Jordan Goodman is the author of Everyone's Money Book, available at 888-201-6300. This is the third edition of the book. You can also visit his Web site at www.moneyanswers.com. He talks with us on Thursday mornings.

November 13, 2003

"Phony Government Jobs"

Typically, these scamsters advertise in the classified sections of local newspapers saying they can help people find and apply for federal jobs. These companies usually use names that sound like those of federal agencies, like "The Agency for Career Advancement" or the "Postal Employment Service." They typically promise that you can get federal jobs "with no experience necessary," and they "guarantee you will get high test scores" for any qualifying exams. They also say they have uncovered "hidden or unadvertised" federal jobs. The ads then direct you to call a toll-free number where the operator tries to push you to buy a valuable booklet filled with job listings, practice test questions and tips for entrance exams. Sometimes, the toll-free number will refer you to a pay-per-call number beginning with 900 that supposedly will give you even more valuable information on federal jobs.

These scamsters are praying on people's lack of understanding about the federal hiring process. They give the impression that there is one Civil Service exam for all government jobs, which is not true; in fact, many jobs do not require passing the Civil Service exam at all. Many try to make it look easy to get jobs with the Postal Service, when in fact they have few positions open and you have to take a written exam at one of 85 district offices in order to qualify.

Scamsters charge whatever they can get away with for all of this worthless information: from as little as $39 to as much as $160.

In fact, if you are interested in a legitimate government job, all you have to do is go to www.usajobs.opm.gov, which allows you to search among thousands of jobs in different government agencies. When I checked the site yesterday, the site offered 16,123 federal jobs in the database. You register your name, load your resume on the site, and can find out all the details you need to know to apply for the job. The site lists a featured employer, and links to government agencies from the White House to the Postal Service.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to work for the federal government -- but there is absolutely no reason to pay anyone for an "inside track" to a cushy government job.

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