Staying Safe During Your Job Search

Here at Meridian, we pride ourselves on the quality of employers on our site. However, looking for a new job frequently involves the exchange of personal information with strangers which is why job seekers are an enticing target for cybercriminals. Though we take our time to vet captains and hiring managers we work with it is also important that you take the time to do your research prior to providing the information.  Below are some tips and tricks to help you protect yourself during your job hunt both on and off our platform.

Red Flags

• Employers generally will use boat email addresses when hiring like chiefstew@motoryachthappy or captain@myfreedom. This is not always the case but if you do see an email address that looks suspicious the likelihood is that it is.
• Most employers will not ask you to send additional photos of yourself such as full-length photos or anything that might seem inappropriate. Although some vessels may require these for certain positions make sure that if you do send anything you verify that this is a legitimate hiring employer first.

Do Your Research

• If the vessel name is listed or the employer provides the name make sure to research it to see if it is a legitimate yacht. Sometimes you may not be able to find anything online but it is good to see what you are able to find!
• You can search the internet for the person that you are meeting to see whether they are a real person or not. If you cannot find anything related to their personal life, there’s something fishy, and you should be aware of it. 
• Contact Meridian  to confirm the legitimacy of the job listing if you are unsure. We will be able to confirm a scam listing by checking the database.

Don’t Send Money

• Never send money to an employer you meet online, especially by wire transfer, prepaid cards, or money transfer apps.
• If you are hired by an employer in another country they should not have you pay for flights to get to a vessel. Make sure that you clarify this beforehand.
• Never provide the credit card information to an employer. Never provide bank account information to employers without verifying their identity.

Think Before Sending Sensitive Info

• Legitimate employers will ask for personally identifiable information (PII), such as social security numbers and bank account information for payroll purposes, AFTER hiring crew.
• Rather than sending a copy of a document via an email attachment, it’s wise to send a sharing link instead. Use Meridian PROFILEshare.

In-Person Interviews

• If you are meeting an employer make sure that you meet in a public place if it is not onboard the vessel.
• Make sure to tell a friend where you're going. If you decide on another place you hadn’t planned on, text a friend to let them know your new location.
• Be in control of your own transportation to and from the interview so that you can leave if you need to. Even if the employer offers to pick you up, avoid getting into a vehicle with someone you don’t know.
• Trust your intuition. If you feel uncomfortable, leave or cut off communication with whoever is making you feel unsafe. Do not worry about feeling rude—your safety is most important, and the hiring employer should understand that.

The job hunt can be stressful enough without worrying who has your personal information. By taking the above steps you can help protect yourself from cybercriminals. If you ever have any questions or concerns with any employer on Meridian please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help ensure your safety on our site and will be happy to investigate any concerns you might have. As always, Meridian is here for you every step of the way!

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The information provided in this publication is intended for guidance only. We make every attempt to ensure the information included in this publication is accurate and up-to-date. However, Meridian° makes no warranty or guarantee regarding the accuracy of the information within this publication. We recommend, in all cases, seeking specialist advice so that your individual circumstances can be fully considered. 

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