Insight Global Incorporated phishing for information on the guise that they are offering a job Golden Valley, Minnesota

 I was contacted by Insight Global Incorporated's Denver office on 10/9/2013 at 6:03 pm EST.  I was unable to take accurate notes at the time because I was driving and did not capture the young woman's name.  She explained that she found my resume online and was I interested in a long-term contract with Lexis-Nexis in Atlanta, GA.  We spoke a bit about my qualificiations, availability, the normal conversation. 

Then she tells me that Lexis-Nexis requires my SSN to start the process.  I adamantly refused since this is a sign of phishing and no other recruiting agency has asked for my SSN.  She kept saying she couldn't submit the resume without it.  I told her I was okay with not being submitted because there was no way I would ever supply my SSN to someone who was cold-calling me and that I've never run into a situation where any legitimate agency demands this information upfront.  Then, she back-peddled, said she would look into it and send me an email where I could send her an updated resume.  Of course, no email was ever received.

I am now suspicious of Insight Global Incorporated and do not believe they are a legitimate operation.

 I recently interviewed with this company. They asked who I was interviewing with besides them. I told her the company she called me and asked for the person's name. Thats a little unethical if you ask me. She called the company and let them know that they were representng me and they would like to work with them. Unethical practices sorry but its true

I received a call from Insight Global the other day.  The recruiter I spoke with was very up front with the company he was hiring for, as well as the specific position,  and we talked about salary, benefits, etc.  He seemed to be very up front and honest with everything.  I have to go into their office to meet them for a few minutes before I have an interview with the client next week. In a week or two, I will post my experiences.

I appreciate the perception. I believe that any company can grow past a bad set of choices if given the time to do so and given they have the resources to withstand bad reviews. I have had no other calls since that last one and am happy to see that Insight has made changes to their tactics. It is a tough world in business and whether it be training, restructuring or a new drive... companies deserve a fair chance at business. I wish Insight the best in business. It may be a fluke that untrained or under trained employees leave a bad name or may be the attention of the previous posts that caused Insight to notice the concerns but regardless, the time span does show growth. 

Thank you Insight for seemingly correcting the disturbing path and bringing your public view to a higher level of ethical standards and with it, respect. I have not heard bad things from Insight since the above posts after my initial one. If Insight is still recruiting, they must have corrected the problems.

I received a call from this number today, and since I've been harassed recently by telemarketers despite my number being on the do not call registry, I still get contacted frequently.  Anyhow, I came across this post when doing a search, read through all of the comments, and the only thing I noticed was that it is a bit outdated.  The second time the gentleman called, I answered and heard what he had to say, keeping this post in mind. 

He seemed very upfront about his purpose and reason for contacting me.  He willingly gave me his name and the company he was recruiting for (his own and the prospective employer--contract-to-hire position), and the job information that I had requested.  He only wanted to verify my employment (which was listed on my resume anyway), but didn't go any further than getting the company name.  He never asked for references or any personal information. 

He was very polite and I suppose my biggest point being that perhaps this company underwent some restructuring, and had some policy changes.  After all was said and done, he determined I was not going to be a good fit for the position he was recruiting for (as I go to school full time and would only be available part time). 

Here's a list of the information he gathered from me: 
1. my current employer (which he knew, but just verified)
2. my current city of residence (not specific address) 
3. My ideal position 
4. Why I was looking for new employment while already employed (I don't currently work in IT, and those are the positions they recruit for)
5. What my ideal wage would be 
6. What my date available to start would be, and if I could work the desired hours the company requested.  

That's it....   maybe take everything with a grain of salt, and always watch out for yourself, but you can't always trust reviews, good or bad....ake your own opinions.  This has been my experience, 3 years after the original complaint posted here.

I have never written to such a site before but my experience with Insight Global today has left me upset and caused me to Google if this is a scam or not - and I  ran across these postings.  I feel compelled to offer my experience.

I am an in demand IT professional with many years of in depth technical experience, a past technical CIO at a large manufacturing company, past university technical lead, and currently own an IT consulting business. (Where we like to say we're the best of the best)  A year ago my wife and I decided to relocate to south Florida so about 6 months ago I decided to post a resume on the major boards to see what kind of response I'd get.    (I'm winding down my involvement in our business but don't want to "retire" - I'm to young.)  Also note I changed my resume 3 times on the boards, each time highlighting a different skill set from my pretty extensive repertoire.

Interesting each time about 3 weeks after I changed my resume on the boards I've gotten calls from 3 separate Insight recruiters.  Each asked if I'd be interested "in a 4 month PHP programmer engagement with the possibility of direct hire."  (Now, none of my resumes have been focused on development although I do mention it in my skills set;Among other things  I'm a long time developer and have written things like compilers/interpreters for various projects.  If I wanted to sit at home or office and do that I have more than enough direct opportunity. but I don't.  I've said this to each recruiter)

Darn, I didn't make the connection until today.  I now realize each time a recruiter has talked with me they open with the same job description, and in fact each has said almost exactly the same thing and  I now suspect they're reading from a script.  Interesting they refuse to say who the opportunity is with...

Anyway, each time I have explained I am not interested in such a position and then explained my networking, infrastructure, and in particular security background. The first two times they were better at chatting with me and drawing out references/names/contact info; today, the recruiter immediately went to asking me for references,  focusing on the companies (clients) on my resume but most interested in asking what companies I've recently been talking with in the area, and pressed me for the names of the people in them I've talked to.  (and fact he became surly when I said I was uncomfortable with giving the names)  I did mention I had talked to others within his group previously - he knew that and that made him press harder for contact info.

After several minutes of talking he "promised to update my records within their database and send me an email with his contact information" (which I never received) and abruptly hung up.

Now I feel embarrassed that I gave them as much information as I did regarding my background, companies,  and opportunities and  I hope I didn't compromise any of our clients.   I feel taken advantage of by this phishing expedition. Now I have to contact my references and others and apologize for turning over their contact information.

Calls to the corporate office this afternoon have went unanswered  today.   But always on the bright side,  I'm an active presenter at various security conferences and now I have another (personal) example to use in my presentations.

In this day and age you need to be careful about electronic communications and the sense of legitimacy they present.

Thanks much for listening -  But please be aware.

P.S. - Note I have sat down with a couple of legit recruiters in the area who are excellent!  I had lunch with one yesterday.  I've been reviewing  3-5 "real" opportunities a week from them the last few weeks - there's definitely lots of work out there!  There's a great demand for good IT talent - the proficient recruiters I've met here do a fantastic job finding it!

As an ex-employee of Insight Global I feel its my duty to comment.  Insight Global is more concerned with getting "managerial references" from potential contractors than matching you to a position.  Many times, especially in new markets, the recruiters are filtering resumes by past and current employers calling you only to get you to give up names of managers, lying to you about having a position available that "youd be a great fit for" or "you might be interested in".  If you are actually a fit and looking for a position, they will insist that you give at least 3 past managers names and contact information before your resume can be submitted to the client for consideration.  As a recruiter the two most important pieces of information I was instructed to get was previous employment and managers name using many deceitful tactics.  "We work with ABC quite a bit, was it John Smith?  "Oh weve placed someone with them before, was it at 123 Main Street?"  After gathering as many names and companies from your past employment then they might reveal a little information about the position available, if there even is one.  And lastly, have no fear, the majority, (99% even?) of their positions are contract and you will be low balled and underpaid.  IGI seems more interested to me in maximizing their profit margin than finding quality employees.  But then again, why worry about their contractor when they will probably only be in their position for a few months at most?  Lastly, Ive spoke to and been submitted to dozens of jobs and went on plenty of interviews set up by 3rd party recruiting agencies and dont think Ive ever been asked to give a managerial reference.

"What you wrote seems a load of hogwash to me..."
The transcription was the actual phone conversation. I was taken back by the 'hogwash' I was hearing as well but it is not for me to decide...

 "...and it sounds like you may have been frustrated in your own job search."
As mentioned, I was not looking for a job. I am certain that I am not the only person that fails to remove their resume off of Monster.com. During the time of the call, I was not looking but instead, the business that you used to work for was looking for me.

The interest of being crass and abrasive by an ex-employee carries no weight toward or against the nature of the business... especially when that ex-employee does not attempt to read through the posting that they are showing disinterest to.

"This company is just like any other IT recruiting company. No better, no worse, and certainly not unethical in their hiring practices."
I did not question hiring processes. I questioned the unethical practice of contacting people for the sole interest of collecting information under the guise of having a position.  "Do you think it is ethical to hang a proverbial carrot over their head while requesting private information?" 

"They don't collect any more information than any other IT recruiter collects."
I have not nor ever will do business with a company that requests my social security number (unless legally required to do so) or any information that is not considered public information about the business or businesses I am or have worked for. To ask such questions is not illegal but the practice of promising employees incentives to present that information is unethical if the business is in any way aware that there is no position available. 

"Your review sounds like you had a bone to pick with someone and you decided to do it with Insight."
When the question:
"Q: So, forgive me if I am confused but it seems your business simply calls people from online resume postings and collects as much internal information possible about businesses so that your business can learn of internal business practices and so that your sales team can find new businesses to solicit. Is that true? "
was posed, the only reply that was made was:
"A:That is not illegal"

Who would want to do business with a company that seemingly walks the fine line of unethical/illegal so well that their representatives are likely trained to say such things in defense of their actions?...

I have made no claim that the business was practicing illegal actions. I have questioned the ethical standards of the business in the practice of collecting private business information under the guise of having quality positions for people that direly need employment.

Is such actions proof that the business preys on the hardship of the working force?

Is it unethical to suggest great riches in exchange for private company information?

This is my experience with Insight Global - take from it what you will, but I will not do business with them.

I did an internet search on Insight Global this week after they cold called me with a "great job opportunity".   They found my resume and contact info on Monster. At first it seemed to be the norm for a staffing agency cold call.  Asked me about my experience, prior pay rate, location preferences, etc.

The "red flags" came when he asked me for my "managerial" references right then over the phone before even setting up an in person meeting or submitting my resume to a client and also when he talked about my pay rate in terms of "hourly".  I'm a manager, I usually am salaried.  This suggested it would be a contract job, but he did not tell me that up front.

 We had hung up after the initial conversation about how he was going to go to the client with my resume and "try to get me more money" and how perfect a fit I was.   He called back and said he'd forgotten to ask for the references and wanted them over the phone. I asked him if I could email them to him. He agreed and then sent me an email request for them.
References are normally not asked for by an agency until later in the process of signing up with them or after you've landed an interview.

Now having said all that, I don't really have a problem with agencies using references as business leads. I'm sure most of them do that.   It's just that it seemed so *important* that they have them right away, that it got my spidey sense tingling.

So I did a search and found the reports on this site, on 800notes, and other places scattered about the web. A lot of bad reviews and a lot of good reviews and a lot of "don't listen to the other reviews".  

So I started asking my new recruiter questions. 

1) Is this a contract job or a real job with the company that would include benefits?
2) Is the client public or private (they had said health care) and is experience in the industry necessary?

He came back with a response that this was with Kaiser as a one year contract with "possible perm".    Keep in mind I am a manager. and my position is not normally contract and he did not tell me this up front.  Also, most recruiters in my experience won't tell you the name of the client until you've signed up and have been submitted for an interview.

Form my web search I also found that many people are happy with contracting through Insight Global and do well.  Some have had problems with pay and getting communication from them.  So there's good and bad.

I am not interested in going for a year with no affordable benefits or working as a contractor so I told him this in my response.  However, I said if it was a contract directly with Kaiser and included benefits and payroll through them to let me know and I'd still consider it as I think it would be a good opportunity.  I also asked if I was a contractor through Insight Global, what would the medical benefits be if any and could he tell me about how the contract situation would work.

He has not responded.  That was two days ago. I am suddenly no longer interesting.  I never gave him the references.

I went directly to the Kaiser website and did my own job search there.  There is no "supervisor" position (this is the title he gave me)  matching my skill set listed for the location we spoke about.  This also raised a red flag of course.

And...today I received a brand new cold call from the same number but different person - left a message saying they have a "great job opportunity" for me.  Verbatim what the first guy said.  REALLY?

So..here's my sum-up of Insight Global:

1) The boiler room theory is probably true and they do work from a script. 
 
2) They are on a big push right now to drum up new leads and they don't really have a position for me specifically.

3)I believe they are a legit placement company for IT contractors, but use bait and switch tactics to get their leads, knowing people are desperate and will grab at pretty much any chance for an opportunity with a big company.  Thankfully, I'm not desperate.  Oh and I'm not IT either, but they said they sometimes get positions for my department.

To those of you who work with them and love it - that's great! To everyone else, just be careful and do your research.

I have worked for Insight and frankly I am amazed to read what you wrote. What you wrote seems a load of hogwash to me and it sounds like you may have been frustrated in your own job search. This company is just like any other IT recruiting company. No better, no worse, and certainly not unethical in their hiring practices. They don't collect any more information than any other IT recruiter collects. Your review sounds like you had a bone to pick with someone and you decided to do it with Insight.

I am sorry you and Debby had a poor experiences with Insight Global. I would be more than happy for you to contact me personally to make sure this situation is addressed immediately. Please email me at pr@insightglobal.net at your earliest convenience to discuss your concerns and remedy the situation.

Sincerely,

Bert Bean

Vice President of Insight Global

 I received a call from 763-252-0600 also. The caller left no message on my answer machine, though my answer machine picked up voices in the background. I consider all callers that do not leave a voice message HARASSMENT calls. Obviously the intent of their call is not important or necessary, otherwise the caller would have left a message.
 I look up callers numbers as displayed on my caller ID. I keep a list of callers who were inconsiderate enough to call and leave no message. When the same number appears on my caller ID again - I do not answer.
 Thank You to the CIO for posting the intention of this call.
 I am unemployed and I would not want to be taken in by a phishing scam that might jeopardize my integrity. I am proud of my standards and ethics and I would have been very upset to have them compromised for the false impression of an employment opportunity.