J L Kirk Associates ripoff Brentwood Tennessee

I responded to an ad on career builders while I was going through a transition in careers and really wanted to look at what I had to offer, what I enjoyed in my work and what I could absolutely live with out.


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Company: JL KIRK ASSOCIATES
Location: US-TN-Nashville
Base Pay: N/A
Employee Type: Full-Time Employee
Industry: Employment - Recruiting - Staffing
Other Great Industries
Manages Others: no
Job Type: Executive
Management
Other
Req'd Education: None
Req'd Experience: Not Specified
Req'd Travel: Not Specified
Relocation Covered: No




Contact: Not Available Phone: 615-376-4650
Email: Send Email Now Fax: (615) 613-0301
Instantly fax your resume! >>

Ref ID: 0100245384

When I sent my resume, I had no idea that this was a service I would need to pay for, in fact because of how the ad was posted on careerbuilders.com, I thought I was actually applying for a position with JL Kirk.

When I received an email from JL Kirk saying they were interested, I contacted them and was set up for an appointment, of course I thought this was an interview, only to arrive and find out their intent was different from mine.

However I meet with a lovely engaging screener (I did not know that was what her position was at the time) who really helped me to feel I had a lot to offer an employer after we spent quite a bit of time together and after I filled out various forms.

I was then told they would do an assessment of my strengths and possible career options I should be thinking about or considering so that I in fact would not just be looking for a job but, looking for a career I would be happy with, and compensation suited to my abilities.

I left feeling Great! Supported, validated and sure I was no longer on this journey alone. I never saw the woman again.

The next visit was with what I later learned was the sales person. He gave me my assessment, which looked hopeful and then when asked dead on what was the cost I was looking at being sure by this point they did not work for employers, but were paid by the searcher.

I was shocked when I was shown the figures for 1 year of service guaranteed and the other option of 3 years of service guaranteed.

There was a discount if you were already among the ranks of the unemployed as opposed to just looking to make change. Told them I would have to think about this amount at which time the tone changed, which should have been my queue. However, I returned a short time later and signed for the 1-year option at the discounted rate of $3,782.50 in Dec of 06.

I then had to contact them to stop payment on the check as I had just found out I was losing yet another source of income.
I explained as I had repeatedly that I was a single parent and the sole support for my child and myself.

Then in Jan of 07, I received an e-mail (form) out of the blue asking me to submit my resume to JL Kirk. I took this as a sign I needed to go back and work them on my career change, with the added benefit of knowing they would help find a "stop-gap" job to help with expenses while I worked on the career change.

I did just that and began working with career a counselor right away on my resume. When I asked about a stopgap position because I was reaching crisis mode, the only reply I received was go to Home Depot, or Target they are always hiring. I was shocked this was no my impression of helping me obtain a stopgap position, I could obviously have come up with those 2 on my own.

From that day forward I never left the office in Brentwood, feeling positive or even good about the work I was or they were doing.

After resume complete shuffled off to yet another career counselor, who I could not have had less in come with (much like the resume counselor, although at least he was a very nice, kind human being.

Both of these gentleman had military backgrounds and it showed. I never made a connection on any level with either except black and white tasks.
I did all the things the 2nd counselor asked me to do and never received feed back or support from him, finally I stopped going to the office to meet and would e-mail my weekly networking report and again no feedback.

The job leads I received from him as 'unpublished' were in fact published and 2 I had applied for several months prior.

They was no distinct knowledge or understanding of what I did professionally in the healthcare field and yet again when I yelled fire, I was given no help with obtaining a reasonable stop-gap position.

After sending an e-mail of my concerns to both counselors and the sales rep and having had no one respond, 2 months later I talked with Rich Leipzig and he was concerned said knew their were stop gap positions hat were right for me, he also explained that career counselor had been working with was no longer there. He wanted me to come in right away to speak with what turned out to be another career counselor, instead of someone to talk about my concerns, if they could be alleviated or if we needed to negotiate a refunding of my monies.

This guy was worse than the last, I felt like I was on the witness stand, and was approached as if I was the one who had not done my work. I stopped the meeting, explaining this was not hat I was prepared for when I came in and left.

I have left voicemails as well as e-mails with Rich stating I was not satisfied and wanted to talk about a return of my monies.
Have yet to hear back from him, this is July 7 months into the process, I have not had a remarkable career change, have not been on one interview which they arranged or lead me to, and have never gotten a stop-gap job.

In fact when I filed for unemployment I received the same information and access to a much better database of active employers.

When I saw yet another deceptive ad in the classifieds and on line again, I new I could not set back any longer, if not for myself and trust me I need the money back, but to keep someone in a situation similar to mine from loosing money, time and an emotional investment when they could ill afford to loose any of those things.

I do not believe I have ever felt so conned or mislead in my whole life. Next to hiring an attorney whom I do not have funds for, I do not know where else to turn. My last e-mail gave a dead line of 7/8/06 and I have not heard back from them, so I'm doing what I can to let others know to Beware.


Marilyn
Nashville, Tennessee
U.S.A.