I left my employer of 10 years in 2010. I placed my resume on Six Figure Jobs and the Ladders, and shortly thereafter, I received numerous phone calls from a woman working for Next Opp. I said I wasn't interested, but she kept calling. The woman insited that I listen to her and told me that the company works only with elite Executives who they have already pre-placed among their bank of employers who regularly draw from their pre-qualified hand-picked candidates. Being multi-lingual and having vast executive experience, I started to listen. Although I normally do not buy into BS, I was told that they already had a $200K position that I qualified for. So, I agreed to stop in and listen to them.
When I went there, I was told that their placement was over 96%, and that they could place me within about 12-15 weeks - particularly with a specific company. I asked about the specific job cited on the call, and was told after I employed Next Opp the opportunities would become available. I paid, and expected to receive an executive resume, a unique web presence website, gain access to the alleged bank of employers, and obtain a coach. I was told that there were a few positions they already had lined up for me.
In short, their recommendations for my resume were boilerplate. The weekly coaching sessions were set up with my coach who ran about 20-45 minutes late every session, and almost always cut me short. She asked me to spend 11 weeks to do an exercise - and instructed me not to go on a single interview until complete (this is critical). They did not and would not provide me with my unique web presence. Nor would they refund the money I paid that was, per my contract directly for the design of that site - $1200. When my counselor was a no-show for the second time in one month, having driven 60 miles roundtrip to meet in Princeton, I met with David Cutler. I told him I was fed up, and that Next Opp was not the professional organization it claimed to be. There was no bank of employers, there were no interviews. There was no unique web presence, and the coach I was assigned was less than professional (I would have fired her). I wasted 11 weeks going through a program with no finish line, and got no interviews. If I had the time I would pursue Next Opp legally.
In short: David Cutler is a crook. He preys on the recently unemployed. He is not honorable. His company combs executive sites for people his company wishes take money from, and lies to get them to subscribe. He employs unreliable, questionable individuals. Per his discussions with me, I would call him a liar. He has no business working with quality executives. As far as I am concerned, after about 5-6 months of substandard interaction, and non-completion of contractual obligations by Next Opp, I kindly asked Mr. Cutler to refund the web presence money for a service that his company never executed. He did not refund the money, citing his partner's unwillingness to comply (if there is a partner).
Despite Mr. Cutler's telling me to be prepared to go on a whirlwind schedule of interviews all over New York City - I did not obtain one single interview in the entire period that I worked with Next Opp. Rather, Blaine LeRoy placed me in contact with two Executive Recruiters - which was just odd considering Next Opp introduced themselves to me as a placement firm. They do not arrange interviews, and their allegations of a job bank are, to the best of my knowledge, a sham. They take your money, and then give you flyers, not interviews. Beware of Next Opp.
If anybody else reading this wishes to file a class action suit against Next Opp and Mr. David Cutler: I have my supporting documentation, and an eagerness to obtain a refund, plus damages plus legal for services not rendered and much time wasted. Mr. Cutler missed his chance to kindly refund my requested amount.
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