren't so good, there's often nobody to approach if things go wrong, and some object to the families grabbing every benefit that's going for themselves

This.

Also one sided loyalty, poor security, poor pay, no pension and unpaid overtime. Been there, done that, got the t shirt

Thanks everybody for your input/advice.

I have decided not to go for the interview, the fact it was a small family business already had me a little wary for reasons others have put. The fact that hotmail addresses etc used and that they are not found online anywhere makes me think it won’t be completely above board and if I don’t get on with one member of said family then it might not be a good situation. The company Is a business for care workers, for people who asked.
I’m luckily in employment so am not desperate for this job.
My gut feeling doesn’t feel good so I’m going to listen to it.

Thanks all.

I think they need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission

www.cqc.org.uk/

I think you're being very wise OP, and the fact this involves care staff makes it a major red flag (though not a surprise given some of the types involved in it)

Always listen to your gut - as indeed you have

Contact the agency Indeed for more info

Avoid Avoid Avoid.
Everyone has a trace online. Search company name, email, or anything else you do know. Even a photo dropped into google search shows an electronic tag.
Most companies would even set up online interview even government do that now.
Every employer must also carry out a search of each employee due to immigration rules, so they will be known even if sole teaser, contractor etc.
I personally would go on Twitter ask indeed direct in a post and let them get that to you even in DM . Then explain it and see what comes back.
Anyone suddenly offering any hour you want even after refusing to work for them I would avoid. If they are so secret you won’t know who you work, where or who.

Too good to be true. …Avoid

Sounds like a human trafficking thing

Eh?

Do you think they are using indeed to find traffickers or victims? I'm pretty sure that's not how it works

Can I ask what kind of business it is? Many small companies like plumbers, kitchen/bathroom fitters, electricians etc often work from a home address and will use the likes of hotmail. It is possible that the admin might be from home rather than a conventional office. Unusual not to have website, even a basic one, or at least appear on basic searches but if they are getting their business from local flyers, word of mouth, repeat business etc then maybe they feel they don't need one. You need to understand the business so no harm in asking them for some details prior to interview.

I meant to say, with small businesses that they might well have done all the admin themselves up till now but finding they have enough work to warrant an admin person.

A lady I used to work with, her son was self employed electrician/bathroom/kitchen fitter. He got to that point that he needed someone to do his admin work and asked his mom if she would help put an advert together and hopefully interview people.

She said yes but only if he would interview her for the job first - she got it yayyyyy

It will be MLM. There seems to be an explosion of this at the moment. Did it say you'd be working from home?

Oh sorry hadn't seen your update re care work. Yes that sounds incredibly dodgy so you've made the right decision!

oh i wondered if it was care workers,
they would want staff, good job for being wary ime

although of course every care company as to start somewhere

Are you quite young OP? Someone told me about a job their teenage daughter (18) went to and it was a trafficking ring

I was intrigued by this thread? My 18 year old granddaughter recently got a job as a PA in a ‘production and entertainment’ business?

Very strange hours, cash in hand and she won’t tell me where they are based? I was extremely worried, she lives with me so one day I followed her and she got into an expensive looking 4x4. A man and woman were in the front. I was thinking all sorts.. we have had a fall out over it and she has gone to live with her brother. I’d told him in confidence what I thought this ‘job as a PA’ might entail and he has told her.. she’s furious with me fir this she would do such things.

So I would be very cautious of this job and please be careful 💐

Do you think they are using indeed to find traffickers or victims?

Unlikely, but it's possible Indeed contacted them - agencies do it a lot in a bid to drive up figures, though it's true that the reputable ones wouldn't want to be involved in trafficking

Some care managers do though; I shared a table with one on holiday, who actually bragged how easy it was to visit (insert country) and promise recruits the earth, circumvent immigration by "sponsoring" them and then pay them a pittance once here

She also had the brass neck to moan that they often decamped once here

Lots of company names are registered differently on company house - and trading under a different name. It could well be that.

If there are other red flags then avoid. Is it likely that a care agency might fly under the radar intentionally, so that some of their workers can be paid cash in hand?

@Bebethany

I was intrigued by this thread? My 18 year old granddaughter recently got a job as a PA in a ‘production and entertainment’ business?

Very strange hours, cash in hand and she won’t tell me where they are based? I was extremely worried, she lives with me so one day I followed her and she got into an expensive looking 4x4. A man and woman were in the front. I was thinking all sorts.. we have had a fall out over it and she has gone to live with her brother. I’d told him in confidence what I thought this ‘job as a PA’ might entail and he has told her.. she’s furious with me fir this she would do such things.

So I would be very cautious of this job and please be careful 💐

Oh my god That sounds well dodgy. I hope she’s ok and stays safe.

There are still plenty of small businesses that are not online either because they are not sure how they would fare online or simply because online input takes up too much time they don't have. Nothing sinister or creepy about it.

I run a single person business. I am online because I know how to set up a website. But I rarely use it due to time restraints.

Thank you Plodalong12. The apple of my eye is so naive and thinks I don’t want her to be happy, keeps saying ‘I’m an adult Nan’…