Thank you so much for your feedback. I truly wish you had stayed through the entire process rather than leaving early as I feel that you would have a better understanding of our entire process. Most candidates view this process as a very positive experience (search Spherion Columbia on Google). This process is simply one of many that we use to ensure that we are able to provide the best service the candidates who apply with us. It is one of the ways we are able to live out our mission to positive impact our community daily, as our process is set up in a way that enables us to initially evaluate candidates beyond what is simply on (or not on) their resume or application. Through this process we have the ability to teach them a job skill that will help them find employment through Spherion or on their own through other means. This one process also ensures that we are immediately able to meet with candidates interested in working with Spherion, and ensure that we do not run the risk somehow losing the candidate in the process due to technology issues on their end, or because they may lack of detail in the online application process, etc. Through this one process ALL candidates receive the opportunity to make an initial impression. Everyone is invited in. We would encourage you to reach out to our team and ask for a special accommodation if this process did not suit you. We are very open to making these accommodations; as we make money when you make money after being placed by Spherion! In regards to the bathroom concern, that is not typical of our processes. It is possible that the bathroom was out of order that day.

I have looked at the Columbia, SC reviews on Glassdoor and Google. I am happy for those who had a positive experience, but mine was quite the opposite and I am inclined to agree with the negative reviews. I can say, too, that when the interviewer left the room on two occasions, all the interviewees discussed their discomfort and disappointment with how the process was being conducted. The process is an obvious method of streamlining how to weed-out those you don't want to represent. From a business standpoint, that makes sense and saves everyone time. However, it does not stop the process from feeling rather degrading. The interviewer feigned the elevator pitch to be a learning opportunity that we would all practice and critique each other. But, it was not a learning opportunity. She was not trying to teach us anything because she did not give anyone feedback. According to her everyone did great. After which she stepped into the hall to select the applicants who would be staying behind for further interviewing, and those who would be getting call-backs. How is that not degrading; to point out in front of a group of people who is worth interviewing and who is not? I prefer not to sit and wait and see myself or others called out in that manner. And about the doors being locked - it seems like the whole place is kept locked up because the front doors are kept locked during business hours and the interviewer said she had to get a key to unlock the bathroom. It makes the location and operation seem questionable. Regardless, I don't think Spherion and I would be happy working together. Thank you and best.

As someone who works within the staffing industry (and someone who worked at Spherion many years ago), this is one of the most unprofessional process I have seen. I was at first inclined to chalk this up to a bit of exaggeration on behalf of the OP, but with the response listed by Spherion, i am blown away. Regardless of what type of job or placement the candidate was looking for, to conduct yourself in this manner is a major disservice to our industry. The idea of a "group Interview" makes absolutely no sense from a candidate vetting point of view. Not only are you putting potential candidates in an awkward setting that would diminish the soft skills you are looking to gauge, but the embarrassment of being turned down in front of fellow applicants will seriously hurt individuals self esteem. This literally makes NO SENSE to me as a staffing professional. UNLESS, you are using these "group interviews" as a source for potential sales leads? Perhaps you are using the interviews as a way to decipher which candidates seem open to giving up valuable contact information to you for sales prospects. In any case, shame on you Spherion ! Also, the response from Spherion comes across as excuse-laden and lazy. I would be very interested in hearing from the candidates that feel that this was a good experience for them. TO EVERYONE ELSE: Please do not let this terrible and unprofessional experience deter you away from using a staffing service. The key is finding a service that will truly work with you to try and find a match within our client base. These kinds of companies DO exist. unfortunately, you have to navigate through the bad ones such as the above and find one that works. Best of luck to the OP in your job search, and to Spherion, Smarten up!

We appreciate your candidate feedback on the process. This is a process that has helped may, many people be placed in temporary and career positions over the years and in simply one of the many ways in which our candidates are vetted. Our team will discuss your valuable feedback, as it appears that there is an opportunity for our team to improve the way in which we communicate the intentions and purpose of this process prior to candidates arriving, as well as improving the way in which we share the other options available to be initially considered, if the process is not to their preference, as in your case. Thank you again for the feedback to help us improve the service level we provide to our community!