Should I Pay Others For Help???

This past week I received a text from a job seeker that I’ve been trying to support with a question of whether I’d ever heard of a company called Executive Branding. He further inquired as to whether I thought he should try something like them, or if it is just another “all care, no responsibility” con. I replied that I had not heard of them, thus I had no idea as to what kind of company they are. I added that I never recommend individuals pay for services to help get them a job. 

I also recalled a Wall Street Journal article from February 8, 2026 entitled, “Job Hunters Are So Desperate That They’re Paying to Get Recruited,” with a trailer of “Tough labor market for white-collar workers turns age-old recruiting model upside down.” I shared it with my Minnesota Ministry Partner lead, Harry Urschel, to get his take on it, and we quickly found ourselves in violent agreement.   

Here are a few highlights from the Wall Street Journal article:

• “Landing a white-collar job is getting so tough that candidates—not companies—are paying recruiters to match them with positions.
• Reverse-recruiter models vary, but many require job seekers to pay them part of their salary once they accept a job. Others charge a set rate to submit applications on a candidate’s behalf.
• “These companies are really good at marketing, and I think job seekers that are vulnerable can be easily swayed,” (Ken Jordan, Purple Gold Partners)
• Some folks just don’t have time to do it, some folks are scared, some folks are unemployed and on their last effort,”

Why You Should Seriously Consider Your Options Before Paying to be Recruited for a Job

Now, here are some extracts from my exchange with Harry’s point of view, along with additional thoughts from me:

1. “These kinds of things pop up every few years, and they are a BAD idea.”

Harry went on to remind me about a company called The Arthur Group that operated in Minnesota claiming to help people get jobs.  But then the state Attorney General shut them down after they had taken in over $3 million in fees without one person they could point to that they definitively placed into a job. I’m not saying that all of these companies are cons, but the phrase “buyer beware” certainly applies.

2. “I think many of them (the companies) have good intentions, but they really don’t have a better ability to get someone a job than the person can do on their own.”

We both believe that the process a person goes through to develop their resume, make networking contacts, practice their pitch, and work through their STAR stories for interviewing is a wonderful process to go through. Getting help along the way, whether it’s coaching or assistance is a terrific way to go, but you don’t need to pay for it.  

3. “They (the companies) succeed because people are in desperation mode.”

While desperation can at times prompt amazing creativity, most of the time it causes people to make decisions that they wouldn’t normally make.  The duress of desperation causes us to do things we later regret.  We reach the point of losing hope about a certain situation, and then we reach out for something that our common sense and logic may usually tell us isn’t a great idea, but…in this instance, we go for it. Ugh!   

4. “Don’t let your fears cause you to make bad decisions.”

One of my good friends has often shared with me that the most powerful sales tool is called FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out.   Think of all the sales pitches you may have heard.  How many of them played that card somewhere in the pitch – – something like, “24 hours only,” or “For you, my friend, if you act now…”, or “We have a show special going on right now that ends when the show ends.”  The appeal that these companies have, whether they say it or not, is that they can do something you can’t do, and you should be afraid of that!   Wrong answer!  You CAN do this, and in fact, you are advantaged if you DO IT yourself.

Crossroads Guides Offer FREE Advice to Job Seekers

For ALL of what is mentioned above, a Crossroads Guide is a great answer!  A free service because our Guides want to minister to you. They are serving this way because they feel called by God to serve. They get nothing in return other than the fulfillment of serving, and the incredible joy and peace from God knowing that they are His hands and feet here on this earth. Click here to schedule a free 45 minute call with one of our Guides.

What Does Scripture Say About Reverse-Recruiters?

What does Scripture have to say? Absolutely nothing about reverse-recruiters or companies offering to provide you a service. 🙂

But, Scripture has a LOT to tell us about fear and desperation.

Here are just a few of God’s faithful promises:

• Deuteronomy 31:8 “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
• 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”
• Psalms 34:4 “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears”
• Psalms 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
• 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

I’d encourage you to google “Bible fear and desperation” and soak in the many verses that the search will reveal. God does NOT want us to be fearful and desperate in this world because we can trust Him! He is trustworthy and able to provide for us!

There are many services that I pay others for, but I would not recommend you pay others to market you as a candidate. Take stock of who God made you to be, and the wealth of experiences, talents, skills, and abilities He gave you. Ask for His guidance. Get a Guide’s listening ear and counsel. Then move forward WITH Him!

Flourish with the confidence of knowing that God is with you and listens to the cries of His children! Particularly when we’re fearful and desperate. Blessings!

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Dave Sparkman currently serves as the volunteer Crossroads Career board chair and local ministry leader. He is also the founder and managing director of Spark Your Culture, a corporate culture consulting firm. Prior to that he worked at UnitedHealth Group, a Fortune #5 public company, serving in the role of Chief Culture Officer. His unemployment experience came from the implosion of Arthur Andersen, where he served as the West Region Managing Partner, People.