Employment Counseling Fraud Awareness Group

Companies making similar offers may advertise high-paying job openings and imply that they have inside contacts through which they can find you employment. Their advertising is designed to make you think they’re an executive search firm. In reality, the extent of their services is to provide assistance with improving your resume, self-marketing, interviewing skills, etc. despite promises or implications of securing employment for you.

Our experience with companies in this industry is that they misrepresent their ability to provide interviews, fail to secure employment for you through their claimed contacts, or do not generate job leads that fit the applicants’ qualifications.

California law requires that contracts with employment services be in writing. The contract must tell you, among other things, what the service will do for you, when they will do it and how much you will have to pay and when. Verbal or written promises or guarantees of employment by counseling services are prohibited, and the contract must include a statement that no such promises are made or implied.

By law, you may cancel a contract with an employment counseling service for any reason within three business days of the date of the contract. The contract must inform you of this right and tell you how to exercise it. It must also state the date of the transaction, on which date the cancellation period begins. We recommend that you read your contract thoroughly before signing and make sure it incorporates any verbal representations or promises that you would expect the company to carry out.

For businesses outside of California, please check with the agency that regulates this industry.