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Home > Archive > Apr 3, 2008

Paying for Jobs
By Mac Mcgee
There have been many instances in which professionals have come to me to say they knew they were going to gain a professional position. They felt this way because they had signed up and paid an agency to find them a job. Oftentimes, these agencies promoted positions with a salary range higher then what their customers were accustomed to. However, since the 'professional placement company' had the contacts, they could secure these higher salaries for their clients.
It is important to note, that while they may place a few people, to stay ahead of law enforcement calling them a scam operation, most do not assist you at all.
You should absolutely NEVER have to pay an agency up front to assist you finding work. This is what is referred to as ‘double-dipping’. Companies that require monies up front in order to send you to a job interview, or that require money once the employer has made a so-called offer of employment, are generally not legitimate.
Some agencies try more subtle approaches, by making you a part of their process. They say they have presented your resume to a client that was “very impressed with your credentials.” Then they say “They are interested, but think the fees are too much for them to bear and wondered if you would cover half of their fee to get you back to work?” They might try to soften the blow with comments like “This way you are helping them to hire you. You would be like a partner with them.”
Again, in no way should you ever be required to split a payment with a company for you to go to work. Nor would any legitimate company operate this way. You should never have to pay any agency registration fees, auxiliary fees, or any other fee to find work.
The Employer’s Representative
When utilizing a legitimate employment agency, the fees are charged to the employer looking for the qualified candidate, and never to the candidate. Those fees vary, depending on the level of service that the placement agency is providing.
Those services range from part-time placements of individuals filling a spot for a person on medical or disability leave, to placing someone full-time on a permanent basis.
Other levels of service include providing the company with a stack of resumes, pre-screening clients, or acting as a front company, so the client/employer can remain anonymous throughout the process, until a final decision is made. Whatever the case may be, this service is paid for by the employer, never by the prospective employee.
Who Pays?
Before you even fill out an agency's paperwork or submit a resume, it is important to find out some key principles about their business.

• Who pays for the service?
• Do they offer full or part-time placements?
• How long have they been in business?
• Are they a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, Etc.?

By finding out who pays, you will determine immediately if they are a legitimate agency or just a facade for scamming people out of what little monies they have left. Most people that “buy” into these operations are looking for opportunities to work and provide for their families. These types of companies pray upon our fears of failure, with the lure of hope and a large payoff.
These scams work best on people who have been out of work for a length of time, or have had limited success with how they are looking for work. A legitimate agency is not afraid to answer your questions of how their operation works.
In my experience, there is no particular occupation or educational background that is more prone to fall victim of these types of scams. It seems to affect all walks of life. However, it is generally most effective on those who get in a desperate financial situation and need to go back to work right away. The old saying “buyer beware” resounds true in the employment business as in any other types of business.             
Mac McGee is an accomplished business owner and published author of self-help employment books, articles and training videos. He has assisted the state employment development department in making presentations about networking and job searching. He has helped thousands of people find full-time permanent employment, personally constructing more than 1,000 resumes. His advice to start-up and existing businesses has produced hundreds of opportunities for business owners. He can be reached at employmentmaster@aol.com.

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