This is an e-mail that I wrote to all of the executives at Combined:
I am completely positive that you knew this was going to come to you as a complaint against your hiring techniques and unorganized organization. Lets begin with beginning to the very end based on my experiences with what you call recruiting and training school.
I meet with Mike on May 2 at a Starbucks near my house for an initial interview. I was there to gain insight about Combined Insurance because I did not know much about them. Mike seemed like a very nice man with a lot of sales experience. He went on to tell me about the products and how he was doing very well with selling them. We discussed the training that would go on for nine days and told me where it is held. He proceeded to tell me about the employment application and how to fill it out. If I was interested in the position, to fill out the application and give him a call.
I went home that weekend and discussed the training and opportunity at length with my wife. She being the skeptical one, and I am always optimistic until there is a reason not to be. We had to discuss our financial situation and what impact it would have on us for me to quit my job to go for a better opportunity to be successful. After discussing it at length and letting her know that I would be compensated for training school, she reluctantly agreed purely based on my optimism and pure faith in my abilities. I completed the application with some questions about what I put down about a DUI conviction that I had.
I called Mike on that Monday, May 5th to tell him I filled out the application. He told me we needed to meet again, so I can fill out other paperwork and take a test. I agreed to meet him at McDonalds on Wednesday, May 7th. There, I discussed at great length with him the DUI conviction and the application I was submitting for employment. He told me that Combined would pull my motor vehicle report and based on that, everything will be fine.
I told Mike that I wanted to be put in my two week notice to leave my employment amicable. He went on to tell me that there was a guy with another conviction that he just got through training school that was a lot worse than mine, so it will not be a problem. He then told me that training school starts on May 21st. I felt a little rushed, but I thought it would be for an opportunity for success.
I went home that night to complete the contract and background check authorization form. The one form included more details about my conviction for the DUI and other sorted comments. I filled everything out accurately and to the best of my knowledge.
On Tuesday, May 13th, I meet up with Mike and another agent, Richard, which was also going to training school with me. I turned in the rest of my paperwork, and we began to discuss compensation in detail. When I left to get some breakfast and came back, they were discussing a phone conversation Richard had with you and an offer letter e-mail that he received from Combined. With training school getting closer and closer, I questioned why I had not heard anything from you or received an offer letter from Combined. Mike told me that my driving record came back fine, and I should be hearing something from Combined soon.
We also discussed training school at that time. Mike told me the schedule of Wednesday through Saturday. Then, he told me Tuesday through Friday the following week including one hour of study per night and Monday off for Memorial Day Weekend. The hours went like this:
Wednesday 8am -6pm
Thursday 8am 5pm
Friday 8am 5pm
Saturday 8am 1pm
Tuesday 8am 5pm
Wednesday 8am-5pm
Thursday 8am 5pm
Friday 8am 1pm
On Thursday, May 15th, I was growing increasing worried because I had put in my two week notice which was actually one week because of the time restraints. I called Mike and left him a voicemail letting him know that I would have to retract my two week notice, if I did not hear from Combined. My biggest fear was not having a job and of course, no income. He called me back and told me not to worry. I was invited to training school and to check into the hotel on Tuesday, May 20th in the evening. I was finally elated to hear that I was on the roster for the training school and everything was going to be fine.
When I got home from work that day, I received a voice mail from Tom. I called Tom back and we discussed field training, compensation, and the tremendous opportunity at Combined. And we also addressed my concern regarding my offer letter that I was to receive via e-mail.
The very next day, Scott called me and left me a voicemail in the late afternoon regarding the offer letter. He told me he was going to send it to my e-mail after he verified the correct spelling of the e-mail from me. I returned his call early Monday and proceeded to sign and e-mail back the required documents to go to training school. Now I am assuming everything is definitely okay with Combined and my criminal history.
On Wednesday, May 21st, I was finally made aware of our real schedule and agenda. Not only was I to attend the eight to ten hours classes per day, but I was also to study for five to six hours per night. And some how squeeze in eating and a little sleep. I was also made aware that I was not allowed to leave the hotel at night even though I lived twenty minutes away.
Furthermore, I was so glad to hear that I could not spend time with my parents and the rest of my family over Memorial Day Weekend after we had made extensive plans considering I get to see my parents twice a year if I am lucky. Next time, I suggest your unorganized organization have a written itinerary to hand out to new hires via the asinine people you have hiring us. I have a feeling most new hires would not show up to your training school, if Combined actually told everyone the truth.
The climax began yesterday, May 27th, when I was pulled out of class by Keith, my trainer. He explained to me that I was excused from class due to my background check. Keith and I went into a private room to discuss what had happened. He was really upset that I had to leave class. I told him my situation, and we called the licensing department in Chicago.
We spoke a Kimberly who explained to me that I was still on supervision from my DUI. And I would have to wait until my supervision is over to work for Combined. I explained to her that I wrote all the details down on my application and Combineds supplemental form. She tried to get all noble on me by telling that I marked no for if I had anything criminal pending or currently on probation. It is a no when you have been convicted and you get supervision. Tell that to someone who is completely inept like most of the people your organization hires off the street.
If it wasnt for Keith being in the room, I would have told her what she can do with herself and her condescending manner she spoke to me. I am the one who had the right the question your organization and be upset and not the almighty legal department and hiding behind a poor excuse for doing something wrong.
Can you answer these questions? Why did my branch manager not know the stipulations of hiring someone with a criminal background? Why did it take someone a week after I started training class to see that I wrote all my criminal details down when I filled out my paperwork? Why didnt someone stop me from coming to training class knowing that I had something criminal in my recent background?
I would like to personally thank Combined for messing everything up! Thank you for requiring suits that I spent hundreds of dollars on! Thank you for letting me quit my job! Thank you for checking my paperwork before inviting me to your training school! Thank you for the informative scheduling before I made plans with my family! Thank you for the entirely unnecessary domicile that I did not need to stay in! Thank you for making my biggest fear come true! Thank you for wasting my time and effort for nothing! ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!
Desperation for hiring people does not excuse stupidity...
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