Opening for Cybersecurity Program Lead

 

Potential Red Flags

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1. Vague Recruiter Identity and Company

• "Shankar Rao" and "Norwin Technologies": The email is from "Shankar Rao" at "Norwin Technologies," and the body says, "My name is Shankar, and I am working as a Lead Technical Recruiter with Norwin Technologies." While this isn't an outright scam, many legitimate companies use a name/company that can be easily verified. I recommend you Google Norwin Technologies immediately to see if they have a professional website and a verifiable business address (especially since the email says they are "headquartered in Boston").

2. High-Level Role and Requirements with a Short-Term Contract

• Role and Duration Mismatch: The position is a "Cybersecurity Program Lead" requiring "12+ months" of experience, but the "Duration" listed below is only "12 months". A program lead is a high-level, strategic role. Being recruited for such a role on a one-year contract could be a legitimate consulting/contracting arrangement, but it often carries more risk than a permanent position. It could suggest the project is short-lived or that the client isn't fully committed to the vendor.

3. Vague Client Information

• "current role from one of our clients": The email provides no information about the actual client or the industry. A legitimate recruiter will typically share at least the company's industry (e.g., "a major financial institution," "a Fortune 500 defense contractor") to gauge your interest. The lack of this crucial detail is a common tactic in mass-recruiting emails.

4. Aggressive Referral Push

• Referral Program: The prompt for a referral is unusually prominent: "I would really appreciate it if you could refer someone in your network..." While referrals are common, placing this request so early in the conversation, before any meaningful discussion about the role, can be a red flag for a high-volume, low-quality recruiting firm. The offer of a $500 referral fee is also relatively low for a "Program Lead" role.

5. On-Site Requirement for a Non-Local Recruiter

• On-Site in Chesapeake, VA: The job requires the person to be "able to come onsite to the office in Chesapeake, VA on a weekly basis". If the recruiting company ("Norwin Technologies") is truly "headquartered in Boston," and they are recruiting for a job in Chesapeake, VA, this is a normal arrangement for a national staffing company. However, if Norwin Technologies turns out to be a small or unverified firm, this could be a sign of a less-than-ideal setup, as they may have no physical presence or knowledge of the local job market.