Harvard Risk Management Harvard Risk Management is an absolute SHAM - Job seekers beware. Internet
Job seekers, if you were excited that this was going to be your dream job where you'd make bank doing not a whole lot do I have some sad news for you...
I dont care what anyone says; this sham operation is a pyramid scheme. Plain and simple. I havent been blessed with any special sort of revelation here; any third grader could point this out. (YES, Ive read ALL the rebuttals and Im still positive this is a sham)
1.) When Im told that Ive been selected for an interview, that means Im expecting to
speak to a Mr. Charles Fields; and Charles Fields ONLY. Not some canned,
recorded blurb (And yes rebutters, the blurb is not live, its RECORDED lets
be real here please) where theres dozens of us like a cattle call. SUPER SHADY
2.) 5 minutes into this monstrosity of an interview I quickly realized that this
was more of a sales pitch for US, the CANDIDATES to purchase the product and
not just an explanation of the product we would be selling. SUPER SHADY
3.) Any situation where you have to pay to work or further your knowledge for a fee
is a sham. Recruiters for a company should be seeking out candidates who are
ready to go to work NOW. SUPER SHADY
The reason Ive made my own posting about this as opposed to just commenting on an existing one is that theres power in numbers. Ive reported Miss Jill Barnes to Monster and hopefully Monster will mandate more truthful recruiting or revoke her ability to recruit through their site entirely.
Let me be perfectly clear here, Im not here to rain on Harvards parade, I am content on letting them continue this business as they chose; but when they recruit employees, they need to call it for what it is:
1.) A vocational opportunity where one can gain marketable skills.
2.) Independent contracting.
3.) 100% commission based.
4.) Most of the day on your feet peddling businesses to allow you to speak and where the financial reward does not outweigh the legwork.
5.) Initial start up investment on the employees end.
NONE of these four listed facts about the company are mentioned by Jill in her email about the open position with the company. Actually Jill, you should make that open position(S), because everybody knows Harvard will take anybody with a pulse who is stupid enough to think theyre going to make any sort of commendable income off of this.
In the recruitment email, she asked basic questions about my ability to speak in front of others and asked for a resume (making the opportunity seem as if they are very selective over whom they choose). She then sets up an interview where you need to call in and speak with a gentleman named Charles Fields. The interview was a complete joke from the beginning. Its recorded and its a group conference call with multiplecandidates (all of whom think theyre going into a legitimate opportunity for employment)
Five minutes into the recorded interview I realized that this car salesman was trying to talk us, the
candidates, into buying the product ourselves. I still listened thinking maybe I was mistaken. Nope, at the end of nearly a 40 minute recorded sales pitch this sham became crystal clear. You need to buy the pre-paid legal services and Identity theft protection first, in order to properly market the product. AND on top of that, after you become an agent, it is YOUR responsibility to go to the employers and set up the meetings. The contacts are not derived from Harvard itself.
Jill, sweetheart, I know its hard filling interview spots when you arent 100% truthful, but the truth hurts.
10 Updates & Rebuttals
Brad
Indianapolis,Indiana,
United States
The Products
#11Consumer Comment
Sat, April 28, 2018
Unfortunately I signed up for the Legal Shield once. It is in my opinion that all legal shield does is have people on the other end, who are not lawyers or can actually help you out! The person I spoke to from legal shield said I need a lawyer. lol I KNOW THAT! Thanks legal shield for that advice! Heres my money... Silly game they play...
LoLo89
Valley Village,California,
USA
$99
#11Consumer Comment
Wed, May 04, 2016
However, there is a $99.00 Associate Fee which they never do mention until AFTER you finish your training. And even when you "Fast Start Qualify", you cannot get paid of any sort, without paying this fee. The so-called "sponsor" is responsible, yet in my experiences, my "sponsor" just seemed to want to take my applicants. SCAM.
bigredrassler
Stillwater,Oklahoma,
E-mails with job offers
#11UPDATE Employee
Wed, September 03, 2014
As someone who has sales experience, I can tell you that I regularly get e-mails from "Legit" insurance companies like Farmers, Allstate, and the like to recruit me to work for them. These are unsolicited.
Just like an insurance brokerage, we are paid overrides on the agents in our agency, but unlike MLM, we are not paid a commission when the new rep signs up to be a rep. Harvard is not MLM, though similar. MLM is not really a bad thing, as long as the product or service offered is good.
Seems some people aren't happy unless they are ruining a legitimate career opportunity(sales is a great career with lots of security) by bad mouthing companies that do direct sales. Mary Kay and Avon are also technically MLM companies.
Sharon
California,I got the Harvard Risk Management Job offer letter
#11REBUTTAL Individual responds
Tue, April 15, 2014
I received a letter in my spam box. I never applied for that position, and I smelled a rat. Thanks for the heads up!
idkman
North Carolina,How are they accredited by BBB?
#11General Comment
Mon, January 27, 2014
I'm not saying this company is a scam or that it's not a scam I really couldn't tell ya. I hung up on their little "phone interview" which was more like a sales pitch but whatever. I was just wondering how does this business have an A rating by the Better Business Bureau I mean they're a legit organization (BBB that is).
Agent86
North Hollywood,California,
USA
How strange....
#11Consumer Comment
Mon, February 04, 2013
I find it hilarious that out of all our complaints, there is one weak rebuttal in defense of this company. It is NOT selling insurance. As we have all stated, this is an MLM disguised as a health insurance job opportunity. The new members CONTINUE to run ads almost daily, because that is what you have to do...get other new members to pay the monthly fee, after sitting through a bogus "webinar". I'm sticking to my story, and there will be others.
Sacramento
sacramento,California,
United States of America
not a sham
#11REBUTTAL Individual responds
Mon, February 04, 2013
How can say sham? This is just like insurance work. It can be very rich in rewards if you care to work! Please.....dont bash something just because it didnt work for you. I have had unbeleivable success!
Not Impressed
Palmyra,Pennsylvania,
United States of America
Harvard Ripp Off Marketing
#11General Comment
Sat, December 29, 2012
While I agree with the poster above that this may well be a great opportunity for those well versed and interested in a sales position. If that WAS the way HRMC advertised their "open position within the company", then I would have no issue and would have simply moved on.
Unfortunately, that is NOT how HRMC advertises their opening. They offer NO details at all and NEVER mention sales in ANY of their correspondence. It is only after wasting precious time thinking they have a JOB offer, that they advise you of the dirty little secrets they do not want you to know initially. Why is that? Because the vast majority of people are NOT interested in what is essentially a door-to-door insurance salesman position that is driven ONLY off of commissions.
The fact that this fraudulent offer is proffered via e-mails that they harvest from sites like Monster and CareerBuilder makes this all the more disgusting. They are preying on those that are looking for work and HRMC takes advantage of this by luring them to a sales pitch for what is essentially a MLM or pyramid scheme.
I do not appreciate this and want to do what I can to warn others to avoid this scam! If you have a legitimate job offer, you lay it out right up front without the need for this shameful bait and switch.
For those that defend this fraudulent practice, I think you need to do some real soul searching and ask yourself why this company conducts itself in such a secretive and shady manner if they have nothing to hide and ARE on the level. Clearly, they do not feel they can fully disclose anything or they will not have gullible candidates falling for their crapola.
Here is the actual text of the e-mail I received. Does this sound like a company that is proud of what they REALLY have to offer:
Dear Job Applicant,
We have recently received a copy of your resume that you posted on CareerBuilder and we are interested in communicating with you regarding an open position with our company. Your privacy is important to us, and we would like to request your permission to send you an email with some additional information on the positions that our company has available.
If you would like to receive the information on a career position through email, please reply to this email with the word YES, and we will gladly send you the information. You can also contact me at the number listed below. If you choose not to receive the information, simply ignore this email and we will not communicate with you further. We look forward to hearing from you! Sincerely, Lisa BohlerRegional Manager, HRMC USAOffice: (931)537-2206 lisa.bohler@harvardbenefits.com
Agent86
North Hollywood,California,
USA
Just another MLM
#11General Comment
Sat, December 15, 2012
Don't get me wrong. I don't think there's anything wrong with multi-level marketing. But let's call it that, and not a "recruiter" position, so at least I can respect the business model taught at the REAL Harvard. I should have known by the canned email responses, as well as the recorded presentation with the $35.95 a month punch line. I thought it was odd that we were all immediately put on MUTE. I've attended conference calls and webinars before, and before we were muted, the person doing the presentation would get a head count prior to the mute. It is absolutely ridiculous that even a "recruiter" is required to purchase product. What is REALLY happening is that we would be sending out the very same emails WE received, and in my experience, there is no such thing as an effective and FREE job board. To place an ad on Craigslist under Sales (where I found the ad I responded to) costs $25. So basically, you want us to advertise for you AND buy your product. THAT, my friend, is how this company makes its money.
Very Angry
Bergenfield,New Jersey,
U.S.A.
THE TRUTH ABOUT HARVARD RISK MANAGEMENT
#11Consumer Comment
Fri, February 17, 2012
Harvard is a 3rd Party Broker offering 2 legitimate products
for sale owned by independent companies --- LegalShield and Kroll ID
Theft.
That point was made very clear to me by a Harvard Agent.
Harvard does not offer a job. It offers you an opportunity to become an
Independent Agent affiliated with Harvard. You are in business for yourself.
There is NO COST to become a Harvard Agent, get Trained and Certified to sell their products.
Legal Shield requires Agent membership in order to sell their product and receive a commission for each membership sold.
The job requires effort and hard work like most jobs. This is no "sit on your butt at home and wait for tons of money to flow in while you do nothing" position. This is no "Get Rich Quick" Scheme.
There are no short cuts. Put in the time. Put forth the effort. Follow the program and the financial rewards are there.
Want to become your own boss and represent Carvel or McDonald's or Krispy Creme, etc? Get ready to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars or more for a franchise.
Sales is not for everybody.
Working as an Independent Agent is not for everybody.
Commission only income earned is not for everybody.
Being in business for yourself is not for everybody.
Working hard and putting forth an honest effort is not for everybody.
There are plenty of jobs available where loafers can earn a good living with good benefits for doing nothing 40 hours a week.
Some people prefer being hired drones, ordered about, handed a weekly or bi-weekly check
by an employer and being told what to do, when to do it, how to do it, etc by overbearing bosses.
The complainers who have posted here should not discourage those who have sales ability, want to sell a legitimate product and be in business for themselves.
If the opportunity isn't for you, acknowledge that fact and move on with your life.
Don't ruin the opportunity for others.