[drencharmstrong]

Hi,

I've applied for an internship/grad scheme that did seem really exciting but I'm just getting a bit of a funny feeling about it. I can't find much information on the company on the internet, other than quite recently filed company reports. The job was listed on my university website and is also on a lot of other university careers sections, and did seem fairly legit.
However, has got to the interview stage and I've had a bit of an odd email...I've told them the dates that I'm around and in what places and they've emailed back to say that they can interview me on their way to another place...

...in a macdonalds...
...at 11pm...

Now, I know, immediate alarm bells, and I think it may be a scam. I'm definitely not going to that interview because I just don't think it's a good idea but don't know whether to email and rearrange (or just not reply if people think it is a complete scam). I don't really know what to do. Any advice? The job advert is:
http://corp.seatllp.co.uk/opportunity

Any advice appreciated, thank you!

[threeportdrift]

(Original post by drencharmstrong)
........

It's not necessarily dodgy as a business at all, but it is an example of how graduate scheme is not a protected phrase, anyone can use it about anything.

[M1011]

TBH it looks a bit dodgy to me. I'm sure it's nothing illegal, but the whole thing seems a bit off. Perhaps rearrange to meet them in an office location and assess for yourself. Given the locations they've offered (practically everywhere) I assume you won't be working with other people much. To be honest I think with it being a 'partnership' and no fixed salary (16-45k?), it might be a commission based sales role. Can't understand how a proper company can operate with a partner to staff ratio of 3:1.

Be wary IMO.

[Norton1]

(Original post by M1011)
TBH it looks a bit dodgy to me. I'm sure it's nothing illegal, but the whole thing seems a bit off. Perhaps rearrange to meet them in an office location and assess for yourself. Given the locations they've offered (practically everywhere) I assume you won't be working with other people much. To be honest I think with it being a 'partnership' and no fixed salary (16-45k?), it might be a commission based sales role. Can't understand how a proper company can operate with a partner to staff ratio of 3:1.

Be wary IMO.

I think they refer to employees as partners; like Sainsbury's refers to them as colleagues.

In terms of the company itself it doesn't seem legit.

[drencharmstrong]

(Original post by M1011)
TBH it looks a bit dodgy to me. I'm sure it's nothing illegal, but the whole thing seems a bit off. Perhaps rearrange to meet them in an office location and assess for yourself. Given the locations they've offered (practically everywhere) I assume you won't be working with other people much. To be honest I think with it being a 'partnership' and no fixed salary (16-45k?), it might be a commission based sales role. Can't understand how a proper company can operate with a partner to staff ratio of 3:1.

Be wary IMO.

This is what I've been starting to think. I do think it looks like interesting work but I don't really see how they can be offering that many places. And this email has just kind of freaked me out a bit. It kind of seemed a bit too good to be true. I'm going to email back and ask if they will rearrange the interview to a daytime setting in an office and see what they say and if I'm not happy then I won't take it any further. Thanks for your advice

[M1011]

(Original post by Norton1)
I think they refer to employees as partners; like Sainsbury's refers to them as colleagues.

In terms of the company itself it doesn't seem legit.

Yea but colleagues can apply to many situations, partners are named such because they operate within a partnership. Partner is an easy way to get around paying a wage - a partner can be solely commission based because they are not employed as such, they are 'part' of the company. A partner of the company. That would be my suspicion in this case.

(Original post by drencharmstrong)
This is what I've been starting to think. I do think it looks like interesting work but I don't really see how they can be offering that many places. And this email has just kind of freaked me out a bit. It kind of seemed a bit too good to be true. I'm going to email back and ask if they will rearrange the interview to a daytime setting in an office and see what they say and if I'm not happy then I won't take it any further. Thanks for your advice

If you get suspisious tell them Gator don't take no bull*hit from his bitc*es. OK I'm possibly watching Other Guys atm

[Norton1]

(Original post by drencharmstrong)
This is what I've been starting to think. I do think it looks like interesting work but I don't really see how they can be offering that many places. And this email has just kind of freaked me out a bit. It kind of seemed a bit too good to be true. I'm going to email back and ask if they will rearrange the interview to a daytime setting in an office and see what they say and if I'm not happy then I won't take it any further. Thanks for your advice

Ask to go to a slightly more upmarket fast food place. Subway seems slightly less rapy for some reason.

[M1011]

(Original post by Norton1)
Ask to go to a slightly more upmarket fast food place. Subway seems slightly less rapy for some reason.

This level of protection is why I use AVG

[ForKicks]

It doesn't sound dodgy and I have heard of this line of work. It is a rather relaxed form of work though and has no massive future prospects. Good as a stop-gap, but wouldn't go for it long-term.