How to Identify a Genuine Job Consultancy in Guwahati
Short answer: A genuine consultancy has a verifiable office, explains its charges clearly and in advance, names the employer before you attend an interview, and never asks you to pay simply to be shortlisted. If the terms are vague or the pressure is high, treat both as warning signs.
Most recruitment consultancies in Guwahati are legitimate businesses doing ordinary work. A few are not. The distinction is usually visible early if you know what to look at.
What a genuine consultancy does
Has an office you can visit. A real address, staff present during working hours, and a landline or consistent business number. You should be able to walk in.
Explains charges before you commit. You should know what is payable, when, and on what basis, before you register — not after an interview has been arranged.
Names the employer before an interview. An advertisement may say “a leading retail company”. By the time you are attending an interview you should know who, and where.
Describes the role accurately. The job you hear about should be the job you find.
Does not pressure you. A genuine consultancy expects you to consider an offer.
Takes no for an answer. If you decline a role, that should end the matter.
Warning signs
Payment demanded to be shortlisted
The clearest signal. Charges framed as “registration to access vacancies”, “processing fees” or “security deposits” payable before anything concrete exists.
A placement charge after a placement is a different thing from a fee to be considered. If money is requested before there is a job, ask precisely what it buys and get the answer in writing.
No physical office
An operation working only from a mobile number and a social media page, unwilling to meet at a business address, deserves real caution.
Vagueness about the employer
Persistent refusal to name the company at interview stage is a serious warning.
A role that sounds far better than the pay implies
An entry-level position offering considerably more than comparable roles usually has an explanation, and it is rarely favourable.
Pressure and urgency
“The employer needs an answer today.” “Only two positions left.” Urgency is used to stop you checking.
A request for original documents
Certificates may be shown and verified. They should not be surrendered.
An interview at an unusual place or hour
Residential addresses, late evenings, or a location that changes at short notice. Occasionally legitimate; always worth verifying first, and worth telling someone where you are going.
Questions worth asking directly
- What exactly do you charge a candidate, and when is it payable?
- Which company is this vacancy with?
- Where is your office and can I come in?
- How long have you been operating?
- What happens if the job turns out to be different from what was described?
A legitimate consultancy answers all five without difficulty. Evasion on the first is the one that should stop you.
Our own terms, so you can compare
We publish this because a consultancy that will not state its terms is precisely what this guide warns about.
The recruitment charge is 50% of the candidate’s agreed monthly salary, fixed at the time of placement. On an agreed salary of ₹15,000, the charge is ₹7,500. It does not vary with days worked, a delayed first salary or how long you stay.
It is payable either by salary deduction or before joining. A registration fee may apply, and the details are explained during registration — before you commit to anything.
Our office is at Ground Floor, Besides Hide Design, Syed Market Complex, GS Road, Bhangagarh, Guwahati. You are welcome to visit.
If something feels wrong
Stop and verify. A real opportunity survives a day’s delay. Talk to someone you trust before paying anything or handing over documents — describing the situation aloud often makes the problem obvious.
Read more on checking whether a job offer is genuine and our job seeker safety page.
Key takeaways
- Charges should be explained upfront, in writing, before you commit to anything.
- A real consultancy has a verifiable office you can visit.
- You should know the employer's name before attending an interview.
- Paying to be shortlisted is not a normal part of recruitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for a consultancy to charge a candidate?
In India, consultancies may charge candidates, and the practice is legal when disclosed properly. What matters is transparency and timing: the charge should be explained clearly in advance, and you should not be paying merely to be shortlisted or interviewed. At Placement Corporation the recruitment charge is 50% of one month's agreed salary and applies once a placement is actually made.
How do I check if a consultancy is registered?
Ask for the registered business name and check whether it matches the name they trade under. Visit the office. Look for consistent contact details across their website, listings and documents. A consultancy operating only through a mobile number and a social media account, with no physical address, warrants considerably more caution.
What if a consultancy will not name the employer?
It is reasonable for a consultancy to withhold the client name in an initial advertisement, because employers often do not want their vacancy public. It is not reasonable to send you to an interview without telling you who you are meeting and where. If they refuse at that stage, do not attend.