Ask the Experts: Should job-seekers ever pay a fee to be hired or even just to get help in finding a job?

Question:

Some say that job-seekers should never pay for a job but few would argue against franchisees paying a fee to the franchisor, even if the business ends up employing just the franchisee. Even fewer would argue that it is inappropriate for a job-seeker to pay for tuition, resume writing, interviewing, and job coaching assistance as none of those condition the payment of the fee on the extension of a job offer.

Some colleges charge students a course credit fee in order for the student to accept an internship with a third-party. Some internship companies charge a fee if they find a suitable internship for the student with some of those fees due only if the student accepts the internship while, in other cases, the student needs to pay a non-refundable deposit regardless of whether they accept an internship or not.

Are there times when it is appropriate for a job seeker to pay a fee to help them find a job?

First Answer:

It’s an unfortunate fact, especially during these tough times, that sometimes fees are charged for job-seeking services. I would want to stay away from a service that was being paid both by the job-seeker and by the company.

That said, certain services should be paid for because they provide value. Resume-writing services and job-coaching services are usually well worth the investment because they teach skills that are not taught at most colleges. Since some college grads will pay for those services, it puts the grads that don’t at a disadvantage. Just like you would go out and buy an interview suit, I would recommend buying the services you need to be competitive. Shop around, though, and make sure you are getting your money’s worth.

— Vicky Oliver, author of 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions

Second Answer:

Students should definitely seek the help of a qualified Career Counselor/Advisor/Coach in their job search, but…guess what? They should not have to spend a penny.

There are over 2,500 American Job Centers in the United States that offer FREE Career Coaching, Resume Writing, Interview Training and workshops and individual appointments with Career Advisors about EVERY phase of their job search! All they have to do to reap the benefits of these treasures is to locate the nearest Comprehensive Services Job Center to their area by listing their zip code at the website www.servicelocator.org. These centers also offer PRACTICAL training FREE that helps the new grad who may have studied something theoretical in school that cannot be directly applied to their first entry level job.

Two examples: 

• Sarah graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with great advanced concepts in the discipline but could not get any company to hire her for an entry-level position. After putting CAD Mechanical Drafting on her resume, she landed a great entry-level job designing robots for google within two weeks of completing her certificate.
• Peter graduated from a university with the highest honors in English Literature but the best job he could find after graduation was a $15/hr. position writing advertisements for a small local newspaper. He sought out help for a better-paying job at an American Job Center and was advised to take a $149 course in Technical Writing from a website called www.ed2go.com. With a combination of his degree and a Technical Writing course, he landed a job in a week at four times better pay.

I know these stories because these were my clients when I worked at one of these Centers. They are little-known by most people but deliver terrific results for job seekers and career changers of any age or educational levels – 8th grade education to Ph.Ds, entry level to executives, age 16 to 75. See if you can find a Comprehensive center near you and register for services NOW if you’re looking for a job, trying to break into a new field, changing careers or looking for better pay. Trained and friendly staff will help you realize your dreams and learn the skills to conduct a more effective job search.

— Marky Stein, CEO at work2Future Foundation. Vastly experienced radio and television guest as well as college and corporate speaker with over 25 years of experience working in the Fortune 100/500 sector, as well as government, academic and non-profits. Expert on interviewing, job seeking, changing careers in mid-life, starting and marketing a new business, new student careers and internships, how to break into nearly Impossible occupations and author of 3 bestselling books, with a recent release of From Freshman to Fortune 500: 7 Secrets to Success for Grads, Undergrads and Career Changers.