So - I applied for a job for Gateway Management through Zip Recruiter. It was a customer service position. I get an e-mail for an interview - the email was from a Sheri at Zeal Management requesting an interview - signed by Catherine - but from the listing for Gateway Management - red flag #1. Zeal Management then called me to schedule an interview, which I accepted, and then started investigating the company. It doesn't exist. Called the company who posted the ad - was assured it was a real company, and a good job - but refused to give much information. Assured me it was a real opportunity despite the building where the interviews were being held had a FOR LEASE sign on it. Go to the interview (they were actually there) and I am told there are TWO positions - a Manager position at 30K a year, and a Customer Service position at $8/hr (half of what I made at my last job before I was laid off). They will only be 2 people to run the office. Still no information on the company other than the compensation. Was told we'd be called by 3 pm if we made it for the second interview. I was interviewed at the same time as another woman. My interview lasted exactly 7 minutes before she sent me on my way. Surprised to get a second call that afternoon and was told to come in today at noon for my second interview. I figured my management experience and office skills had moved me to the front of the pack.

Go in today for my second interview to discover a total of NINE people for this second interview. Turned out to be a presentation about the manager position, the hours, the pay, the benefits, etc. Mentioned the parent company - Scentura Creations. Told about training 6-8 weeks - $200-400/week. Red flag #2. All nine of us were hired at the end of the presentation. Red flag #3.

So - I am the last one left and she asked us all the same questions. I told her I had a few for her myself. I asked her what the training involved, and told her not even her local office would confirm anything I asked them. She tried to evade the question, and I told her I deserved an answer because I was getting red flags from the first time they contacted me. She finally confessed you would spend the training period selling the perfumes. Told her the money was unacceptable for my and that I was not interested in selling anything like that because I specifically told the gentleman I talked to that I was NOT interested in anything that involved door to door sales, approaching complete strangers, or working parking lots. He assured me it was nothing like that but was a B2B job, but refused to say how they marketed - catalog, internet, mailing - and I asked. I then asked once the training was completed, did we run a retail store, etc? Was told no - we would be doing the same presentations she was doing over and over. At that point, I KNEW I'd been scammed and lied to. I politely informed her that I was probably older than everyone else in that room, including her, and I knew a pile of fertilizer when I smelled it. I also told her I was NOT interested as this was definitely not a good fit and I would be turning them into Zip Recruiter for a fraudulent job posting and a bait and switch interview process. I then walked out and I will never go back.

WHY do people pull this crap when you are desperate for a job? Almost everyone in that room except for me was under 30 and probably had little to no sales experience at all, and they all seemed to accept everything without question as they walked out. Also - be on the lookout for any company associated with Scentura Creations out of Atlanta. It's a purely commission sales job that makes you sell cheap knock-off cologne in parking lots for commission only, Then you have to dupe other people into doing the same thing. Check out their reviews on Indeed....almost nothing positive.