Recruiter - Recruiter Career Management Associates Employee Review

As another reviewer mentioned, it was a way to work for Customs and Border Protection and get visibility to be hired on as a Federal employee.

Everything. Pay was poor, there was just a $0.03 annual increase, no PTO can be taken until the new fiscal year rolls over so some employees may go up to a year without any personal or sick time. Management was non-existent and lead contractors would abuse the power they pretended to have to their advantage so they could leave early and get their friends in their department. There are other contracting companies to go through to try to get in as a fed employee and they will pay better, offer better PTO and benefits, and pick more qualified individuals as lead contractors.

Very little done on my part to find this position or market me to the Federal Government Client.

1: not straightforward; get everything in writing. As just one example: was not upfront about pay. Was told in phone interview that it was $A hourly pay plus $B hourly pay for benefits to equal $C hourly wage if benefits were not used. Once first pay check, denied the conversation ever took place ... so "he said/she said" Plus, the little unused portion each paycheck, after medical, was mandated into a retirement account- NOT PAY. (advise I received from other CMA contractors at my agency was to "get everything in writing" due to their own past negative experiences) 2: called the position a "paralegal" and even gave me a job description as paralegal duties during recruiting and as part of the contract, HOWEVER, it is not even close to therole. The position was actually a "legal assistant" by title and function, and subject to much less pay if you are interested in getting "picked up" full-time by the agency. This will also be a concern for skills getting cold, job satisfaction, and boredom. 3: does not tell you that the contract is really for first month and that you will have a new contract after that. When asked about why signing a new one "well you would have never agreed if I told you that it was only a one month contract." I believe this was the agency probationary period in case they do not like you. 4: upon separation went to rollover my "mandatory" 401k contributions and was SHOCKED TO HAVE LEARNED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME there was a $100 "processing fee" - regardless of balance. $100 is steep. There is no minimum - if you have $100 balance or less, you will get nothing. Not even kidding. (also know that "The Contractors Plan" invokes a 60-day waiting period from date of separation - in case this matters to you). Taken in light of #1, this would have been a huge deal breaker for me if everyone was upfront and honest from the beginning. 5: does not give you updates on background investigation. CMA was very hands off in this phase and you have to do your own legwork to determine your status.