I got a very suspicious response to my resume on Careerbuilder.com. The e-mail I received is as follows:
Congratulations!
After reviewing several resumes, my associates and I are selecting you for a preliminary interview. We are currently receiving resumes every day for the
positions available and out of those potential candidates we have selected only a handful to interview with Universal Promotional Marketing.
Due to a major expansion in our client base; we are looking to fill positions in the marketing/management training program. If you are selected to join our team, my associates and I will cross-train you in all aspects of our industry. This includes training in promotional advertising, public relations, sales and marketing. You will also learn vital management and leadership skills while overseeing campaigns. For more information on our
company please visit our website at www.pmg - affiliates.com.
We have already started preliminary interviews and are looking to fill positions immediately. To insure an opportunity to meet with us, please contact Amber Reed at 713-682-5004 ASAP.
Please dress professionally and bring a copy of your resume to the interview. Looking forward to meeting you,
Good luck!
PS - Enclosed are directions for your convenience.
1213 West Loop North Suite 130
Houston, TX 77055
From I10 Katy area Going East: Take I10 East going toward Downtown. Take the Silber/N. Post Oak exit. Turn left at N. Post Oak. After Awty School Ln there is Tommy's Hamburger Place on your left. We are across the street from them on your right hand side in the West Loop Business Park. Make a right into the business park and go straight to the back to section 1213 on
your left hand side. We are at suite 130.
From Downtown/Going I10 West: Take I10 West going toward Katy. Take the Silber/Antoine exit and make the U-turn. When you come to the N. Post Oak light take a left heading north. After the light Awty School Ln there is Tommy's Hamburger Place on your left. We are across the street from them on your right in the West Loop Business Park. Make a right into the business park and go straight to the back to section 1213 on your left hand side. We are at suite 130.
From Sugarland: Take 59 North to the Beltway North to 1-10 East Take I10 East going toward Downtown. Take the Silber/N. Post Oak exit. Turn left at N. Post Oak. After Awty School Ln there is Tommy's Hamburger Place on your
left. We are across the street from them on your right hand side in the West Loop Business Park. Make a right into the business park and go straight to the back to section 1213 on your left hand side. We are at suite 130.
From South Houston: From South Houston: Take 45 North to I10 West. Take the Washington/Westcott Exit. At the light on the feeder take a right. When the road forks to Hempstead straight / Katy Rd. Left, take Katy Rd. To the left. Keep going on Katy until you reach N. Post Oak. Take a right on N. Post Oak. After the Awty School light, there is Tommy's Hamburger Stand on
your left hand side. We are across the street from Tommy's on your right hand side in the West Loop Business Park. Make a right into the business
park and go straight to the back to section 1213 on your left hand side. We are at suite 130.
From North Houston: Go 610 South to Katy Rd. Take a right at the stop sign. Take another right at the second light, which is N. Post Oak. Make a right
into the West Loop Business Park and go straight to the back to section 1213 on your left hand side. We are at suite 130.
Weird, I know. There are TWO different names in here. They called themselves UPM Universal Promotional Marketing in the e-mail, and the website they list is for PMG Pro-Marketing Group. So I decided to go anyway, just to bust them. And ok, here's how is seems to work. They bring you in for an interview. This is where they weed out they the people they think are too smart/well-informed to fall for it. I tried to act dumb to really get to this next interview, but I think I asked too many intelligent questions. I would be really surprised if I got a second interview. Oh, and guess what, there was yet ANOTHER NAME on the actual office. It said Aurora Marking Group.
I flat out asked them How do you make money? He when on and on about marketing and then decided to say that they sell office supplies to business. I asked my interviewer why their website had no place for potential clients to contact them to use their services. He was a bit flustered, but eventually decided to say that their parent company provided all their clients. I asked him the name of their parent company. He was very careful not to give an actual name; he just started listing major retailers that he claimed were clients. At one point, he even claimed be responsible for the UPS ad campaign What can Brown do for You?
It is so obvious that this is not a real job opening, or a legitimate company. I did not get the name of the man that interviewed me. But, the business card I picked up had the name IRMA CANTU on it. He said that she is the owner. I found this company by answering an add on a legitimate job site.
I'm sure they are selling something. And from some of the other posts on this site, it seems to be some sort of management training program. I hope this post prevents people from falling for it.
Oh, and another thing that was very suspistous, the girl who called to set up my interview also said that she would call to remind me on the day of my interview. What kind of a company does that?
Serina
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.
0 comments