A Minneapolis headhunting firm has shut its doors after the Better Business Bureau launched an investigation into job seekers’ claims that the company was scamming them out of money.
According to StarTribune.com, the Arthur Group Executive Search, owned by Barry Trimble, emptied its office and shut down its website after the BBB and the Attorney General’s Office began addressing complaints that they were misleading clients.
Job seekers say they shelled out thousands of dollars for services but received little help or leads in return.
The Star Tribune said that a common theme among the job seeker complaints were that they felt the service would give them an edge looking for a high-level position in a tough job market, but that Trimble was a smooth salesman who didn’t follow through on promises. While the company provided some services, the clients say, it often did a less-than-adequate job. Many have questioned whether the search firm’s leads were legitimate.
Trimble has denied misleading clients, but a former employee of the search firm said that clients were misled ‘without a doubt.’
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August 28th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Sad to hear this. We do have a firm local to Cleveland that is in the middle of huge prosecution by the State of Ohio. Career Building Solutions, Inc. was busted on an eye witness report for conspiracy and theft. The third pretrial was held on 8/19. Not sure of the current status.
This is actually a good thing as hard times tend to be a reveal of character not necessarily where character is made. Most of the recruiting business is now out of business thanks to the economic weeding out process.
August 28th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I hope more investigation is done at more companies. Seems that lately all of the job boards and search firms are making money off of poor unsuspecting job seekers. I can think of a few right off the bat that are misleading the unemployed with promises of things that the search firm/job board can “do” for them even in this economy. More jobs, more leads, etc…. It’s a shame.