When I walked away from my teaching job in early October, I activated my LinkedIn account to Premium to look for possible other jobs. I am NOT inclined to go back into the classroom, although I might to finish the school year in the right setting. I was looking for something outside, preferably where I could be (at least largely) virtual (which might allow me to continue when we move in 5-6 months to a LifeCare community). I do NOT have a CV on LinkedIn. I do list my teaching, and also things like blogging, writing, project management, and sales. My most recent CV is all about teaching. I have another document which covers a lot of what I did before becoming a teacher, but that experience is 3 decades ago, and the CV itself makes clear I have been a teacher over the past 3 decades.
In early December it started. I got a LinkedIn message from a woman who claimed to be the assistant to the VP of a wine company. She said that they were recruiting for a virtual position and I seemed to fit what they were looking for. She asked for a CV, so I emailed it and the other info. She had a profile on LinkedIn which listed her at that company.
Shortly later I got an email from a woman who gave her name as a Latina and asked me to set uo a WhatsApp account to communicate, so I did. Turns out she is of Chinese background, at least as far as both her picture and the Chinese name she later gave me. She was recruiting me for a position that would pay at least 50% more than any salary I had ever had, and with job responsibilities beyond what I had done in any capacity (but all things I believe I could easily do). She told me that they paid in crypto (this will become relevant down thread). I said that in that case I was not interested. She then said well they might make an exception in her case. She had a linked in profile which identified her with that company. But I inquired of the company through their website, and they never heard of her and said they had complained to LinkedIn about people misrepresenting themselves as being part of the company and offering people jobs. Shortly thereafter I got a phone call from the woman who tentatively offered me the job, although I did not accept.
But this is just the start of the saga.
Near the beginning of this month I got another inquiry through LinkedIn. This time the woman had an Asian last name. Her LinkedIn profile showed a woman of Asian profile who listed an education in part at the same technical university in Singapore from which the first woman had said she had two degrees. She also claimed a degree from Harvard. We never got to the details because I pushed for some clarification and she fairly brusquely told me if I were not interested not to bother, and then disconnected from me on LinkedIn. She had said she worked for “Wine company” as a Vice-president and was setting up an operation in Los Angeles, a similar tale to what the first woman (if in fact it was a woman) had said.
Next through LinkedIn a got a message ostensibly from a Latino male describing himself as assistant to the VP (sound like my first contact?) recruiting for a building supply company looking for someone to work remotely. He asked for a CV. I sent my teaching CV and the document with the other work history. He described the position and asked me to examine the responsibilities. More out of curiosity, I said there was nothing out of my capability but I would have to learn the industry. I meanwhile researched the company, which is based in a mountain state. My next contact was a message directly to my phone (which of course is listed on my CV) by a person saying her name was Cindy, that she was Asian and a VP of the company and was setting up a branch in LOS ANGELES (seeing the pattern?) and asking if I were interested in being operations manager of that branch beginning in about a month. She said the job paid 200K with possible bonuses of up to 30%, stock options, and I would have to be willing to travel to LA every three to four weeks but would be reimbursed. I was asked if I preferred to be paid traditionally or in CRYPTO (again!). The phone she was using had an exchange based in Irving TX — now i have a relative by marriage whose cell is a Brooklyn number which she has kept first while in graduate school in WI (including time doing research in Africa) and now in VT, so I know that’s possible.
And then two days ago I got a request through LinkedIn which said it had suggested me to her and after looking at my resume she wanted to connect. Her LinkedIn profile had a picture — which looked somewhat similar to the first “lady” but not identical. It claimed an education in part at HARVARD. She was NOT offering employment. I did a connection to try to communicate back, and then her original message disappeared.
so, a couple of comments/observations. Why am I being contacted apparently by Asian women much younger than me for employment? Why does anyone think I would be interested in Crypto? Why would anyone based on my profile at LinkedIn ever consider me for jobs paying far more than I have ever made requiring skills I have never demonstrated in industries about which I know nothing?
Are they trying to hook me into Crypto? Why me?
I have NO IDEA. But it has been somewhat amusing, however unreal it all has been.
So several cautions.
It is find to apply for jobs that are posted on LinkedIn about which it notifies you, but check them out first.
Be suspicious of circumstances where the person initiating contact with you only wants to communicate through LinkedIn or WhatsApp and NOT through a phone line tied to the company.
Peace.