What to do if a firm contacts you and wants to “help you find a job”
RUN!
The internet is full of services offering to “help” you find employment. Candidates we’ve spoken with state that the only thing magical about these firms is they make your money disappear.
Now, to be clear, they are not all bad and there have been some legitimate search firms that have been falsely accused of being Employment Agencies, simply because they offered Job Search Assistance. Don’t think for a minute that a legitimate search firm is working for you to find you a job just because you paid them for job search assistance. We understand that anyone contemplating a job search is in new territory. Hopefully, this article will help you avoid the pitfalls of job searching. If you have never job hunted before, even the conception of a job hunt is a daunting experience and anyone offering to ease that transition will at least at first seem attractive. But what is it all worth?
Most of these firms want about $5,000. Recently we discovered one that offered this kind of ”help” service and wanted $30,000.00!
You’re a grown up. If you spend money, make sure you know what you are spending it on. No organization can guarantee you a job. The very notion is ridiculous. We found 1 firm that claimed they had a 90% success rate, think for a minute, if a firm could actually find you a position with 90% accuracy, why wouldn’t they take their money after you get the job?
We have yet to see a firm who charges an up front fee, claiming they will find you a job that actually could substantiate the claim.
If you have been successful in your career you can do the job hunt, probably better than they. If you need advice hire a consultant by the hour that has some legitimate accreditation but do not expect them to find you a job. Use their knowledge to do your own job hunt. You are smart enough to do this. No person or firm can possibly control an employer’s opinion of what you offer? If you have been a hiring manager you already know this.
Here is the moral of the story;
Don’t hire anyone to find you a job.
As former Search Firm owners and operators, it is our opinion (and is supported by the industry) that all you need is a solid résumé and someone with an appropriate opening to read it. If you fit the job perfectly on paper, in the interview, and you are truly a better candidate than your competition, the employer is going to hire you even if the recruiter says not to.
If you feel you have been a victim of one of these firms, send us an email and we will give you some ideas on how to get some money back. Email us at Admin@Jacksonstevensresumes.com.