Complaint Review: CV Marketing

CV Marketing floods job websites like careerbuilder, jobster, monster, or ajcjobs - they claim to have an exciting entry-level job, promising new college graduates a fantastic career in Marketing or Advertising- they will schedule an interview with you, no matter how qualified you are.

In reality, it is a scam company that forces employees to sell door-to-door coupons.

When you arrive for the interview, the receptionist is playing pop music on XM radio and it's REALLY LOUD. Every single person who has interviewed here has described this creepy scenario. I guess they want to seem like a "hip" or "young" company- the kind that expresses their youthful angst by blaring Pink songs on full volume at 9 o'clock in the morning.

The woman who interviews you is Christina Versoza. She is a pretty hispanic woman- and she was very up-front and honest that the job is SALES. I think it was the first thing she said, before we sat down.

They tell you to come back for a second interview in which you'll shadow a CV employee for a day to see what it's like. I went out with the CV employee (who was actually, in all honesty, a really nice guy named John. I felt bad for him.)

Do you want to know what CV Marketing does? Listen closely- and believe me- because I'm not kidding or exaggerating at all: They go to businesses, like a shopping center, and just go from door-to-door, bothering every employee they see and trying to sell crap- in this case- a gift card to a Salon and Spa that costs 50 dollars.

The first business was a veterinarian clinic- where real employees were hard-at-work, doing a REAL JOB- helping sick animals. The CV employee walks up to the receptionist and says, "Hi. I'm John, I'm here on behalf of Impressions Day Spa. We're really excited about our 1st year anniversary and we're offering 90% off on salon services? Surely you know someone who likes to be pampered?"

at which point the receptionist, understandably a little peeved, looking like your average person answering a telemarketing call during dinner, says, "umm.. no thank you."

So at this point, I'm thinking- this was a little embarrassing. It didn't work. Let's move on. But the CV Marketing guy actually has the nerve to say, "Is there anyone else back there that might be interested?"

I can't believe it. The receptionist can't either. She says, "No. And we don't allow soliciting here, either, so..."

so at this point, I can't wait to get out of there. We're bothering her, it's not working- she doesn't want anything from us. The CV Marketing guy says, "Well let me ask you this then. Do you ever eat pizza?"

I couldn't believe it. He was trying to sell her Papa John's pizza coupons after being rejected on the spa. She basically tells us to get out- we leave- and the CV guy, totally unfazed, is marching right next door, where this repeats. Over and over again.

99% of the people he encounters are bothered, pissed off, and want nothing to do with the products. It is an unreal way to make a living. The sales tactics are so obviously unethical that both Christina and John asked me repeatedly, "Is there anything you've seen today that you're not willing to do?" I'll bet this same question appears on the application for adult film stars wanting to do a freaky porno.

CV Marketing promises you a promotion to "manager" quickly- but I doubt it ever comes. At one point in the day, John told me that he once SOLD OUT all of his coupons- and went home for the day. One of his managers called him and scolded him- asking him "do you want to be a salesman or a manager?" and forced him to stay home for a day to "think about it"

- this is the FEAR OF LOSS aspect of any scam. They will try to manipulate you into making money for them by threatening you with a LOSS OF MONEY. It's very unethical.

Obviously I declined this "job"- the only enjoyable part is when the employee will buy you lunch, usually fast food. If you're willing to spend an entire day, on-foot, bothering people- then you get a free meal. Anything else, and you're knee-deep in scam bullshit. It's really less of a JOB and more of an Amway/Mary-Kay-style company recruiting you.

Thanks for reading. Stay away from CV Marketing! You went to college for a real job!

Anonymous
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.