Since I mentioned this in my previous post, I should probably go into more detail about the career management company that contacted me. I originally got a call from someone there about a month ago and she wanted to meet with me. She explained that her company helps people in their job searches through counseling on self-marketing, interview skills, by their connections with employers, and by helping me negotiate better to get a better fitting, better paying job. I knew that services like that would cost money that I probably wouldn't want to spend on something like that, but she said that meeting with her was free with no strings attached and that I might get some resume tips out of it. So, I figured, why not, it couldn't hurt.

So, I met with her that first time and spent some time filling out a questionnaire and she asked me a bunch of questions about what type of job I was looking for. Then, she read a spiel off of a piece of paper about what their company would do for me. I wasn't really interested, and I was a little disappointed that we were running out of time and she hadn't really offered any feedback or resume tips, but I was also a little curious, so I asked if she could give a rough idea of what these services might cost. She hesitated to give any kind of estimate, wanting to save that for the next meeting. I just wanted a rough idea, and she gave some kind of estimate, but said that they'd work with me to come up with an affordable package, but that wouldn't be done until the second meeting. Okay, whatever, I knew I didn't want to work with them and I didn't get any resume tips either. She kept pressing me to set up a second meeting, but I didn't want to waste any more time with them. I didn't really think about it at the time, but I don't think she ever had any intention of giving me resume advice, she just wanted me in the door.

Anyway, so I was done with them. I was curious, though, so I looked up information about them online and found quite a few complaints about them. But, then, Lesley encouraged me to go ahead and set up the second meeting with them to make sure that we were exploring all of our options. So, I emailed the lady last night and she called me today to set up another meeting. When I got there, she skimmed another piece of paper to reiterate what their company would do for me. Then, she mentioned that it would cost $5,400 and set down a contract and almost asked me to sign it before she gave me a book of previous clients and left the room to give me a few minutes to read it. I probably should've just walked out then, but decided to stick around. I was a little surprised that when she came back in the room she didn't push me too hard to sign the contract. I said that I'd have to talk it over with my wife (a polite way of saying "hell no").

Anyway, I was glad to be out of there. I'm sure that kind of service would be useful for some people, but it wasn't worth that kind of money to me. Plus, it just seemed a little shady to me, with her saying that she'd work with me on the cost, then suddenly at the second meeting the cost was a fixed amount. Well, whatever, I don't really regret meeting with her, it's just another experience to have.