Job Hunting Scam 101

I received the following email this morning:

I’ve been approached by an employment agency that said it has a job for me, I’m a shoe-in and she’d work for me to get the job, she'll redo my resume, I’d be her client and that  because she's doing so much for me, I’d be the one to pay the fee. What are your thoughts?

First, I view any person or company that would ask for a fee from a person who is looking for employment as highly suspect at a minimum and very likely predatory. If I were you, I’d walk away. For one thing, let’s look at this for what it is: No one can promise they’ll get you a job; that’s something only you can accomplish. So how can this person tell you she’d work for you to get the job? Getting the job is your job. My next question is who is regulating this woman and/or the company she represents? No one. That means you’d have absolutely no recourse if you paid this woman and did not get what you paid for.  She may give you a new spin on your resume, which makes you think she's really working for you, but that's just bait on the line. Don't bite!

Over the years, I’ve known people who bought into this sort of “deal” and over and over again, I’ve seen the same result: The person who paid for employment services is without a job and the money they paid for a job within a couple of months. While the FTC (http://www.ftc.gov/jobscams) says many employee paid services are legit, I respectfully disagree and believe that 99% are not. So good luck with finding that 1%, the proverbial needle in the haystack. Your time and efforts are better spent seeking and utilizing the many legitimate ways there are of finding employment. 

Lastly, if you have to ask, then something inside of you is telling you that this is not a an up and up deal. Listen to that inner-voice.

Bottom-line: Don't pay to be employed. You're better than that.

To your success,
Rita

A half truth is a whole lie.