Questionable employment agency practices
 

Wasinc, a US based employment agency has circulated an email to all members on its database asking for a $45.00 “processing fee”. The carrot is a possible interview with a Japanese carrier.

To my knowledge, this is the first time contract agencies have asked for up-front money from pilot applicants, something which was previously confined to EasyJet I believe.

Not too difficult to do the math, doesn’t take that many applicants to make them very rich people. To my way of thinking, this is a scam; any comments?

Not a 'scam' as such, just another sad sad direction this industry is heading :( Making money out of those who are desperate to find employment.......... and only for a 'possible' interview at that!!!! :mad:
Oh, by the way, it's Ryanair, not EasyJet that charges - well, not yet anyway!

Employment agencies and questionable practices go together like bacon and eggs.

In the US, it is *not* customary for employment agencies to charge a fee to applicants. The employers pay any fees. Also, each agency has to be registered as such in the state where they do business--if you go to the state's website, you should be able to find info about the agency.

In the UK it is illegal, under the Employment Agencies Act 1973, to charge candidates either for placements or to arrange introductions. If this organisation is operating or advertising in the UK they should be reported to the Department of Trade and Industry.

Paying a Fee to a apply for a job, has been around for as long as I been flying. Its closing on thirty years now. This sort of stuff comes up more during down times in the industry. There is two ways to do this, one pay the fee, its just the cost of doing business, and two is pure bull**** and the hell with it. I fall with the second . I look at it this way, if a 1000 pilots pay the fee its 45000. Thats a lot of money just to put a stack of resume's in the round file. I don't belive you should have to pay a fee just to apply for a job, its that simple. Either you are looking for pilots or you are not. Now if you choose to pay the fee, I don't have a problem with it. I think there are better things to do with 45 dollars but that is for you to decide, not me. I seen down turns before, and I'm sure that I will be alive to see a couple of more. Think about this if nobody applied, the fee would be drop in a NY second.

LGS6753,

'Flybe' Airlines in conjunction with Cabair college of Air Training currently have a sponsorship scheme for Cadet pilots. Candidates are expected to pay for the selection tests...£50 for the 1st, £100 for the 2nd...etc. Is this 'illegal'?....I hope so!

The questionable part of this topic really is whether or not JALways are actively seeking crews at this time. Traditionally, a number of agencies (including Hawaii Aviation) advertise on their behalf, at the time of recruitment. This time around, it's ony the $45-00 company that is advertising..?

Personally, I'd contact JALways directly and see if there is any substance in the scam before getting caught at it! ;) I also contacted the offices of FliteJobs where the positions were advertised. As soon as they realised what it was about, the ad's were removed...? :cool:

To the point 126.9, anyone out there know if JALways is in fact hiring?

Vortilon -

It's not clear. If you are being 'sold' an externally-validated test, that's not illegal. If you are being 'sold' an interview with the employer, that probably isn't either.
If an employment agency is involved, it would be illegal for them to charge you to be placed in a job (in the UK)

Received the same E-mail asking for the 45 usd to keep my resume current.
I was one of the first to interview with them around 20 months ago, was not impressed.
The contract was for JAL based in Hawaii.
The interview took 4 days.
They used Northwest training facility to do the interviews and all the testing to include a sim check.
I thought the interview went quite well.
But after a few weeks the old letter came in the mail saying I did not meet JAL qualifications.
None of the 14 people at that interview were hired, according to the e-mails I received.
Mabe they have improved since that time but I doubt it.
Or maybe they want the 45 usd because they think I have improved.
Told them to take me off their list.
They do stand to make alot of money if they find enough chumps to do this.

By the way the guy that owns the company Wasnic is a former JAL employee.
At the interview he did not have too many positive things to say about the Japanese, could not believe what I was hearing.
In fact we all left feeling that it was a waste of time.

By the way the guy that owns the company Wasnic is a former JAL employee.
At the interview he did not have too many positive things to say about the Japanese, could not believe what I was hearing.
In fact we all left feeling that it was a waste of time.

These types of 'agencies' spring up from time to time.
A few years ago there was one from Florida...World Aviation Services, that wanted a $100 application fee.
Same group perhaps?
And a few applicants would indeed make a tidy sum for the owners of these companies.

I remember, 411A, a Texas-based gentleman of Pakistani origin who made himself a princely sum supplying pilots to Korean, apparently he paid the pilots substantially less than he was charging the airline for their services. He ran the operation out of his laundry room at his house. Would that be the operation you're thinking of?

In regards to the practices of recruitment agencies, it would depend a lot on the agency itself. Specifically for the japanese contracts, I have just been through all the hoops for the Parc Aviation contract, and they have been absolutely outstanding.

Certainly, they havent charged me a fee for their services, and have most likely spent at least 10000 GBP bringing me to this point. Interviews and sim in Stockholm, 2 Day medical in a top london private hospital. All Accom and flights paid for.....

This is the kind of treatment one would expect from a top shelf consultancy representing a top 10 international airline. By the sounds of the comments leveled against Hawaii and Wasinc, I would give them a miss.