Are Paid Services to the Jobless Ethical?

17 February 2009

1 minute read

Are Paid Services to the Jobless Ethical?

As the global recession deepens, so is a new professional niche: providing services to job-seekers, from social networking forums to resume makeovers and career-change advice.

Many service providers (eFinancialCareers among them) don't charge job-seekers any fees. But other established services for seekers do come at a price - the career coaching industry comes to mind. And some newer venues seem to occupy a gray area: they're free for now, but may begin charging for certain services once their business model is fully built out.

Is it ethical for anyone to charge fees for providing any type of services to individuals who are currently jobless? If so, which particular sorts of services - such as job leads, online or in-person networking opportunities, or interviewing advice - do you think jobless people should have to pay for, and which should be funded exclusively by someone other than job-seekers?

AUTHOReFinancialCareers News

Insider Comment

3 comments

mi
michaelpearl
25 February 2009
It depends solely on the Arrangement and the agreement concerning all parties involved. If pay for play is intact then there should be absolute transparency and well worth the money.
How ever, I do believe there are other ways to pay recruiters that may be more advantageous than money. I also believe that if money is paid it should be done fair, affordable and without strings.
No ambiguity!
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ba
bachhawat
24 February 2009
I don't think its unethical, but the model could be structured in a way where you charge the job seekers only if the leads or coaching directly results in a job. That way you avoid burdening job seeker financially and at the same time genuine service provided by these companies gets compensated.
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Ra
Raziuddin
19 February 2009
it's totally unethical but could be the other way too. Since some one is guiding or helping an un-employed to be readjusted somewhere as an employed person. At the stage after getting the job it is the duty of the candidate to compensate/donate the agency or an individual who is giving his own time to settle down an un-employed.
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