Telephone call from company to say that they were interested in interviewing me for the Reference Attorney position. (Received a few calls from the same number, but no message left. When I called back the number, I was told that over 6,000 people work there... they couldn't direct me without a name. I asked for the HR department as they might be able to help me - was denied. Please note: I've been receiving lots of spam from the company, even though I'm on a do not contact list, because I'm an attorney... so this was a very weird way to start building a trusting relationship. Finally I received an email which provided me a name and direct contact number.
Person that called, without leaving messages more than 4 times, was a Reference Attorney tasked with calling future reference attorneys to give you the basics ($42,000 yr, no $ provided for relocation or required in-person interview by Jan 6th (email was De 19th,2011, 6 week training program, employee benefits starting on day you begin training, and hours will likely be 11 or noon - 8pm or 9pm b/c seniority dictates schedules. Additionally, even though they are a large company they will NOT provide any HELP with relocation, no information whatsoever.... no information regarding any possible apartment complexes or realtors they work with, not information on possible bus route, nothing. Even though these are things that can be found out individually... with so may people working there... over 6,000 in that location alone, a little partnership would have been nice.)
They refused my request for a telephone interview with a fellow co-worker, HR, potential boss, etc. They also let me know that because of the job market climate they are not flexible with regard to anything, (e.g, telephone interview before in person, I would be required to cover all costs associated with in person interview, moving, etc. and must be done w/in a month because training to start at end of January.) Being that they have 6,000 employees at their home office I asked if I could possibly work with one of their HR professionals that knows the area so that I could find an apartment and/or corporate housing during training... NO. Please note the position is only $42,000 a year so even though you can personally take these as above the line deductions, the amount of money you receive a year still means you will be paying them your first 6 months to work there - at a minimum. Please also note that this is the winter and in Minnesota they salt the streets... so when figuring out your finances consider your car not lasting more than 5 winters and any sale after a winter there will cost your car to be severely reduced in value.
Additionally, I asked for the attrition rate. It looks as though you should consider 50% of the people cannot be found in the company's email database after 12 or 11 months of being hired in this position.
Problem... I know everyone likes different things, but I would really love this position. I've worked in the industry before and found this type of work incredibly rewarding, and have a GREAT track history with being incredibly successful working in a company like this. (Had to stop working last time because of a very bad car accident that required me to take a break from full-time work because I had to get into 15 hour a day rehab from that car accident. To be clear - nothing about my accident ever came up.)
.... However, there were too many red flags or me to take at this time. I decided flying myself to their office for an interview, approx cost now $750-$950 not to mention cab to and from, and take on all the financial costs including breaking a lease that is currently 1/2 the price of equal places in the Eagan area.... without them wiling to mitigate my risks in any way way via a Skype interview with my potential boss, etc. .... I don't think the market place is that bad. Additionally, I'm very concerned about a company that has a 50% attrition rate and doesn't change their ways or be open to possible alterations.