accounting manager

administrative assistant

solutions manager

staff accountant

recruiter

Robert-Half

I was hired as a contractor ("Remediation Analyst") for a large financial institution. The entire team, including management, was brand spanking new to the function. We had 5 weeks of "team building" and "customer care training" and other fluff skill building that was 100% unrelated to the position for which we were hired. 

We didn't learn what our actual job function was for WEEKS. Everything as related to our actual day-to-day was basically self-taught with the facilitation of our team lead, which was WILD. Turned out our actual job was basically to write claim denial letters to frustrated customers: MIND-NUMBINGLY SIMPLE, but (!!) a lot of people I worked with were too thick to even string together a comprehensive sentence...! We had maybe 2 solid weeks of work, and then the *well dried up*. 

We then had MONTHS WITHOUT ANY WORK while we "waited for something to come down the pipeline". The lead manager overseeing the entire operation even claimed that the company "just likes lighting piles of money on fire". No WFH option was made available during Covid-19 despite the clear ability to complete all work remotely.

SO WE SAT AROUND WITH NOTHING TO DO ...FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. Team managers are incompetent and immature. They expect you to look like you're involved in something productive -while blocking gmail and other regularly used (actually productive) websites. They treat you like literal children, checking to make sure you're sitting in silence at your desk doing nothing all day rather than quietly investing in colleague relationships that make you at least an ounce away from being completely miserable at the job. Some managers told you to bring a book in to "keep busy", while some managers would mean mug anyone reading at their desk (??). Dumb.
The micromanagement of individuals hired to *literally do nothing all day* was unbearable. Completely insane experience. Incompetent management would be an understatement. Our team of 17 turned into a team of 7 within couple months, and even my manager (also ludicrously incompetent, asking us to hold their hand through simple files) quit. What a joke! You wouldn't believe the levels of idiocy if I spelled them all out.

The recruiters at Robert Half were 95% unhelpful, but at least they were sympathetic to the awful experience. They were more like therapists than people who would actually go out on any limb improve the situation. You also can't ask them to find you other opportunities unless you give your 2 weeks' notice. Amid Covid, my recruiter point blank said it's unlikely he'd be able to help find anything ! Not great to hear after I learned Robert Half basically HARASSES your past manager references in order to verify your work history. 

Is that enough keyboard smashing for you to get the gist? 0/10 experience. Avoid like the plague if you are looking to learn new skills. Avoid like Covid-19 if you are looking for opportunity. I can't say it enough. Go find a more respectable recruiting establishment. Especially if you have ANY skills and/or a college degree; this is simply not the place for you. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid.

When I first started working on my team, the management was very nice and supportive, but the revenue that we brought in was relatively low compared to other teams, there was a sense of drudgery when making cold calls, the culture was negative, and most people were not meeting their sales goals. Within the next year, that manager moved on to another career and my team had to report to that manager's manager, who was not the most pleasant person to work with. She drove us hard, but wasn't around much. She had a lot of people that reported to her and was overwhelmed. About a year later a new manager transferred from another team at Robert Half and took over. She was very energetic, positive, and completely transformed the culture into hard-working, enthusiastic, and high-producing. Our division went from being last in the world by revenue to third in the world. We were producing more than ever and were more excited than ever to come to work. 

There's a lot of cold-calling and the sales targets are extremely high. Only about 20% of people ever reach their target. About a third of people leave in their first year. The people who are successful have wonderful careers at Robert Half. Those people are promoted quickly and given a lot of benefits (work from home, reduced work hours with small children, large commission checks). 

Whether you're a top performer or not -- the best thing about Robert Half is their training program. They will invest many hours of training into you, providing you with countless resources and one-on-one support. Even if you don't make it at Robert Half, their training will set you up for life. The way that they structure their days, the daily performance metrics they use, the talk tracks they use when calling clients, and more -- are all things you will learn and will become extremely efficient and productive in your next job. If you have the chance to work there, I say go for it. 

The hardest part of the job is all of the cold-calling. Depending on your team, you're expected to make 50-80 dials per day. By the end of the week, you're expected to have "connected" with at least 50 people. That means you actually spoke to someone or they responded to your email. You must go on 10 scheduled client meetings per week and usually send out one email blast per week. They make you do this because 70 years of being business, Robert Half knows this high activity is what makes someone successful. If you're not meeting your numbers, they'll ask you how your activity is looking.

The recruiters at Robert Half do what they can to keep you working in a position that meets your needs.  They have on their web site for you to enter your time sheet information into along with an app for smart phones to do so.  However, being that the work is contract work and not permanent work it is not guaranteed that you'll be working from one day to another.  Some positive aspects to working with Robert Half is that you'll get exposed to various companies and meet other professionals along the way that you can network with and learn from.  Probably the hardest part of the job is that with each new company you have to learn your way around again and learn the ropes of how that company operates.  A typical day involves going in to a particular company and checking in with the team you are working with to see what you are doing for the day.  Some jobs you might be more independent with the work you are doing and be able to know ahead what you will be doing.  An example is when you are working desktop support, you go to your desk, log in to your PC, check the trouble tickets in your queue and open one then contact the client to arrange to resolve the issue, go the persons desk and work to resolve the issue.  

A downside to being a contractor is you are an outsider and may not get to participate in company social events during the day. As a contractor this is a let down as they are your coworkers even though you are the hired gun. 

As a contractor I just want to belong and not be the outsider.  I frequently find myself hoping that I will get a job offer from a company that I am working with.  This is not likely to happen though as there are fees that Robert Half will charge said company and as a contractor you are not to ask, or inquire about permanent employment with a company as it is against your contract for you to do so.  You have to wait so long, I don't recall how long, six months to a year before you can apply for work at a company you've been contracted with.

So, on the positive side working with companies like Robert Half can help you get experience and expose you to different company environments and cultures while possibly keeping you busy and.  On the negative side you are an outsider and your contract could possibly prevent you from getting permanent work at a company.

I am not happy with this staffing agency. I have been with them since late September. In the beginning, I was very pleased with how they were so helpful to me and they would constantly check up on me. That started to die down in November after I was let go from my first assignment for leaving an hour early one day, despite me being 2 hours early every day and doing overtime 3 days out the week. I was told it was because of a lapse in communication (I emailed my supervisor and I left before she could respond because it was an emergency). I took the loss on that one though and chopped it up as a learned experience, despite me feeling strongly about how petty it was.

Anyway, that first assignment lasted 2 weeks. I was surprised to immediately be placed on another assignment the following week but it was a temp assignment that was supposed to last 2 weeks. My previous assignment was supposed to last around 5 months. I needed the income so I took it anyway. Hated this new assignment. A week and a half goes by, I get a call from Robert Half telling me they found a permanent worker so my assignment was over but they liked me. I was disappointed but hopeful. 2 weeks goes by, I get another call around Christmas. The Robert Half agent wanted me to take a job that is in Northbrook, IL, which is not that convenient for me to travel to because I dont have a car and it would take over 2 hours each way by train and 2 cab rides because the train station isn't located by the workplace. I explain this to the agent and she gives me attitude. She says I should just take it because it pays $14 an hour....I then let her know that, again, it is too far out of my way and it would cost me half my pay check to commute there. She was irritated I wouldn't take it but she goes "Well if you can't be reliable then I suppose it's best you don't take it."....rude much? Since then, I have taken 2 more assignments. They were terrible and paid as such.

I'm not sure if it's due to the fact that I got fired or because I am no longer a priority because I am an old client and they are more helpful to the newer clients or perhaps it's because I have told them that I don't want to take a job that pays less than $10 an hour and is less a month in duration when I have a bachelors degree but I haven't been getting as much assistance as I have in the past. I am very disappointed in this agency and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. If you're desperate though, I say try your luck. For me though, it's not worth the headache.

Robert Half (RH), overall is an okay company to work for in other markets, EXCEPT "South Florida." Too elaborate - there are to many agencies in the markets and its a cut throat industry especially in the Financial Services/ Banking Sector. You are basically enticed with a promise of a 6-month contracts with extension, however the client and RH will let you go in less than 2 months WITHOUT Warning. One day your working, the next you get a call saying the "clients needs have changed".......They did this to not only one person, but to all the consultants that I have had the pleasure of meeting in the past 3 years. The basis behind the move is that the clients can choose from a vast number of staffing agencies all located in the South Florida Market and they tend to cater to the lowest hourly wage companies. It's like shopping in a candy store. I currently work in a Bank in Brickell (Miami) where all the consultants (highly qualified) from RH have been let go in batches within 4 weeks on a steady ongoing basis. I have freinds in other Banks around town and they all confirm this to be true in Banks located in Ft Laundedale, Sunrise, Miami Lakes, Coral Gables, and Brickell. They have done this for the past 2 years, I kid you not.......I asked one of the consultants before they left, and they confirmed this to be true, however the consultant was in a bind and needed to continue working even for a short time to support her kids. The banking community in South Florida is so small that everyone from the managers to the cleaning lady knows each other. If you are in the South Florida Market, think twice about accepting a role with the recruiting agencies, especially RH !!! Just a word of caution, I hate to see happy people trying to fit into a job and making new friends only to be let go just to save a dollar. It's unethical even for such a large staffing company. Oh, by the way, if they promise you that the most they can offer is $30.00/hour.... the agency is actually billing you out to the client at over $75-$85/hour. Again, I have collegues that work in the Payroll- HR departments at several Banks. Remember, everyone know everyone in South Florida. Best of Luck in your job efforts but be very cautious to RH........Thanks, N.J.R

I interviewed and took the standard clerical aptitude test. I scored at least 85% on all aspects. The first assignment was for one day @ $8.50. The assignments that followed were very similar. I felt like I was a second class citizen that could barely speak English.

I was called one day and the GM hyped me up to believe they actually had an opening Midtown, $30+ annually, perks, benefits..and I was told that they'd call me back to confirm. Well when she called back she said the position fell through and that they had another opening at a warehouse..making $9.00 per hour.

Temp to perm was what I was told, so I would work at the warehouse for 3 months then the company, agency, and myself would have a sit down and decide if we wanted to continue the arrangement. I knew after 3 weeks that my personality was too conservative to be in that environment. There were open displays of flirting, smoking marijuana out in their vehicles, cursing left and right--now that would not have been a problem if I was used to this type of culture. Office Team saw I worked for the freaking EEOC and received awards for my professionalism and they overlooked that and decided to place me at a warehouse with all sorts of people that lack morals.

I complained to the recruiter and to the supervisor at the warehouse. I was let go two weeks later. I would sometimes cry at my desk when I thought about the amount of stress, agony, and money I was making. I could support myself better on Unemployment and Foodstamps. Hate to say it but Office Team is great when you are doing most of your own job search. You can not rely on them to find you quality/stable employment.

If a company has a budget of $18.00 per hour for talent, the agency calls you and feel you out to see if you're willing to work for $9-$11 bucks per hour and they keep the rest. That's why sometimes you'll have various individuals working with the same company and agency yet they all make various pays.

I think that was the final straw for me...working a convention Office Team place 80+ people there. When we started befriending each other we found out that we were being paid different amounts to do the same job :/

UGH

I contacted the Accountemps people with hopes they could really get me started on a career or at least some experience in a position that would pay well and offer at least a nice learning experience.

What I got isn't remotely helpful.

I was moving back across the state and was offered an interview and all that at their office to "feel me out" and "test" with their software. I scored really high on the accounting (90%) and Excel (97%) and felt I would be placed accordingly due to my skill level. I hadn't done accounting for tests and stuff in over a year and I was pretty proud of myself.

That got shot down when I decided to discount myself and say I'd work for as low as $8.00/hour.

The lady immediately lit up and said she had a great position for me that paid from 8-9 dollars an hour and was a great place to learn.

How very wrong she was. They pay me the bare minimum $8/hour and I do exceptional work at this boring job where I don't even use accounting on a daily basis. I pretty much enter checks into a system that is outdated and use outdated software in an outdated building that still uses dial-up internet. I do not even remotely use any accounting. A high school diploma could get you by at this job as long as you can pay attention for over an hour to instructions. In fact there is no chance I will be using accounting at all here. I have a college degree and am working for cheap change at a place because I wasn't confident enough to state I am worth more than 8 bucks an hour.

I scored fairly high on their exams, my co-workers say I am the best they have had in 4+ years and they have been really impressed with my work.

But that won't get me a raise or even a respectable pay. Ohio's minimum wage is 7.75 an hour now and I am considering going back to a retail job to make more and have less responsibility than I do at this dead end job.

I requested them to help me find a new job and they claim there are none in the area and they won't look unless I am without work.

Yeah thanks a lot. I can do that myself.

All they care about at Accountemps is the bottom line. THEIR bottom line and hitting quotas.

If you have any self-respect and decency then stay away from Accountemps. If you're absolutely desperate for work then sign your life away.

They will test you on your skills and check all your references and job experiences, so do not fudge on them. They accept beginners and experienced employees and place you in positions accordingly.

They work very hard to place the correct people in the correct positions to maximize the experience for both the employee and the employer.

As far as staffing agencies go, they tend to have the higher paying jobs and a good supply of temp to permanent positions. They do offer benefits if you work long enough to earn them, such as bonus pay (vacation), they have healthcare benefits available for you to purchase. They also offer training on new programs after you have went to work for them that you can do on-line at your own time and pace which is a nice perk. They have sign on bonuses if you recommend someone that signs up with them and is placed in a position.

On-line time reporting causes less delay in your paycheck and direct deposit is encouraged. Any pay discrepancies are handled quickly.

I love dealing with Accountemps, they are the utmost in professionalism. They go out of their way to reward you when you are doing a good job, my last assignment kept getting extended bit by bit and that kind of left all of us up in the air as to when to look for a new position, they were so grateful that we were flexible and even brought us out pizza for lunch one day and bagels for breakfast. I worked for them before and they brought cookies on office professional day at that time, nice little touches like that are appreciated.

This is a great group to deal with and I highly recommend them to both employees and employers. They will ask numerous questions to be sure they are going to understand all the requirements of the position to find the perfect employee to do the job for a company. They are highly professional and very pleasant and personable to deal with from an employee and employer point of view. They follow up with both employee and employer to make sure everything is going well after you are placed in a position.

Definately top of the line in staffing agencies.

They have a variety of job assignments where you can gain new skills, knowledge and experience. 
I enjoyed a majority of my work assignments. I always did my best and gave 110% to that particular employer/company Robert Half sent me to. We were paid weekly and our hourly wage was generous in 9 out of 10 work assignments. 

As with most temporary employment agencies I was sent on short term assignments with the promise from the agency that the next assignment would be a temporary to permanent position. 
Unfortunately, in a few companies I was sent to,  I was given little to no direction or training on how to properly do the job I was there to preform. 
Budgeting personal finances became a challenge at times due to the fact that they sometimes didn't have an available employment assignments. It became a personal habit of mine to call Robert Half every day until I had another assignment.
My last employment assignment was supposed to be a temporary to hire position (after 7 months of waiting for what I was promised from my hire date). I was placed with a well known company as a customer service representative. My representative at Robert Half was told by the immediate supervisor that I was properly trained to perform every aspect of the job sufficiently without any limitations. That was not the case at all. I explained this to my Robert Half representative. She didn't believe me! 
A week later I was told that I was no longer needed at the company where I was assigned.
I never went back or called Robert Half again for another work assignment. Never, in my many years of employment/work life, have I ever been so unsupported by any employer like this representative at Robert Half had been. Ironically the company where my last job assignment was.... Well they are now been on the news several times for failing to properly provide their customers with satisfactory service.

When I first started working for this company, they were very professional and straight-forward (which I appreciated). 

Once they placed me on an assignment but my employment was terminated without any forewarning.  I didn't get a chance to explain myself nor correct myself.

They found me other positions (most of which had a poor turnover rate and did not pay well). 

When you try to talk to them about any concerns or problems you are having in a current assignment they love to play "devil's advocate" and they always manage to turn things around and somehow make it feel like you are the problem and that you are the one causing the problems. They appear to be more concerned for the companies and bosses you work for, rather than for you. They try to mold and manipulate you and your actions to tailor the needs of the client instead. 

If you become a "problem" they start ignoring your emails and phone calls. In fact, I sent an email asking about my job search status to two seperate office managers after not hearing anything for 2 to 3 weeks but received no reply. After another week I forwarded the same email again to both office managers and it took 4 days for one of the managers to reply to my email telling me that they were working very hard on finding an assignment for me and asked if I had applied for any of the positions on their website. I tried to explain to this office manager that every time in the past when I had kept applying to the positions listed on their website, I am told that the positions have already been filled and that the website just hadn't been updated yet. When I attempted to apply for more positions again, I got the same response and forwarded it to the office manager to show her proof of what I was talking about. I then got a call from the office manager stating that I sounded impatient and irritated and that I needed to understand that they were doing everything they can to find me another position. I was just trying to explain the feedback I was getting but again, I was wrong.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Accounting manager 178 salaries reported	$75,609 per year
Administrative assistant 95 salaries reported	$67,327 per year
Solutions manager 71 salaries reported	$77,221 per year
Staff accountant 37 salaries reported	$53,669 per year
Recruiter 9 salaries reported	$66,295 per year

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