I, like many others, am desperate for work. I applied for a temporary bookstore clerk position in Charlotte, NC with a company called Spherion through CareerBuilder.com. I soon received a call that they had received my application, but were interested in me regarding a medical receptionist position they had coming up which worked for me because I had previous experience in that field. I was asked to go to their website and create a profile by registering my information (personal, resume, refernces, education, etc). A week goes by and I hear nothing. I just received an email from a Christopher Tegner (supposedly a staffing consultant with Spherion) in regards to a call center position with Hewitt & Associates.

The email read as follows:

"Hewitt and Associates - Inbound Customer Service - Testing on the way - Please Read Regarding Interviewing Process <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />


You have been sent this email because you applied to the open positions (via Career Builder) with Hewitt and Associates. Your resume was selected because you possess the necessary customer service background for the positions.


I have added your email address to my list and will send you out tests shortly. It is important that you read this email and understand the requirements for the positions as well as the hiring process.


If you have been scheduled for an interview already or are working with another Spherion associate please disregard this email.


If you have received this message more than once it is because you applied to the job posting more than once. Please disregard this email.


About the Position


Job Description


Assisting customers with open enrollment in an inbound call center environment. Customer will call requesting to change or add to their benefits packages.
Paid training and on the job training will aid you in acclimating into this role. Training classes are extensive and have shown to provide the skills and tools necessary to excel at the position.
This is not a high turnover call center position. The environment is very professional and team orientated. Punctuality and compliance with rules is essential to success in this role.
As a customer service advisor you will be responsible for representing various companies that use Hewitt as their HR outsourcer. You will strive to facilitate the needs of the customers while providing world class customer service.


Name of Company


Hewitt and Associates


Company Information


Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) provides clients with best-in-class human resources consulting and outsourcing services. Hewitt consults with more than 3, 000 large and mid-size companies around the globe to develop and implement HR business strategies covering retirement, financial and health management; compensation and total rewards; and performance, talent and change management. As a market leader in benefits administration, Hewitt delivers health care and retirement programs to millions of participants and retirees, on behalf of more than 300 organizations worldwide. In addition, more than 30 clients rely on Hewitt to provide a broader range of human resources business process outsourcing services to nearly a million client employees.


Key Facts

· Achieved global revenue of approximately $2.9 billion in fiscal 2007.

· Clients include more than half the FORTUNE 500® and more than a third of the FORTUNE Global 500®.

· Nearly 95% of our largest clients have worked with Hewitt for at least five years.

· Recognized as one of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />America 's Most Admired Companies (FORTUNE, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004).

· Named as the top end-to-end outsourcing provider (Workforce Management, 2007).

· Leads the HR Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry with a 37% share of the market (Everest Global, Inc., November 2007, based on total contract value).

· Named China 's HR Consulting Firm of the Year for Talent Management (ChinaSTAFF Magazine, 2007).


General Job location


Charlotte, NC 28262 (located near UNC campus off IBM Drive – North East Charlotte )


Pay


$13.00 hourly / 40 hours weekly Overtime is time and a half


Requirements


Must be flexible with your schedule. Musts be able to work between hours of operation. Hours of operation are 7:00 am to 9:00 pm. There is no guarantee of 1st or 2nd shift.


Must be able to pass criminal background check.


Must possess at least 2 Years of customer service experience.


Terms


Long Term Contract – Can be hired on permanently during or at end of contract (depending on performance and attendance)


Tests


Tests will be sent out shortly


· Call Center Listening – If you are in a quiet environment and have a pen and paper you should do fine on this one


· Call Center Environment – Simulated conversation/notation process.


· Grammar Test – 50% spelling / 50% Grammar - MS Word (spell check enabled) is a good way to practice for this


· Windows – Tests Windows knowledge


Job Fit Test – This is not scored on a percentage and simply identifies skills from your resume and tests you on them. This can take about 20 – 25 mins


Credit Checks


You will be contacted and sent an employment credit check upon taking tests.


Must bring in the following to your interview


You have ample time to obtain this documentation.


Two forms of Identification


(Drivers License or State ID, Social Security Card and/or Passport)


A copy of your H.S Diploma or College Degree


(Transcripts are acceptable)


Completed Acxiom Background Check Forms (I will send with your interview confirmation when the time comes – all you have to do is print and sign)


Copies of your paycheck stub or W-2 for each company you’ve worked at for the last 7 years (sounds like a lot but can easily be obtained by contacting the IRS – they can fax the info to you all at once)


Updated copy of your resume (When interviewing for any job it is always a good rule of thumb to have a copy of your resume with you – demonstrating that you have customer service experience is important on the resume)


Frequently Asked Questions


Where can I obtain a copy of my W-2 forms?


If you do not have a copy of the pay stub or W-2, please call IRS at 1-800-829-1040. IRS will fax it you the same day. If IRS informs you that it will take 48 hrs or 90 days to be mailed, please let them know it’s for employment verification and that it needs to be faxed in today.


IRS will send it to you the same day, please have IRS fax the information to you. You will need to be near the fax machine to confirm you have received the faxed, you must be present to confirm the receipt of the fax or they will not send it. Please bring W-2’s to your interview or you can fax them into Spherion.


****Please remember to have IRS include the name of your employer on the W-2 when they fax it over****


How can I obtain my high school transcripts?


If you have a High School Diploma, College Diploma, GED Certificate, or transcripts from college/high school you should be fine. If you need to obtain a transcript it can be easy or difficult depending on whether or not you graduated in the state you reside in. Below is a link with general information that will help you with obtaining a transcript


http://www.ehow.com/how_2038291_request-high-school-transcripts.html


I cannot find my Social Security card. How do I get another one?


The following link contains information that will be helpful in obtaining a Social Security card. The link will provide you with the following:


How to locate the nearest Social Security Office
Information regarding the application for a Social Security card.
The required forms of ID necessary to obtain the card
The time frame of obtaining the card


http://www.ehow.com/how_2280930_replace-social-security-card.html


I have misplaced my Driver’s License or State ID. Where can I get another one?


State ID

To get a NC non-driver ID, you can go to any driver license office and apply. You will need the same proof of age and identity as if you were applying for a first-time driver license. The current fee for an ID card is just $10.


Driver’s License Replacement

If you find yourself a victim of a damaged, torn, lost, or stolen license, simply go to the nearest driver license office to apply for a duplicate one. You will be required to show two DMV-approved forms of ID. You only have to pay a $10 fee to have your licensed replaced.

The following link will provide you with information regarding acceptable forms of ID for obtaining both a State ID and a Driver’s License

http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/driver_services/drivershandbook/chapter1/requirements.html


Start Dates


There are 600 + positions to fill. The start dates will be throughout August, and September. These start dates will reflect the training classes that are put in place.


I look forward to speaking to you very soon.


Thanks and good luck!


Christopher Tegner

Staffing Consultant

Recruiting Center, <?xml:namespace prefix = u1 />Itasca

Spherion Corporation


Recruiting and Staffing Excellence


1 Pierce Place Suite 550

Itasca, IL 60143

[email protected]

www.spherion.com"


First of all, I would NEVER apply for a call center position. One of my primary duties at my last job was to answer all incoming calls. There is a reason why I went back to school and it wasn't so I could be low man on the totem pole anymore. They also claim to have 600+ positions to fill which seems unlikely. Secondly, a red flag was that it mentioned it would need a credit report. I have never applied anywhere that required that. Most legitimate staffing agencies have you come in for an interview where you provide your resume and they have you fill out their paperwork. On occassion, should they have a position that meets your needs, you may be asked for a criminal background check and a drug screening. I have never had an agency ask for my school transcripts for a clerical position. Also, the email sent did not contain a company logo and was not formatted properly and consisted of multiple fonts and colors. Another issued I had was that other complaint websites had responses that this is an actual company, but they are victims of scammers who use real companies for fraudulent activities. I don't believe this is the case for several reasons. If you google "Christopher Tegner" there are multiple websites with information linking him to the company. Also, there are similar complaints of mistreatment once hired on several other complaint websites. Another thing was that the position is for the Charlotte area, but instead of being contacted by my local office, I receive an email from a recruiter in Illinois? Lastly, the Sperion website contains many spelling/grammatical errors and does not provide a way to email them through their website. This in itself shows a lack of professionalism that should send off warning bells to anyone with half a brain. I also received a second email asking me to take a proficiency test which seemed odd because you usually do this AFTER the office interview:

"Please note: This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming e-mail. Please do not reply to this message.

Dear Candidate,

Spherion - 801800 would like for you to take a Prove It! session. If you have any questions about this session, please contact Spherion - 801800 or review the Candidate FAQs.

Our support staff is ready to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days per week and can be reached by either phone (877-622-8684) or email ([email protected]).

Your step-by-step instructions are below. We strongly recommend that you print out a copy of these instructions and refer to them during the assessment process.

Instructions

Go to http://spherion.proveit.com/
Ensure that your computer meets or exceeds the minimum system requirements. Important Note Regarding Pop-Up Blockers: Certain pop-up blockers prohibit the launching of a Prove It! test. If you have Pop-Up Blocking software, please locate the software and disable your pop-up blocker.
Under Take a Test enter the following Session ID: 26728411
When prompted, enter your personal information. Some information may be required by your administrator.
Click on the title you wish to begin. If you have been assigned more than one assessment, you must complete your first selected assessment before you will be allowed to begin another one.
After carefully reading the Disclaimer, click "I Accept" to proceed. If you do not accept the terms of the Disclaimer, click "I Decline" and contact your administrator.
After carefully reading the Instructions, click "Begin" to start.
Your assessment will now launch.
Follow any and all on-screen directions.
Answer each question as quickly and efficiently as possible; the amount of time you spend in the assessment will be recorded and reported to your administrator.
Once you have made your final answer choice, move on to the Next Question.
The use of reference materials or other assistance is not allowed unless you are directed otherwise by your administrator. Failure to comply with these instructions may result in disqualification.
You will not be able to skip questions or go back to previous questions.
If you choose to leave the assessment early, you will not be able to restart the assessment.
Continue this process until the assessment is complete.
If you complete an assessment you will not be able to re-enter that assessment. To complete an assessment you must answer all questions presented to you or choose to leave the assessment early. If you are unable to complete the assessment due to loss of Internet service or other computer problems, you will be able to re-enter the assessment until your session expires. In most cases, you will be able to pick up where you left off. Due to the nature of some assessments (such as Typing, Data Entry, or Audio), questions must be answered in one sitting and in a sequential order. For those types of assessments, you will be able to re-enter the assessment but you will have to begin again from the first question. If you experience a disruption while testing, you will be able to continue your session when you log in again with your Session ID. You will be prompted to verify certain information that will allow you to continue the current session.
Following the assessment you will be provided with feedback chosen by your administrator. You may be offered specific question information, or you may be given a raw score. In some cases, your administrator may want you to contact him or her for the results.
Good luck!

The Prove It! team - brought to you by Kenexa

Please note: This e-mail was sent from a notification-only address that cannot accept incoming e-mail. Please do not reply to this message."


I know from complaints on other websites regarding this company that it is after you take this test, that you are asked to get a free credit report to bring to your interview, but the provided link asks for credit card info. Total scam. It's a shame that in these difficult times, certain companies are taking advantage of the jobless by scamming them into giving up their personal info and using it for their own selfish purposes. This company may in fact actually hire people on occassion, but from what I have experienced of its practices, I recommend staying far away. This is my second experience with fake staffing agencies in the last two weeks. Good luck to all my fellow job seekers out there!