Employment agencies aren’t always working for you
According to industry experts, U.S. corporations announced 95,000 job cuts in June 2002. With so many individuals looking for work, some are bound to become targets for less-than-reputable businesses willing to take advantage of their situation.
If you’re looking for a job, you may come across ads for firms that promise results. Although many such firms are legitimate and helpful, others may misrepresent their services, promote outdated or fictitious job offerings, or charge high, up-front fees for services that may not lead to a job. Some ads may direct you to call a toll-free 800-number. Once you are connected, you may be switched to a pay-per-call 900-number without your knowledge, or you may be asked to call a 900-number without a proper fee disclosure. Both practices violate federal law.
Too many consumers who respond to these ads think they are contacting a bona fide placement service seeking candidates to fill specific jobs.
Instead, they reach a business that creates the impression that consumers obtain employment through use of its “services.” To make matters worse, such businesses typically charge advance fees – ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars.
When you’re looking for help in finding a job, it is important to understand the differences among employment services. Many terms, such as employment agency, personal placement service, executive search firm, or executive counseling service, are used interchangeably. Find out what services a firm offers, how much the services cost and who pays. If you are required to pay the fee, find out what you will owe if the employment service does not find you a job.
Before you send any money responding to job ads or completing job placement contracts, the Better Business Bureau, along with the Federal Trade Commission, suggest you:
• Be suspicious of any employment-service firm that promises to get you a job.
• Even if an employment service firm guarantees refunds to dissatisfied customers, check on its reliability with outside sources like the BBB or local consumer protection offices.
• Do not give out your credit card or bank account information over the phone unless you are familiar with the company and agree to pay for something.
Anyone who has your account information can use it to take money from your accounts improperly.
• Get a copy of the firm’s contract and review it carefully before you pay any money. Understand the terms and conditions of the firm’s refund policy.
If oral promises are made that do not also appear in the contract, think twice about doing business with the firm.
• Follow up with the corporate offices of any company listed in an ad by an employment service, to find out if that company is really hiring.
• Be wary of firms promoting “previously undisclosed” federal government jobs. All federal positions are announced.
• Check with the BBB to see if any complaints have been filed about a company with which you intend to do business.
There are a variety of free and low-cost resources available to help you in your job search, including local and state government job service offices, the Internet, local libraries and universities and community colleges.
For more information or a Reliability Report on a company, call the Better Business Bureau office during regular business hours at (615) 867-0032 or the bureau’s 24-hour information hotline, 242-4BBB, toll free 800-989-4222, or visit our Website at: www.middletennessee.bbb.org.