MetaChat - So I just got a call about a job

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17 March 2009

So I just got a call about a job and I'm a bit apprehensive since I don't know if I actually want it, after doing a bit of reading. Help me!→[More:]
So, here's the deal... I'm on unemployment now (NY), and I don't know if I CAN turn down a job offer without forfiting that.

I got cold-called by a Very Large Insurance and Financial Service company that I will call Borthnestern Frutual. They saw I resume I posted (yesterday) on a local job site. (like Monster but just for the Buffalo/ Niagara region).

And I was all "an interview? Hells yes!"

Then I got nervous, since I went to their site. It looks like the job may be commission only. I don't think I want to count on that in this economy. If I get offered it and decline would I risk my unemployment being cut? It's in a different field from the job I was laid off from, for what it's worth.

Or would taking the job be less reckless than it seems to me on the onset?

post by: kellydamnit at: 15:37 | 8 comments

I got called by a place like that- real sketchy place, big pyramid scheme. I didn't even bother to go in for the interview, because it's not a real job. I doubt they even looked at the resume I sent them before calling me; just looking for warm bodies. No thanks.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 17 March | 15:39

As for turning down jobs, you are allowed to do so, within limits, without forfeiting your unemployment payment. Check the handbook, it talks a little about this. And even if you did turn down a job that you should have taken, the only way unemployment would know would be if somebody told them- you or the company you declined to work for.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 17 March | 15:41

go on the interview. OMG FREE INTERVIEW PRACTICE!
ask questions about the job whilst on interview. That's what the interview is for!

posted by By the Grace of God 17 March | 15:49

One thing you should be aware of is that when you post your resume to job sites like that, you will get many, many offers from insurance companies. They cast an extremely wide net. (I have a cousin who was a manual laborer type, and he got dozens of them.)

So maybe interview experience is a good way to look at it. But you should be very wary of considering it (and future comers like it) a legitimate prospect.

posted by mudpuppie 17 March | 16:21

Yeah, it's a bit suspicious that they called you the next day. Also, I can't possibly imagine an unemployment agency saying, "hey, you didn't take an evil used-car salesmen job that's not in your field, sorry." Do they expect unemployed librarians to drive garbage trucks? Good luck *whuffles*

posted by Melismata 17 March | 16:32

My $10 to your $5 says this is a cattle call for life insurance sales reps. One of the video links on their careers site is labeled, "Do you want to be an entrepreneur?"

At first, I thought it may be for call center jobs but NWM's call center is in Milwaukee. I say 'waste of your time'.

As for unemployment consequences, state unemployment offices are so swamped right now, I doubt they are even following up on much of anything. Also, NWM's call to you was NOT technically a job offer.

posted by Ardiril 17 March | 18:03

Oh yeah, NWM jobs are a total scam. The life insurance and investments products themselves are okay (though I wouldn't trust one of their reps to sell you the right thing).

Anyway, the sales rep jobs are a total boiler-room kinda thing and they really push you to sell products to your friends/family. In fact, when I went through this in college, the second "interview" involved bringing a contact info of people you know who might buy stuff from you. I didn't show up for that.

posted by mullacc 17 March | 18:32

mulacc, you're right... a friend of mine got called by the same office a year ago and went. halfway through the interview they started pressuring her for names and numbers of friends and family they could sell for to "jump start her new career."
Ugh.

posted by kellydamnit 18 March | 15:18

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