I wish that I had investigated this company before plunking down $3500 for their services. I came across them via Six Figures (both Allen and Associates and Six Figures are owned by the same parent company). After opening my Six Figures account, I was offered free resume advice. I accepted the offer, and a week later, a Mike Smith called me
Issue One: Their campaign people must be trained to use a script. I was told almost verbatim what everyone else has reported about this company. Mike Smith said, "We personally contact fewer than 100 people directly and when we do it is because they have an exceptional work background." Don't believe it. This is a come on!
Issue Two: The services I have received thus far are a written resume, broadcast letter, a generic cover letter, a list of companies to call, answering service, and 90 minutes of career counseling. You are told that your broadcast letter is sent to 175 companies. I have only confirmed so far that the letter went to 11 companies. The quality of writing is mediocre. I have already rewritten the resume.
Additionally, many companies require you to enter your information on their job website because they use a standard format. (I can understand the logic here since it makes screening easier for the company recruiter.)
Issue Three: The career counselor I have is excellent, but she often contradicts what the company's job campaign manual is telling you to do.
Issue Four: You are told that the contact people have a professional relationship with Allen and Associates. That is a lie! You are telemarketing yourself. You are told to tell each person you contact that you are doing research on his or her industry as a lead in. No one is buying that.
Issue Four: The Meta Search function on their website simply scans for hits given whatever search criteria you input. Their are free job meta search engines already on the internet.
Issue Five: I cannot locate any data as to the number of job seekers who have successfully found fulltime employment via Allen and Associates. I have, however, found loads of customer complaints. During twenty-six complaints were filed with the BBB against Allen and Associates.
Issue Six: There are fewer than 10 major corporations on my job list—even though I specifically asked for major companies. I even made them do a second search. The results were disappointing.
Issue Seven: Fees are charged upfront before services are rendered.
The job market is very competitive and Allen and Associates preys upon your vulnerability. The services provided by Allen and Associates are not worth the outrageous fees charged. A class action suit needs to be placed against this company.
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