Job ads raise questions at Augusta University
By Butch Cross | Staff Writer
Handwritten job advertisements offering part-time work with starting pay as high as “$20 per hour” have been appearing in multiple classrooms across Augusta University for several semesters. Since the offer of high wages and flexible work sounds enticing to students, further investigation can help determine if these ads are legitimate.
The website featured in the ads, StudentWorkAugusta.com, leads to job offers associated with Vector Marketing, a subsidiary of Cutco Cutlery, a company that has in the past faced lawsuits and garnered criticism for its recruitment tactics.
The local chapter’s webpage contained several typos and grammatical errors, potentially raising questions about the professionalism of the organization. Its advertising also appears to be posted by AU students, possibly seniors or graduates.
Vector Marketing, the sales arm of Cutco Cutlery, promotes job opportunities to students billed as well-paying and flexible. However, some who have taken these positions have reported that the pay structure is not what it initially seems.
Rather than paying an hourly wage, as suggested by the ads, Vector Marketing typically compensates its sales representatives per demonstration or appointment. This model has led to confusion, with recruits discovering they are paid for completed sales presentations rather than just their time.
Additionally, much of the compensation is based on commission, with starting commissions as low as 10% of sales. Representatives are encouraged to market Cutco knives to friends and family members, which for some, may be uncomfortable or unsustainable. Once a recruit has exhausted their close social network, it becomes increasingly difficult to generate sales, particularly for products like high-end cutlery.
The company’s recruitment practices have drawn the attention of state officials and consumer protection agencies. In the 1990s, Vector Marketing faced lawsuits in several states, including Arizona and Wisconsin, over claims of deceptive recruiting. More recently, the company has settled multiple class-action lawsuits for failing to pay minimum wages to sales representatives during training.
These concerns, combined with the persistence of the handwritten job postings that often reappear after being erased, have raised concerns about whether students are being lured into an exploitative work arrangement. While Vector Marketing and Cutco Cutlery’s marketing practices are not illegal, their business model has been widely criticized for setting unrealistic expectations for young recruits, many of whom invest significant time and energy with little financial return.
Students should always research any job opportunity posted on campus and exercise caution when accepting offers some might call, “too good to be true.” This could help many avoid companies that may have a history of controversial recruitment or payment practices.
For more information on Vector Marketing and Cutco, students can visit consumer protection websites and read detailed reviews.
Contact Butch Cross at bucross@augusta.edu
Photo: Job advertisements have appeared on classroom whiteboards across Augusta University’s Summerville campus.
