Predatory employers / franchise sales - beware!

[Anonymous]

If your new / recent grad or young adult is job searching, please warn them of the network of MLM-like marketing franchises with employers looking to recruit young people into door to door sales - via promises of training programs and salaried positions.

There are actually working with larger companies (SmartCircle, Cydcorp, Citicorp are some of the names) who operate through these smaller “companies”. They obfuscate the job details up front, so they can really take advantage of young people who may not be able to discern their tactics. They will be promised a salaried position only to end up at kiosk sales in big box stores training to sell AT& T phone plans and similar products in high pressure sales, on commission. These are long days pounding the pavement and on their feet, not office positions.

A lot of young people who post resumes online via job portals like Indeed or Zip Recruiter may be targets - they often get notices of “marketing” opportunities without ever having applied. These workplaces will offer titles like Junior Account Exec to young people with zero experience in the field. No benefits.

It’s just short of a very predatory pyramid scheme. Our young adult was days away from accepting a job that seemed too good to be true. We helped them do some research and it didn’t take long to see this is sadly a broad network of individuals operating borderline fraudulent schemes nation wide. And they’re very dishonest about the details of the jobs and pay. It’s almost cult-like and high demand for long days and pay based on commission.

Spread the word! These companies flourished during the pandemic and are still preying on young people with false claims and promises of salaried positions.

Good luck to all our kids looking for employment! Just stay away from these types of jobs, or at least be aware that they’re not at all what they seem on the surface, and young people can get taken advantage of.

[Anonymous]

This happened to me fresh out of college ten years ago. I was so irritated that I paid for $$$$ parking in Georgetown to attend an "interview" in a shabby office (that looked like it had been thrown together the day before) with about ten other people. The second 'round' (I quit before then) was evidently doing door-to-door sales!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This happened to me fresh out of college ten years ago. I was so irritated that I paid for $$$$ parking in Georgetown to attend an "interview" in a shabby office (that looked like it had been thrown together the day before) with about ten other people. The second 'round' (I quit before then) was evidently doing door-to-door sales!

For me it was 2 decades ago. The day prior I get a confirmation for an interview in the supposed "fast-paced mgmt. training" program--turns out it was for a fast food franchise moving to my hometown city. Fortunately had the opportunity to cancel.

[Anonymous]

Outrageous that it just continues on! Did more research and there’s an entire subReddit thread called \Devilcorps which is helpful in identifying these organizations because they often close, and then re-open using new names. There is also a video on YouTube where people who have gotten into these situations are being interviewed. It’s always young energetic impressionable people often looking for their first jobs. I hope the word will spread to young job seekers so they can steer clear!

[Anonymous]

This just happened to my recent college grad (who has a FT job). He was approached by a MLM while shopping at Walmart. He and I had a nice talk about these types of “businesses”.

[Anonymous]

Lol, I remember my stepbrother coming home from his first year of college proudly displaying the set of knives he'd purchased as his "sales kit" for the "summer job" he'd been "recruited for" on campus. I think my stepdad bought one knife, and that was it.

[Anonymous]

Oh yes Cutco knives!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh yes Cutco knives!

My parents have one Cutco knife.

[Anonymous]

These get rich quick schemes prey on students in tight labor markets. I can’t believe the knife selling companies still exist! Others include, insurance, financial services and modeling offers. I quickly reminded DC that if it requires upfront costs, tell you to sell to family and friends and/or lacks an offer letter detailing your pay and benefits then it is a scam.