Finding work safely

Your first job

• Know what employers in the field ask for. Read the ways in and skills on the career pages →
• Write a CV for each application. Build your CV →
• Use official job services first. Official job services →

Changing career

• See routes from your current job, with the qualifications in between. Plan a route →
• Check pay in the new field before you commit. Pay data by country →
• Short certifications can bridge some moves. Certifications →

Working abroad

• Check how your qualifications are recognised there. Recognition by country →
• Use only licensed recruiters, and never pay a recruiter for a job. Recruitment fee rules →
• Check what the job pays against official figures. Check a pay offer →

Worldwide (ILO)

• The ILO Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), Article 7(1), says private employment agencies shall not charge workers any fees or related costs, directly or indirectly. Countries that ratify it may allow limited exceptions. (Source: International Labour Organization)

South Africa

• Under the Employment Services Act, no one may charge a work seeker a fee for employment services, and a private employment agency may not deduct placement costs from a worker's pay. (Source: Department of Employment and Labour, South Africa)
• The Department of Employment and Labour provides public employment services free of charge, including registering work seekers and job vacancies. (Source: Department of Employment and Labour, South Africa)

United Kingdom

• Recruitment agencies cannot charge you a fee for finding or trying to find you work. They may charge for optional services such as CV writing or training, but cannot make you use them to get work. (Source: GOV.UK)

United States

• Honest employers, including the federal government, never ask you to pay to get a job, and honest placement firms do not usually charge job seekers. Report job scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. (Source: U.S. Federal Trade Commission)

Uganda: jobs abroad

• Recruitment of Ugandans for work abroad must go through labour export companies licensed by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development; its External Employment Unit enforces the rules. (Source: Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda)
• The ministry's EEMIS portal lists jobs abroad and recruitment companies that it has vetted and approved. (Source: Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda)

Check a company on EEMIS →

United Kingdom

• GOV.UK Find a job is the government's service for finding and applying for jobs in England, Scotland and Wales. (Source: GOV.UK (Department for Work and Pensions))

GOV.UK Find a job →

South Africa

• The Department of Employment and Labour registers work seekers and vacancies free of charge through its labour centres. (Source: Department of Employment and Labour, South Africa)

Department of Employment and Labour →