Complaint Review: Insight Global - Tampa Florida

 Someone I know was recently contacted by the recruiting firm. This individual has a top secret clearance. He was asked for his social security number to verify his clearance, over the phone. This is more than a but unusual as reputable firms don't ask for this PII information over the phone. On another call, he was asked for his full name and the day/month of his birthday. This is a clear indication that the firm is seeking PII for other than legal reasons. Day/month with a detailed resume will provide DOB. Full name with social security number gives all one needs to steal an identity. Had this firm had access to the clearance system using the social security number, all that information is there. Be warned of the high possibility that the use of college kids to gather data for illegal purposes is ongoing.

It is a violation of Federal law to post an ad for employment for a job that doesn't exist.  If this firm did so, you need to report them to your State Attorney for prosecution.  While you can state that you are building a database for future openings, you can't state that you are looking for a person for a position that does not exist.  Someone needs to send these people to prison if they are doing this!

I have been an internal Professional Recruiter for Insight Global for the past year. I have heard and seen many of the false allegations against IGI and I would like to comment on my experience. I have never seen a company with a more positive outlook or compassion for their employees. I'm not saying that it isn't out there elsewhere, I just have not heard of it. I, as many other professionals, have had their fair share of obstacles to overcome. When a hard time was dealt my way I knew I could immediately consult my superiors and expect a positive outcome. Every situation was dealt with compassion and professionalism. Each situation has been dealt with the upmost respect and urgency. This shows how much Insight Global cares about their employees and their well-being. Here I am know as a name rather than a number. I am extremely grateful for the amazing opportunity I have been given with this company.

Ok... I wasn't going to make this personal, but obviously you felt the need to do so by insulting my qualifications and the intent of my post...

You said: "I can only guess that TireofBS's assertion that he is a "well-qualified technology professional" is stretching his qualifications a bit or he has some silly ax to grind with Insight."

First off, I have over 15 years of experience in IT (nearly as much as you claim to have, btw), where I've done everything from tech support to network engineering to project management and product implementation - all positions I have been very successful at. Second, I have degrees in IT/Networking, Network Security Management AND Computer Information Science, Programming. Who are you to be making such assumptions about me, a person you neither know nor have met?

Then, you went on to say: TiredofBS, I understand your anger at not finding a job- I have been there, but wildly shooting at a recruiting firm because of a bad experience with a recruiter is ridiculous.

I've worked with many recruiting firms with talented, dedicated, people who virtually bend over backward to provide the best possible experience to their contractors and clients alike - Insight Global is NOT one of them.

There is much more to my story than the original post indicates, but I'll attempt to shorten it as much as possible. A month after my post, the president of the company emailed me from the Atlanta office asking to speak to me. I called him back and told him my story, and he assured me that I would be assigned a new recruiter who "will get to work finding you work". The conversation seemed to have gone well, and, as promised, another associate from the Tampa office named Kristen Schwing started working with me. I got calls from her about once a week for roughly a month, then nothing. I started calling her and was always told the same line: were still looking, but keep checking back in despite seeing postings on CareerBuilder and Monster (CLEARLY listing IG as the company) that I was

1. Qualified for, based on the listed requirements of the position(s)

2. Never ONCE called about by ANY associate of Insight Global.

Finally, 5 months later, I found a job (on my own, I might add), but I never heard back from Kristen. Apparently, she left the company, but her replacement didnt care enough about their contractors to place an introduction call something Ive received from other recruiting firms just as a heads up that I would be working with someone new. I STILL maintain this company posts false positions on the boards for the sake of filling some quota that their recruiters are required to meet. Based on my experiences with that company, I also maintain that they are a waste of time, and I truly wonder how they manage to stay in business, because I nor anyone I know (and thats a lot of contractors) has EVER gotten a position through them. If youve had better luck, then thats good for you, but I believe your experience especially if you are dealing the Tampa office is the exception, not the rule.

Finally, you said: TiredofBS, upgrade your skill set and you too can find employment.

Two points to make: one, I found a job, no thanks to the dozens of recruiters I work with (although some at other companies really tried hard). The second point is that even though Im already well-qualified, Im pursuing my MBA full time while working full time.

Florida is a particularly brutal market for IT folks especially since the recession began and employers now look for VERY SPECIFIC, (some say unrealistic) experience, which they are unwilling to pay for. To make things worse, you have companies like Insight Global posting fake job ads (a point that other recruiters I work with were shocked and embarrassed to hear).

The intent of my original posting was not necessarily because I have some silly axe to grind as you put it, but to warn others who might potentially help Insight Global fulfill some quota as just another number

I am a disabled veteran with 20 years of experience in the software development field in South Florida. I am very good in my profession. I have been a contractor by necessity since 2008; I have alimony and child support for a special needs child. Before the recession I never have a problem finding a good job. During my time of unemployment I became very frustrated with the job market. I applied to many jobs and never saw any feedback. After my first contact with Insight Global I started a nice well-paying job with Citrix the following week. I can only guess that TiredofBSs assertion that he is a well-qualified technology professional is stretching his qualifications a bit or he has some silly ax to grind with Insight. The people at Insight have constantly helped me in my search for employment. Sophie Elortegui at Insight has been the best shepherd a contractor can have! I am constantly employed now. I am sure the upsurge in the tech field is part of it, but the fact that Sophie is in constant contact with me and has helped me even when I am not working an Insight contract makes a huge difference in my attitude towards contracting. TiredofBS, I understand your anger at not finding a job- I have been there, but wildly shooting at a recruiting firm because of a bad experience with a recruiter is ridiculous. As a contractor I can tell you we should all have the mantra of the recruiter is my friend. Sure, these guys are in it to make money, just like you, but the thing you need to realize is the recruiter makes no money unless you do. It is in the best interest of a recruiter to get you to work as quickly as possible, and Insight has done a great job finding employment for me, and that is crucial for me and my son, Max. So from me and Max, thanks Insight (as especially Sophie!). TiredofBS, upgrade your skill-set and you too can find employment.

I have worked with Insight Global since late 2009, and it has been an amazing experience . Late August 2009, Steve Resnik from Insight global called me about an open position based in San Francisco. From day one Steve showed the qualities of an excellent recruiter, dedicated and driven.How dedicated, he had scheduled an interview on a Monday, tragic enough my wife fell seriously ill and I couldn't make it. Steve called, emailed took the best efforts to reach me.Finally I spoke to him later that Monday evening explaining my situation. Absolutely with no frustration in his tone he understood my situation, immediately called the employers and rescheduled my interview.I passed the interview with flying colors and landed the job.

The project was a four months contract position, during those 4 months Steve made sure everything went smooth at the client site including pay, work conditions at the client site.The best part about insight global is the tools they have for employees and the work ethics.

Being a consultant is difficult, you always get anxious when your project is getting to its final stages as you do not know what the road has for you next.The next day after I finish my project, Steve called me and said he had already lined up two prospects for my next project.

My suggestion for people unsuccessfull in a job hunt is, be patient and second team up with a good recruiter. I strongly recommend Insight global as they believe job hunt is a team effort and their staff are dedicated.

Thanks

I disagree wiht the initial posting about Insight Global.  I have been a contractor for Insight Global for the past year.  I have been able to secure position at a top company and the customer service by the recruiter and account manager I spoke with were exceptional.  Usually after I landed a job with other staffing companies the customer service stopped when I started work.  This is not the case with Insight Global, they touch base with me every other week and they pay weekly.  I can honestly say they are the top staffing company I have worked with in 20 years of dealing with agencies in the technology field.   

I can corroborate this information. I too had an interview with Matt Lefeber on 9/25/2008. When I arrived, it was exactly as TiredofBS describes and Matt didn't even greet me. Instead I had to deal with two of his peers. I didn't meet Matt until I was leaving and that was extremely brief at best. I was led to a conference room and asked to take a technical test with a time limit of 30 minutes. I completed the test in 5 minutes & didn't want to waste time sitting there waiting for someone to return so I took my test, went down the hall and opened the door to find about 5 young people sitting around laughing, playing and throwing things around (this was all I really needed to see to understand what this company was about). I addressed the girl who had handed me the test & told her I had completed it quickly and was ready to talk to her or Matt. She then asked me to take a Logical test, which I did & she returned later to collect it. Matt appeared about 5 minutes later, introduced himself & told me he would see what he could do.. I thanked him & left and never heard from Insight Global again. The posting to which I had responded has been posted for over 6 months now and I agree that this is simply a means for this firm to acquire resumes for future real positions. I felt it necessary to corroborate TiredofBS's story to let other folks know the truth & to not waste their time. Best of Luck to Everyone!