I suppose this post technically isn’t about scams, per se. A scam, in its simplest form, is when someone takes your money without giving you anything in return.
But what would you call a job listing that misleads you as to the nature of the job, promises a fat paycheck that will never materialize, and comes from a company that dodges basic questions about salary, benefits and basic descriptions of the job?
What would you call a job that promises entry-level employment in the sports or entertainment industry, but really entails going door-to-door for 12 hours a day, selling coupons (that may have something to do with a sports or entertainment venue)?
I know what I’d call it: a scam. Plain and simple.
These advertisements are often found in the Classifieds section of the newspaper, but I’m told they’re just everywhere on CareerBuilder and Monster (as well as every other job search website in the universe). They’re aimed at recent college graduates, but people from all walks of life fall for them. In the current economy, with unemployment running wild, I’m sure more people than ever are applying for these jobs.
So, how do you avoid these less-than-honest job offers?
- Warning Sign #1: The advertisement promises entry-level work in the professional sports or entertainment industries. Sometimes they will list sports teams that are “clients.” Here’s a trade secret about real entry-level jobs in sports and entertainment: they’re all taken. It doesn’t matter when you’re reading this. They’re taken.
- Warning Sign #2: When you call the phone number, they won’t say the name of the company. That’s because they often work under many different names.
- Warning Sign #3: Your first interview is over the telephone. During this interview, you’re told that you’ll “just have to see for yourself.” You will always be granted a second interview. You can tell them you’re an escaped serial murderer, and they’ll still grant that second interview.
- Warning Sign #4: Your second interview consists of being picked up in a junk car and driven to the worst neighborhood in the universe by another employee. You’re handed a stack of coupons and told to take one side of the street. Essentially, you’re working for free that first day. You could also end up stranded in The Worst Neighborhood In The Universe if you protest. And, since you showed up in a suit because you thought it would be a real interview, everybody in TWNITU thinks you’re a banker trying to take their house.
The best defense is just to not answer these ads in the first place. Nobody is handing out jobs in the music business in this (or any other) economy.
Your other best defense is to be informed. Do the following Google search: “[name of company]” scam. You might find out everything you need to know with that one step. Trust your instincts, too—if something about a job offer or interview doesn’t seem quite right, it probably isn’t.
I found a couple excellent articles on this topic, both written by Willy Franzen at One Day, One Job, a site for post-college job hunters:
As far as I’m concerned, both articles are required reading for yourself and for any people between the ages of 16 and 30 you might know. The Landers Group is a company that operates under about a thousand different names, and runs a lot of these schemes.
Is it a true scam? No. Ultimately, it is a job, and I suppose if you sell a lot of coupons in The Worst Neighborhood In The Universe (or elsewhere—they don’t only stick to TWNITU), you might be able to make a few dollars.
Should you avoid it anyway? Yes, yes, and yes.
One more thing you should do: when young people come to your door selling coupons or magazines (“Mag Crews” are a whole other topic, not really fraud-related), be nice to them. They’re very probably stuck in a terrible job very far from home, with no money or way to get back.