I posted my resume on monster and was surprised to receive a call 2 days later from a company I had not even applied to. A lady by the name of Jennifer Mackay called me from Legacy Enterprises (a company I have never heard of) stating that she had seen my resume on monster.ca and would like for me to come in for an interview the very next day.
Before scheduling the interview I wanted to find out about the company of course. She told me that it was a marketing firm, to which i thought I don't have any experience in that field. She assured me that it had nothing to do with telemarketing or sales, and that I would be doing some marketing, data entry etc., and that I would be basically working an office job "unsupervised".
She also told me to dress professionally, which i assumed and to also bring a copy of my resume along. She told me I would have an interview with James and that he would be able to fill me in on the job description since she was unable to do so. She told me she did not know much about the job.
So i went to the interview the next day to see a very friendly receptionist, who was the lady I spoke with, Jennifer. I came in and filled out a form which had the basics name, address, references which were not specified, and whether or not I owned a vehicle. I was scheduled for 230 and waited until about 3 to see James. At which point his 3 oclock showed up, a younger gentleman in a suit. My interview didn't last long it was about 10-15 minutes.
He seemed to go around my questions but i was persistant in him answering them. When I asked for a job description, he told me I would be working with clients, businesses, and companies. I would be speaking to them about direct energy, possibly doing presentations, saving them money and keeping them as clients. He also told me I mite be at a information session with hundreds of people answering their questions about direct energy.
It seemed like an ideal job as he told me about how much room there was to grow in the company. He told me in a couple months I may be supervising a team myself. It seemed very promising. I thought maybe I can really grow with this company since it is fairly new. When I asked him about pay he paused. He told me last year the lowest income was 35000 and the highest was 91000. I was foolishly impressed by the numbers he gave me and didn't press on. At this time he informed me that he would be holding 8 interviews, 3 of which would be called back for a second interview. He told me I would be shadowing with an "account manager" for the second interview which would be a full 8 hour shift from 1pm-9pm.
I was surprised actually when he called me a few hours later to let me know I got the second interview. Surprised because I thought there must be people much more qualified for this prestigious job. I was to go in on MOnday, well earlier today that was, for the day of observation. I had some difficulty getting there, which I should have taken as a sign for I was about to really regret going down there.
Upon Arrival I had to sign a sheet stating that my day of observation would be strictly voluntary. I was surprised to see that on paper. I thought that the company would be paying since I would be spending 8 hours that day. But there wasn't much I could do so I just signed it. James came out a few minutes later and introduced me to Sara. She seemed around my age, but I didn't think too much of it. She told me to follow her and we were headed to the elevator along with a few others. Once we got outside I was confused and asked her where we were going and what we were doing "you'll see"
she said as she instructed me to get into the backseat of a black bmw with two other guys I am assuming worked there as well.
While we were driving and listening to ludacris in the car I was having a bad feeling about the entire ordeal. She pulled out a map and was instructing the guy driving on how to get to St. Albert. I was like what!? But I still didn't know what was going on why we were going there and what we were going to do once we were there. They brushed off my questions, and started asking me questions. Sara was very friendly so I started to feel a bit at ease. Then they all started talking about how wonderful their job was and how easy it was. Which is about the time I found out that Sara had only been working there for one month. One month?!! and I'm being sent out to shadow with her.
Account Manager my... foot...
Well we arrived in God knows where in St. Albert at which point we got out of the car and the boys drove away. We started going door to door. She was asking people questions about their direct energy bill, which I was still not sure why she was doing so. She kept asking the same question door to door, until we came to one house. Instead of asking the elderly gentleman the same questions she was asking everyone else she asked him if he had any problems with direct energy. After we left the house I asked why she asked that at which point she told me we can't peddle to people over 65. I was beginning to realize what was going on. On and on we went through the freezing cold trying hard not to fall over the ice as we flew from door to door. I literally had to run to keep up with her.
When I realized I had been duped, I didn't know wut to do. I didn't know where I was and I was too far to take the bus home in Edmonton. I also didn't have cash on me only debit or I wouldve taken a cab. When I thought this torture would never end it was time for lunch. We went to Arby's for about a half hour then it was out into the cold once again. We were supposed to be out there for another 4 hours without a break, when i decided to call my mother and let her know what exactly was happening.
She wanted me to come home, but the boys weren't coming to get us until 830. I was freezing as I wasn't really dressed for the weather, and still went on because I knew I had no other choice. It was at this time my sister called me and told me she was getting me because she had spoken with my mother and knew this wasn't rite. I let Sara know something must be wrong since my sister called me 4 times and got the heck out of there. She made sure I called James however before I left, oh well he didn't answer anyways.
When my sister came to get me I was so relieved, as I had windburn on my face and I was shaking from the cold. As I told her the days events she knew what the company did to me wasn't right. They mislead me, lied to me, and left me in a helpless situation. I agree and this is why I want to let everyone know about this company, I don't want anyone else to go through this. The sad part of this all is all the people in the company are so young and are being taken advantage of. Honestly, the way they were talking about the company seemed to me like they were being brainwashed, like it was a cult or something. And after reading all the complaints about this company I know I am not alone. The way she was talking about moving up and so much promise in the company, I honestly felt bad for her.
I hope anyone thinking about getting involved with this company will read this before it is too late. I am going to be speaking to James about this, but I doubt he will care. Sara also let me know that she goes out door to door all alone, in the dark. I told her that is dangerous but shes 100% sure nothing will happen to her, as she confidently goes into strangers houses, mostly men when they invite her in out of the cold. I just hope nothing happens to any of the girls. Especially when they will be going door to door in the next freezing months to come.
Ripped off
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
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