We recently received this email from a Cheezhead reader, who had a less-than-productive experience with Jobfox’s Intro service. This new tool claims to reach out to companies and introduce candidates on their job board that are deemed “5-star.”
The reader writes:
I am always looking for new web sites and new features of current web sites that knock my socks off and make me want to keep using the product - and tell my friends . . . so I gave Jobfox’s new Mutual Suitability System a try to see how the product is different and how, when introduced to a company, I would be pushed to the top of the line above other candidates.
I got my introduction but the email was generic and did not prove to give me any more information about the company, the job, or any reason for me to think that I had been given priority status to the employer. I waited and waited for an email from the employer who had expressed interest in me via Jobfox (after all, I was 5 star candidate for the job), but I never got anything.
When I contacted the employer via email I got a generic ‘thanks for you interest in the company, please send in your resume and we will contact you when the right opportunity comes up.’ What about the introduction stating how interested the company was in my skills? Why, if my resume was in my profile, do they ask me to give them a resume in MS word format? I thought that maybe it was just that one employer that didn’t get what they were supposed to do so I tried a new priority introduction. I got the same exact introduction via email only the box with my message to the employer was different.
I emailed the company directly explaining how wonderful it was that Jobfox had introduced us and how excited I was that we were so compatible and I was sure I would be working for them soon. My response was the same generic ‘thanks for your interest…’
Furthermore, I got a “cheat sheet” link that once opened did nothing more than attempt to sell me Rob McGovern’s book “Bring your A-Game.” Basically, I don’t see that Jobfox’s Mutual Suitability System gives “one-to-one relationships and connections between candidates and employers” at all.
My impression? Nice try, Jobfox.
Barry Lawrence, PR Director for Jobfox, responded to the complaint by saying that they are currently looking into the issue.
“It is certainly not the intended outcome,” he said.
But my real question to the job seeker is, how was the book?
August 27th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
I wuz scammed by Paypal. When returning items to sellers on Buyer Protection, you will automatically be denied on a claim if you dont use signature service. They dont tell you that, naturally.
August 27th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I read Rob McGovern’s book and was pretty offended when he advised women not to look like a “whore” with their make-up. What’s next, telling someone not to drive a beat up car to the interview because they would be considered “trailer trash”? If someone’s skills match the job and are the best person for the job would you truly not hire them because YOU felt a woman looked like a “whore”. Skills are everything these days. I would sincerely hope that you wouldn’t hire someone much less qualified because you didn’t like the amount of make-up a candidate wears.
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
I, too, tested JobFox just to see what the buzz was about. I found the process to be cumberson and I felt that it was asking me to give up a LOT of personal/career data way too early in the process. I was bombarded by a lot of work-at-home offers, and we all know those are 90+% scams or bad deals. That, too, diminished confidence in both the process and the value.
Then I got emails about my great matches, but it said I needed to put in my data so they could really match me. SO how did I get matches with not enough data to get matches?
If I was seriously looking (I’m 100% not), I would not consider this site. That’s too bad, because better approaches ARE needed. It’s just that this site is not a better approach.
September 27th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
By my name you can see that I try to see both sides of issues. I really tried on this one to do the same however, this is not the first time I have read this type of post on this site or others regarding Jobfox.
When I was a kid I thought the X-Ray glasses in the back of the comic books would do what they said they would do…..they didnt, and it seems over and over again that from both the candidate and the employers using Jobfox, they are buying the sizzle of filet but getting the taste of ground beef.
The concept is great and Jobfox keeps coming out with new versions of the product for candidates and employers but it seems that is just keeping the sizzle up.