I think I've been had! As a transitioning military member, I sought career counsel with Graham Holland in Charlotte NC. I found their ad while searching for new career opportunities on the internet. I spoke with Ms Epsie Shapley on the phone and she wanted to review my current resume to see "if" I would be someone GH could help. Shortly after the phone conversation I had my first visit with Epsie at GH in Charlotte. She quickly made me feel like GH was the right place for me as a transitioning military member. She had worked with military folks in the past and touted the success stories.
Shortly after that first meeting she gave me the cost of a year long "career campaign" and told me that most people find positions in about 90 days and that they would help me along the way. The cost was $5750.00 and I was on my way to better salary and more job satisfaction. All seemed fine.
After taking a Myers-Briggs assessment test and then completing about 10hrs worth of work on their fancy website I was ready to meet my career counselor for the first time. Here's where the trouble began. When I came for my first meeting with my career counselor, we met for 3 hrs on a Tuesday.
At the end of the session he told me that unfortunately his last day with GH would be on Friday. I could hardly believe my ears. I had just spent 3hrs with someone that was leaving the company in 3 days! Later I found out that Ms Shapley knew of this counselor's impending departure a full week prior to my appointment but failed to transfer me to another counselor.
A complete waste of time for me.
About 2 weeks later I am finally reassigned to another counselor. Due to this gentleman's schedule I was not able to meet with him as soon as I had hoped; so another week passes before I'm able to meet with him in person.
I started completley over with him in another "first time" session.
Things were looking a little better and this counselor was somewhat helpful but I quickly realized GH wasn't doing anything for me. I was looking for all the positions on line, I was making all the phone calls to potential employers. I had my 3 ringed binder full of "top notch" resumes that probably could have been found on the internet for free. GH wasn't assisting me in finding "hidden positions" as they had spoke of in our initial meetings.
After about 2 meetings and one "practice interview" via the phone I was attempting to get feedback from my counselor with no response. Finally on a Wednesday afternoon I called and asked for my counselor and the receptionist said that he no longer worked there. I was floored! The she said that he had passed away over the weekend. Strike two! Of course no one could have seen this coming but I am still confused as to why I was not notified that my counselor had died for 3 business days. Not a phone call nor an email was sent.
With these events, Epsie Shapley then told me that I would be given another counselor. A full 90 days had passed and I'm still trying to keep a counselor. I told Epsie that this just wasn't working out and that I would like to pay them for the hours of service they had given me, and politely asked to refund the remainder of my lump sum payment. Strike 3! It has been over one month and no one from GH will even call to talk to me. I have left phone messages directly on Ms Shapley's voice mail and have sent at least 3 poignant emails.
At this point she has still failed to contact me and my money is still in their bank. I hope that we can still work this situation without litagation but my hope is fading fast when Epsie won't even return my emails and phone calls.
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