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[TEXT DELETED BY FORUM TEAM] Marketing Company - YOU WILL NOT BE A MANAGER ONE DAY!!!

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  • TomB0876
    TomB0876 Posts: 1 Newbie
    edited 16 October 2009 at 12:46PM
    Hi, first post here and I've also had a similar experience. I'm currently on a gap year so I'm looking for work to fill up the year and get a bit of money behind me before I do Psychology next year. My decision to do that degree is that it is useful because it can lead to postgraduate study in Psychology to work in health services, or it equips you for skills to be a qualified manager, work as an accountant and wait for it ... in sales. About 3 months ago I wanted to do sales/advertising/marketing, not anymore.

    The company was based in Manchester and part of the Cobra Group (as seen a few pages back). The company was called G Force and the job advert was exactly the same. Lots of capital letters and 'too good to be true' promises. I received a phone call within TWO HOURS saying they were very impressed by my CV (despite only having a part time job at Argos on there I'd been at for 3 months, as well as some predicted grades, it was before exams) and that I'd been invited to a "casual" interview. Because it was casual, I didn't turn up in a suit, just a white shirt and black trousers, but most other people were suited up. This didn't go against me, surprise surprise, and he told me I had the right image for the job, as he probably did with everyone else. I was given an application form by one of three stunning women in reception* (assuming one for each company). A while later I was called into the interview with another guy who was a great interviewee, and because this was my first real interview I was very nervous and was making gaffes left right and centre. The interviewer told us about the company, how its a massive worldwide company* who work for household names, and its good pay. Apparently the manager I would have had is only 18 and has been there for 2 years*. The interviewer then started to ask us about who we were, and I told him about me, where I'm from etc. He told me "I'm going to have a flat viewing there later on, so we'll live near each other, how odd" followed by an awkward laugh. The was the other guys turn, to which the interviewer replied "I have family there"*. The interview went surprisingly well and we were told that if we were successful we would have heard back by 6pm and had a second interview the next day. I was certain I wouldn't get it, but nevertheless I recieved the phone call. I turned up to the next interview the following day at 12.30pm and all I was told it was an observation. Then about 10 of us were taken into a room and we were split between 3 or 4 people who already worked there. The girl I was with asked us a bit about ourselves so I told her I was on a gap year and wanted to do Criminology (before I decided to do Psychology) and by pure chance she had just graduated from University with a degree in Criminology*!! Then we were told it was field based observation work where we would also be given a trial, and she would report back to the managers when considering if I am a suitable candidate or not. I was then told I would be working in Wigan, which is quite a while away from Manchester and the part where I live and that I'd be there until 8pm then back to Manchester for an interview (which raised greater concern because I was going out with my friends that night, and lets face it when you're 18 whats more important, job interview or night out!!? :D). This is when the penny dropped. I then knew I was doing door to door sales and either this was a scam and I was being used to promote things for the company for free, or I would be working entirely on commission. I asked her about it and she said it would be door to door for a while with opportunities to progress. I then told her "sorry, I'm no longer interested in the job, I didn't apply to do this, I think its all a bit of a scam". That was said at the bus stop (which I would have been paying £5 out of my own pocket to pay for) so I managed to go home.

    I wasn't 100% certain it was a scam but things made me think that. If you've seen my post you'll see I've starred a few things. Its quite subtle but definitely adds up and I'll explain below.

    Firstly, the good looking women. Jessica from The Real Hustle anyone? I'm more likely to go back there with fit receptionists, especially as a young male which they seem to be after recruiting, then if it was someone old and fat/ugly. They seemed quite well educated in the way they spoke, what would a well educated woman be doing working as a receptionist?

    If it was a massive worldwide company, why had I never heard of them before? If they were that big why were they stuck in a grotty little office in a back street of Manchester?!

    The 18 year old who had been there for 2 years. That would make him 16 when he started, right? In the phone call, I was asked if I was over 18 (even though it clearly said it on my CV, they probably never even read it). Apparently they legally can't have anyone under 18 working for them.

    Those who worked there were clearly trying to find similiarties, so the "I might be living near you" and "I also did tht degree" automatically gives you come kind of common ground to make them "just like you".

    I got home and out of pure curiosity I applied for another advert for a similar company but practically the same description. On the phone I was told exactly the same thing as last time, to which I politely declined an interview offer.

    I think its an absolutely ridiculous scam. I'm sure there are people who are more than willing to work door to door and perhaps if they were honest about who they were and what they do they might get more satisfied applicants and less stuff like this written on the internet.

    It is definitely one to steer clear of if you're not interested in commission pay.

    I would LOVE it if we could contact Watchdog on BBC1 or a similar show and see if they'll expose them, especially to gullable school leavers who think getting a job actually is that easy (as I first thought).

    So a few more names to add:

    G Force Marketing
    SRM Marketing
    SJM Marketing
    Oracle Marketing
    CSC Marketing
    eRecruit Solutions
    AKA Marketing
    TC World
  • My experience...

    I graduated this summer, having spent over 3 years working in a shop alongside my study. I worked with some great girls and didn't mind the shop work, but the pay was too low to continue working there (as you can imagine, I racked up a bit of debt over the past few years!).

    So I registered my CV on Monster and thought nothing of it for a few days, I went about my daily business working in a shop, until I received two responses to my CV:

    1) From a legitimate household-name company, offering an interview for work in one of their new sales departments. Salary was 16k.

    2) From a company I'd never heard of, offering an interview to work in "graduate sales". The detail on the pay was sketchy, but the "average" salary was advertised at 25k.

    I expressed my interest in both offers, and was offered an interview from each, on the same day. Company 1 (household name) wanted to interview me by telephone on a Tuesday, whereas Company 2 (never heard of them) wanted to meet me face to face on the same day.

    Being greedy, I spent all of the weekend previous to these interviews convincing myself to forget about the phone interview with Company 1, and to go for the interview with Company 2 instead.

    So on the Monday night, I decided to cram in a bit of last minute research on Company 2, before my interview, aiming to impress them with my dedication.

    HOW GLAD am I that I actually did this research. 10 minutes of Googling exposed this company to be just one link in a much larger chain, inter-connected with pretty much every scam company mentioned in this thread. I'm no snob, I'm willing to get my hands dirty and can turn my hand to pretty much any job, but 100% commission door-to-door selling, where a culture of lies and brainwashing is rife, is NOT for me!

    I didn't turn up for the interview, but I received 5 missed calls and voicemails from them asking where I was and why I didn't show - NO legit company would do that...My CV isn't THAT good!

    (By the way, I took that phone interview with Company 1 instead, got invited to a face to face interview, and now work there. It's a sales environment but we're very well looked after, the atmosphere is friendly, there are GENUINE opportunities for progression, and above all the salary is STABLE).
    £1 / 50p 2011 holiday flight + hotel expenses = £98.50600


    HSBC 8% 12mth regular savings = £80 out of a maximum remaining allowance of £2500


    "3 months' salary" reserve = £00 / £3600 :eek:
  • Tom223
    Tom223 Posts: 8 Forumite

    1) From a legitimate household-name company, offering an interview for work in one of their new sales departments. Salary was 16k.

    I have a good idea what company this is, they seem to have been advertising a lot of open positions for the past several months. I havent really taken any interest in applying since 99% of the roles appear to be evening work - I used to work in the evening during the week while I was at Uni and it destroys what little free time you have so I'm a bit put off by the prospect. If you thought 9-5 was horrible imagine the ONLY time to get anything done was for 2 days at the weekend.

    I understand there being a massive void after all the staff they had to lay off a year ago but it seems strange that they are continually recruiting; high staff turnover maybe?
  • Tom223 wrote: »
    I have a good idea what company this is, they seem to have been advertising a lot of open positions for the past several months. I havent really taken any interest in applying since 99% of the roles appear to be evening work - I used to work in the evening during the week while I was at Uni and it destroys what little free time you have so I'm a bit put off by the prospect. If you thought 9-5 was horrible imagine the ONLY time to get anything done was for 2 days at the weekend.

    I understand there being a massive void after all the staff they had to lay off a year ago but it seems strange that they are continually recruiting; high staff turnover maybe?

    Hiya Tom223,

    Not sure if we're singing from the same hymn sheet here mate. Obviously I'm not about to reveal who I work for, but something doesn't fit right.

    My company has been light on the layoffs, even in the past year, and we don't do evening work.

    So perhaps a misunderstanding :)

    I work in a new department that is constantly expanding massively, hence ongoing recruitment (though, I must add, I do believe that recruitment has now pretty much ceased). Staff turnover isn't any higher than I suppose the average is.

    Sorry if that sounded like a big advert for my company, rest assured it wasn't intended that way :) I just don't think we have the same company in mind.

    And yeah, I know what you mean with evening work, I don't think I could cope!
    £1 / 50p 2011 holiday flight + hotel expenses = £98.50600


    HSBC 8% 12mth regular savings = £80 out of a maximum remaining allowance of £2500


    "3 months' salary" reserve = £00 / £3600 :eek:
  • Tom223
    Tom223 Posts: 8 Forumite
    No worries, I assumed it was Barclays. If it is they have obvisouly laid off staff, maybe not in the same office (or division for that matter) but still...

    Its always best to play it safe if a company is constantly adversiting for the same positions every single month. Cobra do it all the time ;)

    Never been a massive fan of Barclays; I used to have to deal with multiple offices and their track record of supporting employees (and employing mass amounts of inept ones) wasnt great, but i never really had dealing with anyone in their sales/customer service departments.

    Still though, I hate the way central Liverpool doesnt seem to have that many open opportunities (took a look on monster and its swamped with advertisments from crappy Office Angels and IMMEDIATE START GRADUATE MARKING jobs we all love to hate). The most recent offer I've had was from a firm in the Chester business park, but a 40 mile commute everyday didnt seem great when the perminant position the agency advertised turned out to be a 6 month fixed term contract when the company gave me the contract.
  • Tom223 wrote: »
    No worries, I assumed it was Barclays. If it is they have obvisouly laid off staff, maybe not in the same office (or division for that matter) but still...

    Its always best to play it safe if a company is constantly adversiting for the same positions every single month. Cobra do it all the time ;)

    Never been a massive fan of Barclays; I used to have to deal with multiple offices and their track record of supporting employees (and employing mass amounts of inept ones) wasnt great, but i never really had dealing with anyone in their sales/customer service departments.

    Still though, I hate the way central Liverpool doesnt seem to have that many open opportunities (took a look on monster and its swamped with advertisments from crappy Office Angels and IMMEDIATE START GRADUATE MARKING jobs we all love to hate). The most recent offer I've had was from a firm in the Chester business park, but a 40 mile commute everyday didnt seem great when the perminant position the agency advertised turned out to be a 6 month fixed term contract when the company gave me the contract.

    Nay, Barclays it is not.

    Not sure I've heard of any jobs from them, perhaps not in my area.

    Still, must be better than Cobra and their ilk! (who isn't!)

    Although big brand companies obviously have their downfalls (I think pretty much everybody who's ever worked for one will have a horror story or two), but when it comes to "sales" jobs, I'd (now) opt for a large, well-known company anyday, given my near-bad experience with one of the scam companies.

    My company has the obvious sales environment that you'd expect elsewhere, and to be honest, there's a lot of pressure applied.

    BUT...and it's a big BUT, they have an excellent support structure in place. If you're not hitting your sales targets, you're still treated with respect and consideration, and are advised by more experienced senior staff as to where you're going wrong (job isn't that hard, and there's NO hard selling whatsoever).

    From what I gather, if you 'fail' within the Cobra group, you're treated like dirt, and at worst can end up flat broke :S
    £1 / 50p 2011 holiday flight + hotel expenses = £98.50600


    HSBC 8% 12mth regular savings = £80 out of a maximum remaining allowance of £2500


    "3 months' salary" reserve = £00 / £3600 :eek:
  • I went for an interview yesterday with a company called Bradford marketing on Dickinson st in Manchester. Jake Bradford interviewing me. I had an inkling it was dodgy as there is no info on the website. Does anyone know anything about this company??
  • Enfieldian
    Enfieldian Posts: 2,893 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    bumble24 wrote: »
    I went for an interview yesterday with a company called Bradford marketing on Dickinson st in Manchester. Jake Bradford interviewing me. I had an inkling it was dodgy as there is no info on the website. Does anyone know anything about this company??


    Hmm. Try reading the other 146 posts and make up your mind from there.

    For example, if you have been asked to attend an "assessment day" in the field, be very wary.

    Alternatively, if you decide to take the job be very, very wary of coming anywhere near me.
  • Forgive me for being slightly naive but this was my third job interview since I graduated. FYI I'm not taking the job I should wondered if anyone had any information on the company!
  • I have been asked to go for an interview at Suite 303 Cotton Exchange, Liverpool for a company called Business Advertsing Ltd.

    Same thing sent CV via a recruitement website, few hours later got a call saying dying to meet me next day. The caller finished the call saying "thanks darling"!. The interview confirmation came from someone on gmail.com?

    Tried to find a website to do a little research could only find the recruitment websites they had posted to. Googled the address and found they are in the same suite as P&D marketing and then spotted this forum.

    I dont think ill be going to the interview! Feel so stupid for applying in the first place.
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