Re: Girsh Alarm in Philly, PA lousy treatment of potential employee

["Artspirit" <artie47@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dang! What a horrible experience you had. I don't know this company and was
surprised to hear they worked with headhunters. Headhunters cost as do all
those profile tests you took. Seems really fishy to me. I have a name of a
so far good headhunter that is based in CO. All they handle is the security
industry. Email me if you would like her info. And good luck to you.


<apartmentcade@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1135827190.543269.80040@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> In late October I was looking around on Monster.com at which time I
> came across Girsh Alarm Company, a local Philadlephia company serving
> mostly commercial accounts and offering potential earnings of 75-100k
> per year.
>
> I knew Girsh from passing their offices in my travels. At the time I
> was employed by another security company which catered to mostly
> residential customers. My work experience has been predominantly with
> commercial Fortune 500 companies so I jumped at the chance to apply.
>
> I was quickly contacted by their headhunter/recruiter who asked for my
> resume, references and information for a background check. Everything
> cleared and I was asked to meet face to face in early November. At the
> initial meeting with the headhunter I was asked to take several
> personality and aptitude tests. I was also informed that the position
> carried a draw of $52k along with a $500 car allowance, $100 cell phone
> allowance and full health insurance for my family totaling
> approximately a $65k compensation package. I was also told the
> commission rate would be 40% of the profit for each sale. After the
> face to face meeting with the headhunter I was set to meet with Harry
> Girsh, the owner of Girsh Alarm.
>
> Harry and I met mid-November and the meeting went fine. I was told I
> had very high scores on the personality and aptitude tests. We
> reiterated the $65k compensation package and he told me he would get
> back to me in a few days and left for vacation in Florida. The
> headhunter said that whoever is chosen to work there will start in
> early December. The headhunter also said that Harry was going to hire
> three people and that there were 6 candidates though he felt I was the
> best fit for Girsh. Before I left Harry requested that I fill out
> another entire employment application of Girsh's design and submit to
> a further background check.
>
> I got a call from the headhunter the first week of December at which
> time he told me that I had again passed the background check and that I
> was being offered the job. He also said I was the only one offered a
> position which made me feel great.
>
> I reconfirmed that I actually had the position and got a start date of
> December 14th. I gave notice to my current employer the next day.
> December 14th came & went with no further movement toward my employment
> at Girsh. I waited patiently.
>
> The headhunter began to get frustrated with Girsh and their lack of
> communication. Finally, I was told to meet with Jodie Girsh, Harry's
> wife and office manager on Monday December 26th, a national holiday. I
> met with Jodie and I felt the meeting went great. We talked for an
> hour, laughed a lot and she introduced me to all the employees as their
> new salesman.
>
> Then we discussed the contract. It seemed that Jodie's idea of the
> compensation package was extremely different then what was discussed
> with Harry and the headhunter. She offered a $30k draw, itemized car
> miles, cell phone allowance and no health insurance for six months.
> This was not even close to what had been discussed prior.
>
> I stood my ground at what I was offered, expressed dismay that I left
> my previous employment and was not yet being paid by Girsh although I
> was told I had the job. Jodie said me she would have to talk it over
> with Harry and that we would talk the following morning.
>
> Tuesday the 27th I called Jodie 11AM at the office and per her
> instructions. She did not answer and I left a voicemail. I tried again
> at 3PM on her cell phone again leaving a voicemail. The headhunter did
> not hear from her or Harry either.
>
> By Wednesday morning I wondered if I had a job at all and called the
> headhunter. I was told at that time the Girsh's were no longer
> interested as they felt it was too much money to risk on a new
> salesman.
>
> The headhunter and I tried to salvage the situation to no avail. Jodie
> never did call me back though I did manage to get Harry Girsh on his
> cell at 7PM, Wednesday the 28th.
>
> Harry reiterated that my employment there was no longer an option. He
> said they were no longer going to invest in a professional salesman and
> were considering hiring someone out of college at a much lower rate.
>
> I pointed out that they were going to hire three people and ended up
> with only me. How could they have possibly paid three people if they
> couldn't even pay me what they promised? In addition, Harry himself
> noted the $65k when we met face to face and if it was a problem why did
> they call me back to finalize a contract!
>
> I lost my job, I lost weeks of job hunting and I lost weeks of their
> promised salary right at the holiday season. My entire family
> anticipated this new position and we all sacrificed over the last month
> based on knowing the job was starting.
>
> I can't tell you how Girsh Alarm is toward their clients but I can only
> imagine how it must be if this is how they treat potential employees...
>