are jobs on craigslist legitimate?

[sallyjane]

I have been skeptical about responding to nursing jobs advertised on craigslist, but did so yesterday because I am really interested in the one advertised. It is for a hospice service near a city where I live in Minnesota. I found the website for the company and it also does home care as well. On the website, the CAREER page says "Coming Soon"- in which I found odd because this company has been around for several years and should probably have an established CAREER list page (instead of advertising on craigslist). Makes me a bit nervous that they advertise on craigslist and am wondering if they are legitimate or what the deal is. I have seen smaller home care agencies advertise on craiglist-but this particular company (according to it's website) has services in 4 different states. I would love to find out more about this company, but imagine I am not to mention the name of the company here, right? The site also "overstressed" it's relgious commitment, which is very unusual , isn't it? The add stated: "No phone calls please", "If you are compassionate, have a caring heart, and are interested in being a part of a growing hospice service in this area-please contact us." I responded by email to the ad through the listed number with a general letter of interest of application and requested more info. I received a email back from a person at the company claiming to be the Executive Director who is a Licensed Social Worker (the lowest level possible for a social worker and NOT a nurse!) Is that a little odd too? This person's email to me simply stated "please send resume" with enclosed fax #. The phone number is also listed, but I don't dare call, or should I? Sorry if I seem to be a little paranoid, but I have heard some real horror regarding jobs advertised on craigslist. I love hospice nursing and if this is legitimate, I will follow through. Advice or similar experiences shared would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[punkydoodlesRN, BSN, RN]

I landed my first job out of school with a listing on Craig's list. It wasn't a bad place to work, but had to move on due to distance and schedule. I applied just for the heck of it, why not? I was already flooding places with my resume. It was a good gamble for me.

By the way, it was psych facility.

[handyrn]

I currently work for 3 companies doing agency type nursing, all of which I found on Craigslist. I love the companies and they pay well. I figure as long as you are not asked to pay for a job (like the craigslist site warns of) what does it hurt to apply? I can always turn the job down if I don't like it. In fact, I found one on there that I did turn down.

[mediatix8]

I just got low census so I had the time to actually go on craigslist for your state. I found the company you're talking about. I think because they "don't turn anyone away" they most likely are getting donations and that is why I think they mention their religious affiliation a lot on their site. I think they look legit. I also see other sites where they have posted jobs, besides craigslist. And as you mentioned, they are located in 4 different states. I've seen a lot of places say "no phone calls," more so since the economy tanked. So I think it's fine.

[lsvalliant]

I responded to an ad on craigslist and after a quick phone interview the agency asked me to come in for a "paid orientation". I went in and gave them money for a background check (typical right?) It was like an assembly line in there of potential applicants. They never called me after that or returned my calls. Come to find out the orientation is paid only after you work for 40 hours which was in the fine print of a handbook they gave me during orientation and the background check was never done. I requested it months later and they said "oh yeah, uhh we will run it right now for you since we see you paid" GEE THANKS.. Be careful.

[AprilRNurse]

I'm sure like anything else on craigslist...some are legit, others not. I worked for Bayada nurses for awhile.. and got hired from an ad they had on Craigslist. I highly recommend the company..

[RubyRN,CHPN]

I have found several non mainstream contract per diem nursing jobs on Craigslist that have turned out to be with reputable employers. I look a couple times a week for new positions that appear interesting. I haven't been disappointed and from what I understand, their advertising fees are much lower than Careerbuilder and CL's other competitors.

[Murse901, MSN, RN]

Craigslist ads are hit and miss in my area. Sometimes you'll find some good leads, sometimes it's a scam or one of the technical schools advertising (that one never made sense to me - I already have the education... if I didn't, I wouldn't be clicking on your ad that said RN's needed).

On the other hand, the online classifieds for my local newspaper are MUCH more hit and miss than Craigslist, because they use a third-party vendor. TONS of scam ads listed for survey-taking and envelope-stuffing under the heading of RN. They don't even attempt to police the ads, so long as they're paying the $$$ to post.

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

I responded to an ad on craigslist and after a quick phone interview the agency asked me to come in for a "paid orientation". I went in and gave them money for a background check (typical right?) It was like an assembly line in there of potential applicants. They never called me after that or returned my calls. Come to find out the orientation is paid only after you work for 40 hours which was in the fine print of a handbook they gave me during orientation and the background check was never done. I requested it months later and they said "oh yeah, uhh we will run it right now for you since we see you paid" GEE THANKS.. Be careful.

I've never had to pay for a background check. Some agencies have asked me to pay $10 for fingerprinting, which is acceptable to me.

[caliotter3]

I look for job listings on craigslist, but only respond to the ones that identify a company, (or I can find out the company by looking up the phone number). I go to the company and apply in person, like I would normally do. If the job is obviously for an individual, or gives an unpublished phone number, or otherwise can't be identified, I move on to the next ad.

[lvnnars1]

yes, SOME are. I had an interview earlier this week from a post on CL, but watch out for possible scams

[lweatherby]

A Licensed Social Worker can be either a bachelors or a masters level. At least in my state, it is not uncommon for a social worker to be the director of a HH or Hospice. I got a temporary job from craigslist and it was legitimate. It all sounds on the up and up to me.