Apple One Employment, Pasadena, CA Horrible service, incompetent personnel, unprofessional, no business acumen, ineffective, unresponsive Pasadena California

On 2/17/14 I called the agency and was transferred to Maria Popp. Miss Popp informed me that she would need a copy of my resume before she could assist me. She asked that I provide my email address so that I could reply with a copy of my resume. I had to repeatedly spell my email because she seemed incapable of spelling it correctly, despite having to slowly spell out my address. Each time I respelled my name, would reply, "That's what I said." Evidently that's not what she said, otherwise why was forced to respell my email address? I also told her I had taken and successfully passed ProveIt tests with another agency. She replied saying, "You'll have to take them again but I'll send them to you after I receive your resume." Immediately following conclusion of the call, I replied to Ms. Popp's email, attaching a copy of my resume. 

On 2/19/14, I sent Miss Popp an email because I had never received a response to the resume I sent her. She sent back an email stating, "I need a copy of your resume." I responded, advising her that I sent her a copy of my resume 2 days earlier and would resend it to her. A few minutes later, I resent my original email along with the copy of my resume. 

2 hours later, I called Ms. Popp and asked if she received my resume. She asked that I give her a moment while she searched for my email. She located my resume and began by stating, "I didn't understand what you meant when you wrote to me." I asked if she was referring to my reply advising her I sent her my resume on 2/17/14. She replied, "I don't know- I don't remember." She quickly looked at my resume and asked, why I had been working the past 3 years as a freelance writer. I told her that after 7 years of employment with a company, I decided to work freelance. She asked, "Well, how do you pay your rent and food?" Evidently, with money. I reiterated that I work on a freelance basis, which is my sole source of income. She said that the 3 years of freelance work is considered a lapse in employment (???). How so? It's work, isn't it? She then asked, "So how's the job search going?" Well, obviously I am in search of a job if I've contacted her agency and sent her my resume on 2 separate dates. 

She asked if I could provide her references from the last employer I worked with for 7 years. I told her that I could and actually had these in my possession. She next requested that I provide her a letter of reference from an employer I worked with for only 3 weeks (temporary assignment) in 2011. I have never heard of an employer providing a letter of reference to an employee who worked one 3-week assignment. They might provide a letter verifying that I was employed by them for a single assignment but a letter of reference or commendation might be difficult to obtain particularly with regards to their policy.

I asked Maria if she was going to send me the ProveIt test. She said that I would have to first come and meet with her at her office. I told her this would be fine and asked when we could meet. She said she didn't know because she didn't have access to her calendar and didn't know what was available. She added, "Why don't we meet sometime on Friday, but I'll have to send you the time tomorrow or Friday." 

Its now 2/20/14 and though she allegedly wishes to meet with her tomorrow, I've yet to receive an email advising me of a time when we might meet. What Ms. Popp fails to comprehend that in the same way her a agency screens potential clients, clients also screen prospective agencies. I do not intend to meet with Ms. Popp. Her complete lack of professional acumen is outstanding. Her questions about my income were absurd and I believe fell far outside of her scope of responsibility. I would suggest avoiding Apple One's Pasadena office and in particular, Maria Popp. Evidently, she just dull enough not to understand that people seek employment because they need to work.