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Job Seekers Pay Recruiters as Layoffs Reshape White Collar Hiring
Job seekers pay reverse recruiters fees or salary percentages due to a tight U.S. white-collar market with more unemployed than job openings in 2025, officials said.
- On Sunday, The Wall Street Journal reported job seekers are paying reverse recruiters to secure white-collar jobs, inverting the traditional employer-pays model with some services sharing salary with employers.
- Amid a weaker jobs backdrop, Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported nearly 80,000 jobs cut in January 2026, while The Conference Board's September survey found 20% said jobs were hard to get.
- These services generally charge flat fees, monthly subscriptions, or take 10% of first-year pay; Reverse Recruiting Agency charges $1,500 monthly and submits up to 100 applications weekly, placing 20 of 44 customers.
- Traditional recruiters warn about ethics and scalability of charging job seekers, critics caution about manipulation and advise applicants to check resume handling, while Refer's customers report less stress and some successful hires.
- Analysts note hiring remains concentrated in healthcare and leisure sectors, while Peter Williams of 22V Research says spring 2025 slowdown was driven by tariffs and labor supply but conditions modestly improved.
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Job Seekers Are Paying Recruiters To Secure White-Collar Jobs Amid Tough Market: Report
Job seekers are reportedly now paying recruiters to secure jobs, in a new trend reflecting the mounting challenges faced by job seekers in the current market. Reverse Recruiting Gains Traction, Skepticism The job market for white-collar positions has become so competitive that job seekers are now hiring “reverse recruiters” to help them land jobs. This marks a significant shift from the traditional model where companies pay recruiters to find su…
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources9
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
L 20%
C 80%
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