Illegitimate job recruiters exploit unsuspecting PVCC students

By Nathan J King, March 2010
State News Editor

In large boldface print atop white or yellow construction paper the fliers read “Extra Cash” and “$2000 Part-time.” These unregistered job listings can found at Paradise Valley Community College on the 14 campus bulletin boards and often inside of the classrooms.

According to Norma Chandler, manager of Career Services at PVCC, that the unregistered fliers reappear as quick as they are removed. “This is a worsening problem,” said Chandler, ”money for free labor.”

Chandler explained that these “high pressure” sales recruiters target the freshman body, those who have never been employed and do not understand commission based pay rate.

“This appears to be a bait and switch,” to the inexperienced student who turn up in Chandler’s office with their “horror stories, feeling used, conned and really bad emotionally, sometimes crying.”

Chandler recalls a student showing up to a “sleazy dump” that in turn gave her the “heebie-jeebies.” “Even in some instances” said Chandler, the fliers are “falsely approved” by a fictitious college.

Career services does not allow commission-based job postings on campus, with the exception of realty groups, because real estate courses are offered at the campus.

Multi-level marketing companies like Vector Knives are also not permitted on campus, noted Chandler, due to the “multi-level” installment payment programs that the Freshman student is commonly unaware of, through the “investment companies.”

Career Services offers resume creation, a job search program and coordinates campus job fairs. “Beware,” concluded Chandler ,“if it sounds too good to be true--it probably is.”