OK. So I'm sitting in StarBucks right now and a guy comes up to me and asks me about a sticker I have on my laptop that says "drum machines have no soul" I explain that I produce electronic based music and I have it on there because I think it's funny. We get into further discusion about live drums and drum machines and he seems really interested and really impressed.... He then starts explaining how he part of a organization called Wilkens International.

He asks me what I'm doing for work right now and I tell him I just moved back from LA and currently I'm applying for a bunch of positions in the area. He then calls someone to ask if they have an extra seat available for tomorrow night and they ask to speak to me....

I'm speaking to some woman on the phone who informs me that they have had a lot of interest in tomorrow night and they want to make sure that if I have a resevered seat that I'm actually going to be there. I say yes. The seat is now mine. (I figured it's only an hour and I'm not doing anything tomorrow night anyway so what the hell).
The guy and I keep talking for a bit and he's telling tomorrow night is a recruiting and info session for the business at a local hotel complex in business attire and that I should bring a note pad and a smile.


HERE'S MY QUESTION:
Besides the 2 sentence answer this guy gave me about 'Wilkens International" does ("we represent marketing for a lot of big fortune 500 companies".... blah blah blah) He doesn't actually tell me what they do or why he wants me to come out. I spoke with this guy for maybe 10 minutes.... and now he wants me to come apply to work for him????

This screams SCAM to me. I can't even find anything with a google search for the company. They said they aren't selling me anything and I don't need to bring any money or anything like that but.... I'm still pretty skeptical. I mean I know Starbucks is a job search power house and all (I'm joking) but I find it hard to beleive some guy just offered me a job as I drank an overpriced coffee.
I'll likely go anyway to check it out but have any of you heard of this company in any way?

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Dave (aka: Upgrade- live pa)

quote:

Originally posted by Lightshow i wear sunglasses for the same reason everybody wears them in a club. 1: people look cool in sunglasses 2: it gets awefully bright as the night progresses

*nusty does not wear sunglasses at night, they make it hard to see and you could trip

anyone who won't tell what it's really about, but wants you to come to some meeting...sketch.

I bet the phone call is a rehearsed piece as well. "You're in luck, we have ONE more seat", lol.

what the hell...if you have an hour to kill, why not...I remain highly skeptical. Marketing firms for Fortune 500 companies tend to not recruit strangers sitting in coffee shops, I would assume

quote:

Originally posted by MarkT anyone who won't tell what it's really about, but wants you to come to some meeting...sketch. I bet the phone call is a rehearsed piece as well. "You're in luck, we have ONE more seat", lol. what the hell...if you have an hour to kill, why not...I remain highly skeptical. Marketing firms for Fortune 500 companies tend to not recruit strangers sitting in coffee shops, I would assume

That pretty much sums up why I'm rather skeptical. lol. Yeah I figured at the very least it's an hour of entertainment as I laugh (on the inside) at thier sales pitch and try to figure out thier game.

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Dave (aka: Upgrade- live pa)

quote:

Originally posted by Lightshow i wear sunglasses for the same reason everybody wears them in a club. 1: people look cool in sunglasses 2: it gets awefully bright as the night progresses

*nusty does not wear sunglasses at night, they make it hard to see and you could trip

stuff like that does fascinate me...

in the sense that *someone* is making money off of this somehow...so I'm curious to know how that is.

e.g. the "Primerica" financial sales shit...the people *really* making money are the ones who sign up a bunch of people to work under them...not from actually selling financial products themselves...it's a glorified pyramid scheme.

if you go, report back...I'm curious

Pyramid scheme.

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I'm the trouble starter, fuckin' instigator.
I'm the fear-addicted, danger illustrated.

I had a very similar conversation with somebody in another marketing firm who 'markets for big companies'. I was offered an interview within a few minutes of talking to this guy, but I had no idea what the interview was for!

The funny thing is, it all started as inocently as yours did, he asked me a question about where i got my brown dress shoes. From there we started talking about business and where I was employed.

They eventually called me back, with a firm date, but I just did not return their call. I did not trust the whole situation.

Be carefull, take a knife, lol.

quote:

Originally posted by MarkT stuff like that does fascinate me... in the sense that *someone* is making money off of this somehow...so I'm curious to know how that is. e.g. the "Primerica" financial sales shit...the people *really* making money are the ones who sign up a bunch of people to work under them...not from actually selling financial products themselves...it's a glorified pyramid scheme. if you go, report back...I'm curious

A few years back I got pulled over by the infamous white van speaker sales guys. after talking with them (ie they were trying to sell me over priced no name speakers) I started laughing, they got offended. I left. I then later spent 2 weeks tracking them back down again (not easy to do!) and met with the head hauncho for the greater NY operations of one of the bigger of these 'companies'. We sat and talked seriously about his operations ran because I told him I interested in learning about the company and to 'consider' working for them if it was as good as they said it was.
I never worked for them but I did get a half way decent pair of speakers at THIER ACTUAL wholesale costs (about $60). I can't say what they do is ethical but I can admit it takes a certain person to be able to sell those kinds of services.... if only they put thier salesmanship to good practices then imagine what they could do.

I'll certainly report back about this meeting tomorrow night. I too am curious and don't have anything better to do anyway.

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Dave (aka: Upgrade- live pa)

quote:

Originally posted by Lightshow i wear sunglasses for the same reason everybody wears them in a club. 1: people look cool in sunglasses 2: it gets awefully bright as the night progresses

*nusty does not wear sunglasses at night, they make it hard to see and you could trip

quote:

Originally posted by nusty "we represent marketing for a lot of big fortune 500 companies".... I can't even find anything with a google search for the company.

lawl
If a tool like that ever came up to me...wow, i'd have so much fun with him.

That is one of the classic pyramid marketing scheme sales pitches ... just like the Bond Marketing Group, Granton Marketing, Primerica, etc... it's just going to be a high energy, "fun" sales pitch aimed at getting you involved so that you'll help them get more ppl involved.

Love to hear how they work their pitch presentation. Please, bring a recorder w/ ya if ya can lol..that'll help ya get even more details on it up here.

Cheers, & good luck...& don't let 'em fill your head w/ too much crap.

That's just the way I got suckered into an Amway presentation. These guys never tell you what the company really is or does until they have your captive attention on their grounds.

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Short time TA, Long time Guver, Good time giver.

quote:

Originally posted by Abercrombie That's just the way I got suckered into an Amway presentation. These guys never tell you what the company really is or does until they have your captive attention on their grounds.

Was it worth the laugh? I'm starting to wonder if this is worth an hour of my night that could be spent masturbating instead. (JK, but I'm sure what ever I do 7pm it will be about as equally constructive)

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Dave (aka: Upgrade- live pa)

quote:

Originally posted by Lightshow i wear sunglasses for the same reason everybody wears them in a club. 1: people look cool in sunglasses 2: it gets awefully bright as the night progresses

*nusty does not wear sunglasses at night, they make it hard to see and you could trip

My guess he works for Wilkins (with an i not an e) International group who conduct professional sales and achievement type courses. One of those large companies who send out their sales staff on the street trying to convince people that by taking a few classes with their professional leaders that you can unleash the power in yourself and find your CEO path to success.

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