Allen and Associates

Post #23,064 by nking 1/3/02 9:12:38 PM Reply	Allen and Associates This time of year is bad. I need a new job ASAP. I went to Allen and Associates the other day, but they want $750 to do job searching for me. I already paid them half. But I have to fill out a long form with many pages before they update my resume for me and send out cover letters for me. Apparently they claim if I go the normal way, HR will throw out my application before the Interveiwers who do the hiring will see it. Their way the application goes right to those who do the hiring. Is this a scam, or a real deal? "In order to completely solve a problem, you must make sure that the root of the problem is completely removed! If you leave the root, the problem will come back later to get you." - Norman King
Post #23,067 by admin 1/3/02 9:21:00 PM Reply	You should never have to pay someone to find you a job. Sounds like a scam to me. Firms like that prey on people in your position, taking money from those who can least afford it. Regards, -scott anderson
Post #23,069 by nking 1/3/02 9:27:19 PM Reply	I need work so bad and they said their system works better than others. I have talked to many "free" agencies and haven't really come up with anything yet. If I don't find something soon, I am sure to lose the house. [link\|http://www.allenandassociates.com/\|[link\|http://www.allenandassociates.com/\|http://www.allenandassociates.com/]] Can anyone reconmend any company better? "In order to completely solve a problem, you must make sure that the root of the problem is completely removed! If you leave the root, the problem will come back later to get you." - Norman King
Post #23,073 by kmself 1/3/02 10:11:48 PM Reply	Clue, Norm: No. "Pay for placement" is almost certainly a poor idea, if not an outright scam. "Allen and Associates" is sufficiently bland that Googling doesn't do much. I don't see much that raises flags, but a $750 up-front fee is rediculous. I'd sign on with Kelly, Manpower, and other temp outfits in your area. They're respectable. Attend local user groups for related PC and technical areas. Consider career counseling to see if a career change might be in order. Get part-time work doing something. I know Perl coders who are doing warehouse work -- not warehouse computer systems, but stacking boxes at a warehouse. There's a touch of an uptick (or is it just flattening out) here, but things are still really tight. Find a stopgap. And don't throw money away. `-- Karsten M. Self [link\|mailto:kmself@ix.netcom.com\|kmself@ix.netcom.com] [link\|http://kmself.ix.netcom.com/\|[link\|http://kmself.ix.netcom.com/\|http://kmself.ix.netcom.com/]] What part of "gestalt" don't you understand?`
Post #23,075 by imric 1/3/02 10:34:54 PM Reply	Aye. I was doing stock-work at Macy's on the graveyard shift for a while - it kept me from being evicted. YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO. And - you know - it wasn't so bad. If it paid more, I might have stayed, in fact. I worked hard, made some friends, and overall it was a good thing for me. Heck - I'm still technically on the payroll... I've come back several times to help out when they were short-handed... Having said that - I have to admit that I hope I'm not forced back to third shift-work when this job ends in a couple of weeks! Imric's Tips for Living Paranoia Is a Survival Trait Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised... Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.
Post #23,081 by mhuber 1/3/02 11:57:04 PM Reply	Stacking boxes AS it happens, this morning I was in a warehouse. But I was only watching people stack boxes. I'm a tech writer, see, and I had to research the procedures... But I second the idea. Get any job, even one that isn't up to your reasonable standards. It gets you out of the house, moving. Feeling productive. Moving. It may not get you enough money to keep up, but it will stretch your savings. I just finished my job search, and I still have to finish renovating an apartment. Felt real, real good to be making a few honest bucks. ---- "You don't have to be right - just use bolded upper case" - annon.
Post #23,084 by nking 1/4/02 12:22:18 AM Reply	Stacking boxes is not for me I hurt my back around 1994 and it hasn't been the same since. If I can lift over 30 pounds without hurting, I'll be amazed. My son is 52 pounds, and it hurts me a great deal to lift him up. I got my eye on a local video store. I could put my knowledge of movies to good use there. "In order to completely solve a problem, you must make sure that the root of the problem is completely removed! If you leave the root, the problem will come back later to get you." - Norman King
Post #23,092 by mhuber 1/4/02 12:51:17 AM Reply	Good idea with the video store Stacking boxes is just an example. Sneering "you want fries with that?" comments be damned - there is no disgrace in flipping burgers or doing whatever other honest work it takes to keep yourself and your family going. As long as you keep pushing for something better. ---- "You don't have to be right - just use bolded upper case" - annon.
Post #23,337 by mhuber 1/7/02 12:00:10 AM Reply	My version: Painting and cleaning up an apartment that has become vacant. And I'll have more time to do that, since the job fell through, at least temporarily. ---- "You don't have to be right - just use bolded upper case" - annon.
Post #23,101 by Arkadiy 1/4/02 9:43:21 AM Reply	How about attaching tags? Have you ever wondered how those tags end up on clothes in Macy's? I was doing it at some point in a huge warehouse in suburbs. Very easy to do with the tools they provide. And if you find a good co-worker to talk to, the job does not have to be boring.
Post #23,090 by rsf 1/4/02 12:45:17 AM Reply	Ask lots of questions Are they only making money from you or are they also going to get a percentage of your salary from the company that hires you? If they are getting money from the company that hires you, you shouldn't be spending a dime. I'm talking to some recruiters right now (proud member of the iwethey-- club!) and all of them aren't charging me a cent; they'll get paid by the company that hires me when I accept an offer. It's in their best interest to get me a job - the right job - ASAP. The company you're working with can take your money and basically not do %$#%$. I wouldn't trust them. Even if the service is on the level, it seems way over priced to me. Ray
Post #23,135 by cforde 1/4/02 12:34:54 PM Reply	this smells bad I agree with Scott. Legitimate headhunters charge companies 20% or more of a hire's first year's salary. There is no charge to the person hired. [link\|http://asktheheadhunter.com/\|Ask the Headhunter] might be a good place for you to get your bearings. Have fun, Carl Forde
Post #23,144 by boxley 1/4/02 2:18:29 PM Reply	Norm look for an inventory firm in your area. they typically pay 8-10 per hr and the hrs are nights and weekends. Little in the way of lifting you use pda's to check stock levels. Anything like that. thanx, bill My Dreams aren't as empty as my conscience seems to be
Post #23,554 by SpiceWare 1/8/02 5:39:57 PM Reply	seconded I've done that myself during a down time. The work wasn't that difficult, the pay was OK, and the odd hours facilitate interviewing for another job in your field. Darrell Spice, Jr. [link\|http://home.houston.rr.com/spiceware/\|SpiceWare] - We don't do Windows, it's too much of a chore
Post #23,167 by pwhysall 1/4/02 5:38:34 PM Reply	Re: Allen and Associates In the UK, it's illegal to charge people for recruitment services. That should be a big clue. Peter Shill For Hire [link\|http://www.kuro5hin.org\|There is no K5 Cabal]
Post #23,438 by tuberculosis 1/7/02 7:39:05 PM Reply	Bad Idea Go get your money back.

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