Quest’s job-seeking fees can be avoided

An Auckland recruitment agency looks likely to cop a bit of flak for its practice of charging job seekers a month’s gross income to help them find a job.

Job hunters with Quest Recruitment must sign a contract to say they will work free for a month, with wages or salary going directly to Quest.

Alternatively, one-third of their gross income can be deducted for three months.

Businesses looking for staff normally pay recruitment agencies a fee, rather than the job candidates, but North Shore-based Quest says a “radical approach” is needed in the recession.

Charging the fee is legal, apparently, but “critics within the industry” say it is unethical and exploitative.

One of Alf’s colleagues is not too happy, either.