My husband responded to one of these predatory search firms, and I was skeptical. It took a fair amount of effort between searching and correlating information that I could find on Google, Technorati, the Better Business Bureau, etc. before I determined home many differently named “search firms” had been run by the same people out of the same office building. That’s one way to clean up your Google Trail or BBB negatives — change your business name! Frequently!

I’d mention the name of the firm, but they are in the habit – somewhat famously in the blogosphere – for suing parties who “diss” them online – and heaven help anyone who signed a contract with them, agreeing to pay damages if they later complain on any public forum.

Oh, and it would appear that the scammers are getting sufficiently sophisticated that they will have a few contacts, maybe an interview and some questionnaire/self assessments for you to fill out, before they actually tell you that their services come at a hefty fee to the *candidate*. (It’s about first getting someone to psychologically “buy in”, maybe even feel guilty about “how much effort” the recruiter “has already put in”.)I know that my husband was initially told that there would be no fee to the job seeker.

I agree partially with this, especially since I switched careers from engineering to marketing. I used to not understand what people meant by “If you want to get a job, you have to market yourself.” Now that I’ve done marketing, I actually prefer that 1 of its 4P’s called “Promotions.” You have to let people know you’re out there.

Where I don’t agree, however, is this notion that only certain people can sell. We’re all sellers. Those CFO finance guys who say everything is about numbers are doing a sales job. Convincing my lover to go to a certain restaurant over another is a sales job. Getting a job is a sales job. Buying into my Point of View is a sales job.

Have I sold you?

It’d be arranged similar to affiliate marketing on the Internet. The way that usually works is clicking on a link to buy something gives the affiliate a cut of the purchase for leading you there.

I’ve always been a big fan of delegation, and one thing I’d love to delegate is the whole prospecting / filtering portion of job hunting. Unfortunately, I haven’t found exactly how to ensure that the person doing that sifting really has your best interests at heart or just wants to make a quick buck off you, esp. in your time of desperation (when you’ve switched from WANT a job to NEED a job.)

I disagree, though, with this comment: But job hunting is something you should do for yourself. If you can’t, you probably don’t deserve to be hired.

My finance execs understand numbers and many are quite savvy around how numbers work with operations. Most do not understand how to position and market themselves, and they come to me because they recognize that fact.
My point is that people are gifted in different ways. That makes them an excellent choice for the job they are being hired to do, but not necessarily able to function in a role they do not understand how to do or how to do effectively.

Cindy Kraft, the CFO-Coach

Thanks for your practical advise. Actually, Kimberly Schneiderman in NY referenced me via email to your webpage.

I, too, hired an Executive Career Search Expert after searching fruitlessly on my own for 2 years. Three years and over $5k later, I have yet to receive a single interview as a result of their help (although they told me before I signed on the dotted line that I could expect a job within 90 days that paid $89k or higher with a $25k signing bonus!)

So, for 5 years I have been without a full-time job! I cannot comprehend how I could have so many degrees and certifications; a 100% success record of turning around four nose-diving companies into debt-free, renovated, expanded, growing, and cash-flowing corporations; have served on the National Executive Board of an association that oversaw 1/4 million people; and led as a VP for 9 years over a region from NC into the Caribbean and not even have a job offer on the table!

In this economy of seeing corporations, businesses, and companies going out of business (and often due to poor leadership choices or exhorbitant salary demands of execs), I would think that my 25 year track record of bringing viability to near bankrupted businesses would put me in demand!

Oh well……I am just glad for a P-T job as a university prof and Area Chair of a department.

I will look forward to your advice and email postings. Thanks!

ART

Before I read Nick’s book, I talked to them up to the point they asked for $2500.

And, as a career counselor and long-time facilitator of monthly ExecuNet Networking meetings in the NY tri-state area, I would suggest one additional important criteria that will help a job seeker distinguish the good career counselors/coaches from the “crooks”: If you are approached by the career management company, chances are they are anxious to take advantage of you, and take your money!