Fourth Estate/Andani Munkaila

Students who attend career fair almost join Vector Marketing, citing concerns with company’s presence

BY ERICA MUNISAR, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

During the recent Spring Career Fair, Vector Marketing, which has been sued several times in the past, was present at the event to recruit students seeking jobs. The career fair was hosted by University Career Services on Feb. 22 in Dewberry Hall where students shared that they almost joined the company after attending.

Vector Marketing has been present at Mason career fairs in the past and tabled at the Johnson Center in 2023. They also have an official presence on Handshake. According to posts on Reddit, Vector Marketing has been seen leaving various business cards around campus.

According to Saskia Campbell, Executive Director of University Career Services, “Measures are in place to verify that an employer is a bonafide business before they are approved to participate in career fairs or other events hosted by University Career Services,” Campbell said.

University Career Services allows Vector Marketing at career fairs, saying that they are a legal business. “Vector Marketing is a legal business classified as a direct selling company (not a pyramid scheme or multi-level marketing company),” Campbell said.

“The purpose of career fairs is to provide Mason students with broad exposure to a variety of employers, career options and job opportunities. Career fairs are a great place to compare and contrast different employment options. Vector Marketing was just one of over 200 employers on campus for the Spring Career Fair,” Campbell said.

According to Vector Marketing, 85% of their “sales reps” are made up of college students. Students at Mason reported almost signing up to work at Vector Marketing after receiving interviews and fliers before soon withdrawing their application upon further research of the company.

Students offered anonymous interviews to Fourth Estate under the use of pseudonyms.

Student Jane Doe shared that she found Vector Marketing on Handshake and the recent career fair. “I had briefly seen [Vector Marketing] on the Handshake site. So when I went to their booth, they had mentioned how their schedules were really flexible and the pay was good. That’s what initially interested me,” Doe said. 

“The guy who we spoke with then gave me a paper to fill out and gave me a day and time to have an interview. Initially I didn’t realize how this was a very rushed process and he hadn’t even asked for resumes. It wasn’t until after I left the fair with my friend that [they] pointed out how they didn’t mention what they did as a company. We were both in doubt… and realized Vector was an multi-level marketing company,” Doe said.

Vector Marketing officially denies that they are a multi-level marketing company. Fourth Estate does not endorse the claim that Vector Marketing is a multi-marketing company. However, sources such as Dictionary.com refer to Vector Marketing as a multi-marketing level company, alleging several flaws of Vector Marketing.

Another student, Emma Brown, shared that she almost joined Vector Marketing when they were at another career fair in 2023. “It was fall of 2023 when I came across them at a career fair. The guy there, I won’t mention his name, somehow convinced me that [they were] an amazing marketing company and I would be a great fit without really explaining what exactly they do,” Brown said.

Unlike Doe, Brown stayed up until the company’s training session. “I got interviewed and was offered a job right away. I went [to] my first training session when I realized they are literally just abusing the young kids into thinking they are doing great, but it’s just a multi-level marketing scheme where they are being forced to call hundreds of people to land a potential client,” Brown said.

“It’s such a painful process just to sell knives for their company and nothing else. They show it’s such a great growing opportunity, but for me personally it hinders your growth. Maybe for some people it’s a great way to earn sales experience, [but] for me personally it was a torture. Plus, I felt like the way they hid [information] about their actual company at [the] career fair, they were hiding many other lies. I was smart enough to realize at that training session something [was] very fishy so I left,” Brown said.

Both Brown and Doe shared wishes to students to research companies before they join them, citing grievances with the career fair.

“I honestly dont think they should be present [at the career fair] because they are not honest about their company and values,” Brown said. “Know what [Vector Marketing] does very thoroughly before even thinking to drop your resume. Think it through deeply, and please dont trust a word that comes out of their mouths. Do your research yourself if you want that job so badly.”

“It makes me lose trust in the other companies that were there. I didn’t know George Mason just let any company in the career fair. It makes me question if they actually care for our futures and success,” Doe said. “Please make sure to look into any companies that you plan to pursue for any job positions or internships. It’s best to avoid Vector if they continue to be at the fairs.”

University Career Services encourages students to research companies at the career fairs before joining them. “Not every opportunity is for every student,” Campbell said. “University Career Services encourages students to conduct research on employers in advance of an interview and definitely before accepting a job offer.”