Two years ago I blogged about an unsettling experience I had
with Apollo, a firm that had confused me as to what they were really all
about.
Since then, I’ve had a number of emails from people who have
had similar experiences. Today, I’m reprinting (most of) the most recent one –
which comments about an organisation called Apollo-Transitions. Surely, this is
not the same company as the Apollo company I had encountered? But, spookily, Apollo Transitions Ltd has a
remarkably similar logo to the old Apollo– and the same colour scheme. And,
Geoff Russell, the person I met in 2014, is a member of the senior team.
Anyway, here’s the
letter:
I have recently moved back to the UK [redacted].
As you did, I received the standard email wanting to organise a meeting
with the senior partner etc. Whilst it all seems very odd, having a bit of time
on my hands I thought I would go to a few meetings to see what I thought. By
nature I'm a suspicious guy and to me this doesn't add up.
Like your experience in London I was very underwhelmed with the offices.
A Regus office with no signage for Apollo in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire.
Meeting the with senior partner was a great boost to my confidence as
after a few questions and computer exercises (over the two meetings) I feel
like I could head up NASA and solve world peace on the side. Whilst I
understand that they are pumping up my ego, which is a great thing for job
seekers, it's the little things that nag me.
- Why no signage?
- Why doesn't the ISO accreditation check out?
- Recent company name changes
- Long list of registered and de registered companies associated.
- £1000 up front and £2000 paid over two months with no guarantees?
- Very vague reviews
- Concrete testimonials
- Not seeing any other customers coming or going over two meetings.
- Generic career management options.
- A lack of contacts of partners and staff on LinkedIn?
- So many directors/ partners etc
- Why did the laptop provided have no up arrow key button?
- The white board having the same writing on it for a week.
- Taking an important phone call during the meeting to explain how busy things are
- Keeping me waiting for 5 minutes past the scheduled meeting time with no one leaving
- A stack of topical books for improvement, job progression.
During the process I was under the impression I would be put in contact
with some senior executives and would basically be buying a contact list and
referral. When I asked this directly that seems not to be the case?
I find this whole thing very odd. In perspective £3000 for your dream
job is probably a good buy but it's a hell of a lot of money for someone to
jazz up your cv and say don't fidget during an interview.
If I had a lazy £3000 I would follow this through out of interest but i
think the old additive "if it's too good to be true" probably is the
one to use in this situation.
As a disclaimer I would love to be
completely wrong about his company. I hope they are placing thousands of people
in great jobs who are advancing their careers and improving both their and
their families lives.
I share these closing sentiments, too.
.
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