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Lee Iaccoca became famous, again, when he rescued Chrysler 30 years ago using the ad-line, "If you can find a better, buy it." There is a great and plain truth in it, which applies equally well here.
Here is a simple and straightforward fact, the George S. May International Co. is the most experienced in the world as a company of business analysts and business development specialists focused on serving the Main Street community of business operators. The firm began in 1925, and since then has served well over 500,000 clients, and 80% of those clients are companies who employ between 8 and 80 people (not 8000 to 80,000 - although - in the other 20% there are some household-known famous business names, who themselves began in very modest circumstances. For over 85 years there has been a very steady - and with a consistency of growing - demand for our services. It is thus a fact that no other firm in our industry can point to the numbers of SATISFIED clients as the George S. May International Co. can. When you've served the most, the math is easy, you have also pleased the most.
So far as working conditions, recruitment, and training, the George S. May has a rigorous (the most planned I have ever seen myself) set of recruitment practices. From the very beginning of the conversation (and supplemented with on-line materials for applicants to view prior to being interviewed) there is clear message conveyed that reimbursement is purely based on personal productivity. We travel. Travel expenses are reimbursed, and it is modest. Why? There are two reasons. First, our clients are small business owners, and when most (at least many) of them travel they stay in modest lodgings themselves, so our per diems reflect this. Any traveler for our company is absolutely free to stay in any lodging they choose, but if they choose to stay in high-end rooms, their per diem amount is their per diem amount, and it is adequate to cover plain, clean rooms, and if they want to spend more - this is their own decision. As for the second reason, one message we preach - yes, we proselytize - is to control waste, so we live as we preach.
If you have it in your heart - along with the experience and the intellectual capacity - to serve the business development needs of medium and small business owners, which also means you are enabling their employees to prosper more as well, then the George S. May International Co. would probably love to consider you to join the firm. The hours can be long, and for those who "get it" the financial rewards can be comparable with what other business professionals earn. Remember this though, those business professionals who make significant incomes do so because the work tremendously hard themselves, and they make investments in themselves and their businesses. Perhaps this is a harsh outlook, but as I see some of the comments made by those who bailed - or were asked to leave - within the first year, I wonder what other opportunities do they have - rationally - in front of them, to believe that they can make $100,000-200,000 per year by "showing up" - for 40 hours per week, but only actually work half of less of that. What are they thinking? For most of our clients to earn what solid producers working with the George S. May Co. can earn, those clients would need to have made investments of tens - if not hundreds - of thousands of dollars.
In closing, there is no upfront investment required to work with George S. May. If you check through franchises, there are several firms that will offer you what is essentially the same opportunity as GSM is offering, but you have to cough-up a very substantial investment up-front, and over the 30+ years that I have been watching this industry, most of those firms have failed. (Let me ask you - do you believe those who made those investments got refunds?)
GSM is actually a pretty good company to work for. They offer a great training program including one on one training and provides a great education on proper business dealings. I don't work for them anymore but that has nothing to do with the company being unethical. I had just had a baby and shortly after my wife decided she really didn't want the family thing. Like any job you get what you put into it. The rewards can be huge but that's up to you. I promise you will get all the support and resources you need to make the big bucks if you are motivated. If you want your hand held look for a different job.
Yes, some of what these naysayers cry about is true. The hours are long, the travel can be miserable and this job is not cut out for everyone!!! I have been with George for 3 years. I am a Sr. Analyst, which essentially means that I not only run surveys for new clients, but, I "rescue" jobs that are being ran by morons that write rediculous reports on this website. The George S. May International Company is a MERIT BASED company! They hire, pay and employee people based on their own merit. What that means is...if you perform, you work, if not, you don't. Anyone that is nieve enough to think that companies as old as GSM don't use "scripts" is a fool. When something works, script it, teach it and USE IT!!! I have personally helped over 100 business owners change their lives, mainly because I care about their lives! I have not SOLD every client that I meet our services, but, I have still impacted their life, taught them something about themselves and/or their business and overall helped them be better! Because of the way GSM works(and I happen to RESPECT the company for this) I don't always get the opportunity to speak to my clients after I leave, however, I do hear from the Project Directors and staff. I have no shame in what I do and I hold my clients VERY accountable for their business. If they knew it all or had all the right tools and systems in place...they wouldn't want or need our help. They would also "script"it!!!! In my opinion, the people that are writing these ANONYMOUS reviews are LOSERS!!!! This job requires skill and comittment,clearly after 2 weeks of employment...you have neither.
I make plenty! I have only had one problem with reimbursements in my time with the company, however, I lost the receipt.
Allows me to provide tools, training and turn around strategies to small and mediium businesses at reaonable cost. I have met and worked with wonderful but dysfunctional companies who are at crossroads in their business cycle and I am proud that all of my clients are highly satisfied with the work I perform for them.
I have a high moral compass and I have never been forced to compromise this during the 13 years I have worked on and off for this company.I have met many employees with this company who use the excuse of the travel or the system to substantiate their own poor knowledge, work habits, or laziness, and who choose to utilize the internet to discredit the work of those of us who truly do love being able to help small and mediium businesses. GSMIC has a highly regimented system of sales, analysis, and consulting, but it is ultimately designed to ensure the client's satisfaction with the work performed. Every day that I am working for a client, I ask the client if I have changed their business for the better. If at any point the client says they are not satisfied, I immediately go on non-billing status until all issues are resolved. What other business is willing to do this?
Disgruntled current and ex employees who utilize the web to discredit the company are and were failures, and fail to recognize the extent that GSMIC goes to to ensure client satisfaction. Sales techniques are by nature aggressive, the analyst's are maybe a little too dramatic, but it all rests with the client's experience with the consulting engagement and thier needs being addressed. I am proud to be one of those people who turn these businesses around and embarrassed by all of these incompetents who could not cut it and therefore feel the need to be martyrs and "poor me's". Thank goodness most of our clients recognize the character of these types, are intelligent enough to make their own decisions based on actions, not heresay.
I am not, however, embarrassed to be a Senior Staff Consultant for this company and am grateful for the opportunity that allows me to do what I love.
Pros-having clients tell you that you have chnged their life, that you are a lifelong friend to them on a personal basis, seeing employees grateful that the company can now provide a structured and measurable way to sustain the business and their jobs
Cons-the short-term employment of idiots who sometimes get thru the screening process..GSMIC is willing to give people a chance to prove themselves even when they should probably recognize sooner they are losers. Get to meet and work with wonderful clients and some coworkers.
Cons-yes, the travel sometimes is overwhelming..cannot remember room number or rental car tyoe from one day to next
I was an Executive Analyst but this relates to every Field position within the GSM Company. I, like many, lived the GSM Field experience and left disgusted after a short while. Most of us didn't stay long enough to appreciate and understand the motive behind the way the Company trains then runs off so many employees. The unfortunate truth is numbers, plain and simple numbers. The more folks you can put in the field be they Sales, Analyst or Consultants the greater the chance to ripoff the poor unsuspecting client. It is difficult for an unsuspecting, honest employee to understand how such a business model could make sense. Truth is, we were all simply expendable garbage to GSM.
As so many others have pointed out, there is no pros, only cons to working at GSM. Few will last longer than a couple of months, and if you are honest with yourself you can see why. There will never be a large enough close rate to fairly compensate those in the field. But, as long as GSM can keep enough suckers out there trying to make a living, the small number of "Go Aheads" continues to feed the Beast and keep the scam going.
WOW... I finally found the website I knew was out there somewhere. I even asked a VP if there was info out there on the internet I should know about.
I too was caught up in the whole con game they gave me to join the "gang" (of theives that is).
Along with about 25 others I was treated to a week in Chicago for brainwashing... I mean training. Looking back, I had a gut feeling during that week as it seemed they were dwelling on things they did in the 30's, 40's, and 50's. Why tout their history with professional golf so much when they are no longer associated with it in any way. It's like Ford talking about the success of the Pinto.
So, I left there on Friday afternoon to fly back home, well, I did get back home eventually, but I had to drive to another city about 3 1/2 hours away for a ceaper fare. Which meant after I landed, I had another 3 1/2 hour drive to get home.
Sunday night I got a phone call from the DM, saying he was going to be in town and was going to ride with me for a couple of days. He had some appointments set up by telemarketers so off we go. First stop was a 2 hr drive to the east. We get there and the receptionist says there's nothing on the books we were coming and the boss was out of the office for the week. We never got more than 10 feet in the front door.
Well, theh DM was pissed, and he called a VP in Chicago to complain about the telemarketers sending the sales guys on wild goose chases and they didn't have any accountability to their "appointments".
The next appointment was a 3 hour drive back to the west. When we got there it was at afternoon and the guy said he didn't have time and he'd call us to reschedule. Even the "pro" DM couldn't get the guy to commit to a rescheduled date and time so we left the building. In the car, the DM told me to plan on dropping in the next week. So, day one... 2 appointments and never got past the front door.
Day two wasn't much better, but we did talk to a couple of owners, but no one was ready to sign up for the $350 evaluation.
Day three was a final stop in at one business that we had been to on Tuesday, once again, he wouldn't sign. One comment the owner made was he needed to talk to his wife. Later in the car the DM said that meant she probably was "cooking the books". I then drove him about 1 1/2 hr to meet another sucker, I mean Special Rep from another area of the state to pass him off to him.
I was also invited to a regional meeting that weekend. Now that meeting was a 6 hour drivr, one way. But I went and it was really nothing more than an extention of the Chicago training. But, Sunday afternoon before leaving we all got leads that had been set up by the telemarketing department.
As I looked at the list, one of them was a motorcycle dealer that I knew the owner. Our daughters had gone to school and played softball together for years. i figured it would be an easy sale. The appointment was set for 10:00AM Monday morning.
So after driving 6 hrs back home, I get up Monday morning and go down to my friend's business. Guess what..... they're CLOSED on Mondays. I make a cold call on a nearby business, and when I introduce myself as a representative of George S. May, the guy jumps up out of his chair and tells me to get the hell out of his store and never come back. I stammered a little trying to at least make my canned pitch (beat into my brain so well in Chicago) but at the rate he was coming towards me from behind the counter, and the look on his face, I think I would have been physically thrown out if I didn't get out quick.
So, I called the VP in Chicago to report my experiences. Of course all he wanted to know was if I had a "prospect" (an unsigned sucker) or a "client" (a sucker who'd already signed). I explained to him that I was with the DM the week before when he called to complain about fake appointments being given out by telemarketers and based on the last business I was out I asked him "Is there something I ought to know about"? His reply was of course no no no.
I stopped in another friend's business a couple of days later and come to find out they had had GSMI do the audit and thought it was the worst mistake of her life. Only good thing about that visit was seeing my college sweetheart. After more rejections and another possible physical removal, on Friday of the 3rd week (1 in Chicago and 2 in the field) I called in and quit. Even with the DM I never made a sale.
The next week, I was in the area of my friend's motorcycle dealership and decided to stop in. I told him I had been given his name as a lead and wondered if there was a confusion on date or time. he said he remembered the call, and he point blank told her that he wasn't interested and not to bother. He has to go thru business reviews of this type by all of the brands of motorcycles he carrys and doesn't have to pay for them, so why would he pay to have it done again. Another crazy thing... remember he said he told "HER" on the phone not to bother. The referral I got was from a male telemarketer.
The only money I ever got from GSMI was mileage to and from the airport 3 hours awayand food & lodging while in Chicago. I never got reimbursed for the 6 hr drive to and from the regional meeting nor for the hotel while there.
The dates I have just written are fictional but representative of the years I spent in the George S May International Company. I really do not want to be identified as I am ashamed of the kind of person I became in order to stay as one of their sales and management employees for the years that I did. Reading what others have gone through with GSMIC has brought back the nightmare of working for them with hot tears of shame for letting them do to me what they did to me, and my deep regret and sorrow for what I, in turn, did to others. Joining them was perhaps the second worst decision I made in my life, and if so, staying with them was first, as it became the professional and moral equivalent of suicide.
Just like so many others who have written here, I was tricked into the May Company when adversity had struck my family when I lost my executive position due to downsizing. It was a time of recession in my industry and many of the opportunities I thought I had elsewhere had simply dried up. My many contacts and associates were powerless to find a place for me, as their own companies and organizations were on the same cliff edge. That is when I interviewed with the George S May International Company and was offered "the chance of a lifetime." My desperate situation and deteriorating financial position blinded me to the evidence that was before my eyes...any port in a storm, so to speak. I panicked.
I am not going to repeat the detailed accounts about the manipulation and abuse at every pore and core of GSMIC, written so eloquently here by so many other victims. What has been said about the fraudulent way they operate is true, entirely true. In fact, it would be difficult to exaggerate the grinding intimidation that is the systemized standard operating procedure in each of the company's divisions, at every entry level and management position below that of the President. I know, for I was there, and done that, perhaps even to some of those who wrote here, as I was done to, before, during, and after. The closest analogy I can come up with for what happened to me is how concentration camp inmates could be corrupted to serve their tormentors as Kapos, in order to have a chance to live another day and perhaps an extra scrap of bread. As I write this I bow my head in pain and shame.
After the initial brain-washing "training," as time when by, I was compromised first by good intentions, then by expediency, and finally corrupted by fear. For awhile I told myself that I was helping people, that the end justified the means, but truthfully, I knew all along, in my heart, that I had become a manipulating liar, first to my clients, then to those I recruited, and finally to everyone else. It cost me my integrity, my self respect and even my family, as I changed from the man I once was into the May company man I became. So, as you can read into this, it was not just the George S May Company's fault, it was mine, for they could not have bought me for any price had I not placed myself on the slave auction block. I fell into their hands. The May Company is expert at taking any possible weakness that can be found in people, whether they be clients or employees, and manipulating them into doing their bidding. It is absolutely uncanny how corrupted and corrupting they are. It starts with the slogan written on all their walls: What does the client want?
I hope, I trust, and I pray that some authority, somewhere, in these United States will read these letters on this site and investigate the George S May International Company and shut it down. It had done enormous damage to the business community and ruined tens of thousands of employee's lives for over three-quarters of a century. If that does not happen anytime soon, then I hope, at the least, that someone who reads this, either a prospective recruit who will stay away, or even better yet, someone who is trapped within, will be given enough courage to walk out, ask God for forgiveness and healing, and walk away. I did, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. Come outside, the weather is beautiful, even when it is raining, if you have a clean conscience. Redemption lives.
In summation, the George S. May International Company is, without a doubt, one of the worst and dishonourable business organizations in the world. Please believe me. No matter how bad off you are, no matter how desperate you feel, please be absolutely certain, that if you hire them, or work for them, things can and most likely will, become a whole lot worse. Take it from one that knows. Run.
If you do not beleive what everyone has written, take a look at the number of reviews this Company has on the website compared to other Companies listed. Most have 3 or 3. GSM has over 40. Every derogatory remark you read is absolutely true.
In the Executive Analyst position, you stand a greater chance of losing money than ever making money. If you should have an ouce of moral fiber in your body you will not last one entire day. Their whole purpose to convince some small failing Company to pay outlandish fees to supposidly turn around the operation. It will never happen and GSM knows it will not. But, in the meantime, some scared and inexpirienced owner will turn over his remaining cash to these piranahs.
Trust that GSM has thought of every concievable scenrio and has an answer that protects them against any repurcussion.
You more than likely accepted their offer because you may have been desperate. You were outsourced, cut back or the Company could not survive the depression. You saw this as a good alternative. Trust me, they want you to think that way. Their employee turnover is 90%. Most within 3 months if not 1 week.
GSM is not a Company that you can be proud to work for.
None
GSM has to be, without a doubt, the most horrific place on earth in which to work. As an Executive Senior Analyst your sole responsibility is go into unsuspecting small business and fleece them of as much of their money as possible. This is all done under the guise of showing them where they are going wrong in running their business. The untire encounter is a canned speech. At times you lie to the client that you are calling your "team" back in Chicago. You may never put the call on speaker phone because in reality you are talking to a "Senex" who is yelling in your ear to close the sale. You are told to use any intimidation that you canor the Senex can think of. Some of the better ones, "Without us you will be out of business in 30 days." If you loose the business, you stand to loose your wife and family." The Senex actually tells you to say these things. The Senex is a whole other topic. Mine was dumber than a box of rocks and a personality to match. You are told in training that the Senex is your "life line." Some life line. He is more like a person who throws a bucket of blood into the water as the sharks are approaching.
If you are an unspuspecting older executive whowas downsized this may look like something to good to be true when you are approach by GSM. Guess what...it is. After paying all of your expenses, staying in rat infested hotels, eating one meal a day at McDonalds and working from Sunday to late Friday you may make $50K. That is if you could possibly put up with the unethical approach they take.
One tip if you do go to work for them, make sure you enter your perdiem BEFORE you tell them you quit. You get $110/day to account for hotel, food and rental car. As soon as you quit, they take you out of the system. For sure do not tell them you quit until you have your return airline ticket, otherwise you pay your own way home.
Compensation: Never received a dime and forked out approx $1500 of my own money.
If you doubt what has been detailed by previous postings here do your own little test. Contact George S. May and ask about a job. Regardless of your education, experience or background you will be selected to attend an "all expense paid" training session at George S. May. With standards this low, how good could the service be? I suggest you do this same test if you are considering having GSM conduct an Analysis of your Business. How prepared would you be to evaluate and recommend appropriate management consulting to an large and often unique number of small to medium businesses.
Don't make the mistake of falling for this Scam like so many others did, including myself. If GSM were at all concerned about the quality of their Management Consulting Service they would be willing to hire and pay, up front, for people with the skills to really help businesses that need it. No, instead they trick large numbers of unqualified people who are only paid commissions to flood the marketplace in hopes of landing a few "Suckers" to pay thousands for boilerplate answers. Don't be the next victim. Do not work for or hire George S. May until you have taken this test.
I accepted a position with George S May after being "courted" on the phone and invited to a fully-paid week-long sales training seminar. At the end of the training, the people who declined to join the company were treated extremely rudely, which should have tipped me off.
For my job, I sold business owners a no-obligation opportunity to "try out" George S May, and decide for THEMSELVES whether the company could be helpful to them. Problem was.....once the survey was sold, I depended on the ANALYST to do a good job and NOT entrap business owners.....tough because I found out THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT THE ANALYSTS GET PAID....
I was paid $900 whenever a $350 "objective business survey" I had sold to a prospective consulting client was HELD & PAID FOR. The huge commission was attractive.
Once I agreed to work for the company, I was forced to drive around for days with an "assistant manager" whose job it was to make sales for me initially. That way, I would start to get paid, and would start to ideally work in the "George S May" way. This person had NO training in how to coach or mentor. Good person but horrible assistant manager. Yuck yuck yuck.
Had to call "headquarters" every day at 6:35 a.m. -- this was to "check in" and get yelled at if "necessary", or get a "pep talk". No respect for MY time as a rep....just had to sit on hold until the bigwig finally got on the phone with me....you see, EVERYONE had to call at the SAME TIME....no organized modern ways of communicating.
Everything was paper. Horrid and old-fashioned.
The dumbest thing ever? EVERY SINGLE TIME I MADE A SALE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD WOULD BE ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE "CONFIRMING" everything. You don't know how many companies thought this was kind of weird, given that they were only agreeing to pay $350 for a quick, "NO OBLIGATION" business analysis.....
Could not build referrals, which is the BACKBONE of a good sales career. Was told we could never give out the names of clients due to privacy and confidentiality.....later realized most companies who had hired George S May HATED the experience.
Field sales management was horrendous. My manager was a nice guy who just had sort of "given up" and did not care about selling his soul as long as he had a paycheck to pay for his fine family....he really was a nice guy, but the first thing he told me was that I should "learn to lie" in order to get by in that company. Lie about my work hours. Lie about what I'm doing during the day. ETc Etc. RIDICULOUS.
No "pros" to this job, period. I described the major "cons" above.
After a short experience with "George" and having read many of the employee reports here I have decided there is a purpose for GSMIC. If you are either recently out of work or just about to hit rock bottom professionally a short tenure as a GSMIC employee will prove there are life experiences that are worse than death! I can't really add anything to what has been reported accurately here, but sure can't understand how this company has been in business for more than 80 years.
If you are reading this and are either considering working for or engaging GSMIC to "help save" your business please, please make sure you know what you are getting into. I think I can speak for many when I say, you will be sorry if you do.
I was a GSM Staff Executive or a few months back in 2008. Worst experience of my life! After my second assignment I was promoted because my Boss quit. I was just learning, and had to start leading jobs. I wasn't ready, but it didn't matter. All GSM wanted me to do was collect money from angry owners who were taken, and Pissed! The second time I was threatened physically, I quit. My primary responsibility was shaking down clients. If GSM were anything but a sham it would have an accounts receivable department and would have Analyst and Consultants do their jobs, not collect money.
Unless you are a bone breaker don't work for GSM. The Mob pays better for the same work.
For those of us who were in the "Field" and not allowed to meet or interact with the "hourly" types the previous Post was just more proof that George S. May is rotten to the core. Got to hand it to them, they treat everyone equally. Problem is, they treat everyone BAD! Just look at the number of Posts about the company. You simply cannot behave the way they do and continue. Recession Proof? If they make it through this year I would be very, very surprized.
Not a single positive thing can be said.
Working as a telemarketer at the Park Ridge office of GSM was the worst job experience I have ever encountered. Swear words fly all over the call This after you sign a commitment not to swear. This after you sign a statement saying you won't sexually harrass anyone. The call floor supervisor, is one of the most uncouth, unprofessional people I have ever seen after over eight years of telemarketing. He speaks in the training class and uses that opportunity to blast union people and President Obama. He says this is a recession proof job. Of the 27 people in my training class, four were still there into the second week. This is a humiliating place to work. I am ashamed to have ever been employed for these people. I'm just glad it was only three weeks.
I started at GSM in Nov of 2008 and quit after my 2nd week. I had approximately 20 people in my training class. Most quit after the first week in field. We kept in touch via email our first couple of assignments. The following is the emails that circulated that first week out of training. This should give anyone thinking of working here a very good idea of what to expect.
I was contacted by George S. May for a position and was asked to do a phone interview. As I have been in sales for years I explained what I was interested in and why for a sales position. During the entire phone interview I was asked questions that I had already answered such as "Why I was leaving current position" "Was I comfortable on straight commission"? I ansewered these questions including why a straight commission job would not work for me and was compltely ignored and my questions dismissed! He sounded COMPLETELY scripted. I also asked who their biggest competitor was in the industry and why and he mumbled something about "IPA" but didnt know where they were located or anything about them. I stated I was not interested and hung up. I then googled them and discovered all of this-
ALL OF THIS IS TRUE-TERRIBLE COMPANY!!!
Really hard to believe this outfit is still in operation. Do a little investigation with the BBB or your States AG before either working for, or hiring this rotten company. I didn't expect the "World" when I went to work for George, just fair treatment and a opportunity. I got neither.
The only good part is when you quit. Total ripoff.
I will make this short but to the point as I concure with all of the negative comments on this site posted about the George S. May Co.
I was a victim of the Spitzer (then Attorney State General) crunch on the insurance industry about 5 yrs ago and company downsizing. I was employed with one of the top 3 broker firms and was successful conducting business with the utmost ethical proceedures.
I was headhunted by the George S. May Co and accepted their invitation to join and participate in a week long orientation/training session in Las Vegas
After sitting in the classroom for 3 days humiliated at the brain washing cookie cutter stratigies, the instructor must have noticed some of my body language such as teeth grinding and constant readjusting in my seat to become comfortable with the lack luster material that they were throwing out there for anyone to buy and believe it.
The instructor at lunch break asked to speak with me in private in his office, He stated that this is a BIRD DOG position and did not feel that I would be satisfied with the position and asked kindly if he could call me a cab.
I agreed, and anyone with any fortitude and desire to succeed, should openly read these comments that the professional people before you have forwarned you about. If you proceed do it at your own risk and take the blame and put it back on yourself, Because you have been Warned.
Then the fools after 3 yrs obtain my resume from a website and invite me back again.
They are the CON and we are the Pros and anyone with any business ethics will sense their 1925 approach to business and understand something is wrong as it is 2009.
I have been with the company 7 months and ongoing. In the beginning I was confused on what my role was and not understanding the full scope and breadth of the company's mission. I believe that was due to a training class that was new for the trainer... we were his first class. The manual was also being re-edited. So, needless to say there were potholes in that classes training.
However, I had/have a Senior Executive that has become a mentor to me in guiding me to be a lead analyst in providing quality services to the clients we go into relationships with.
No job is initiated without full disclosure on what is to be done, how it is to be done and the cost. I review all costs: travel, hourly fee, lodging, and per diem that is the client's responsibility. In my 7 months I have seen my client's get the help they were seeking and in many times the ROI which we seek to be at least a 2:1 become more like 4:1 and in one case a 7:1.
My relationships with my clients are sincere and heartfelt. I did not and do not push to get a job unless the client asked for the help and I believed in the recommendations so the Management Service personnel would walk into a cooperative client atmosphere with all details covered so they could get busy going to work directly. I do not believe that all Analysts conducted their surveys like that, but my SENEX stressed the point. It was better to be honest, open and upfront than to set the company and the client up for failure.
In my case, I do apologize for my full lack of training that my first clients experienced, buy my sincerity pushed me to learn and hone my skills and knowledge to leave a client with value regardless of the next step we went to in a business/consulting relationship.
I don't like the per diem reimbursement and some of the travel that evolves, but after hearing other road warrior stories sitting in airports, that seems to be the price you pay from time to time in an business world where your next client may be on the other side of the continent or world from you.
On the flip side, when I have had personal problems (health, deaths, sickness and so on), my company has bent over backwards accomodating and flying to where I needed to be. I am treated like family and a valuable employee when they didn't have to accomodate me with no vacation days to spend. I believe that says something about the company and their committment to their employees as well.
In this business, and as in others, you will find employees that are not true indicators of the company... sometimes those people are in the low ranks and sometimes in the highest. It takes personal savvy and integrity to wade through the muck to plot your course with your own ethics steering you. I feel like with my position and young tenure with the company that I have been given the freedom to work in my high standards and still achieve the goal of making a decent living.
I have, and I continue, to learn so much.
So you all know I originally wrote this back in 2004 and since then my career has rebounded, with a reputable international company, but I still cant see the name of this company without experiencing a serious sense of revulsion for having ever been associated with them. They used my integrity to swindle my “clients” and they took my dignity away for the entire time I was with them. I still feel guilt for the money I took from hard working business owners and I hope that if you are considering employment with these people that you will learn from my experience that it is simply not worth the price you will pay for the minimal money you will make. Please read on;
Having just recently completed the worst six months of my entire
life's career as an Executive Analyst with the George S. May Company
I finally feel empowered to join in with others in speaking out against this horrible company. I too lasted far longer than anyone in my class (six months) and can
attest to the accuracy of all that has been posted. I wish to
address one question that people may wonder about;
why don't more ex-employees come forward?
Let me give you some personal background before I dive into my
response. I am probably the typical GSM recruit. I had a degree in
business, I had succeeded in reaching the officer level in a fortune
500 company and I had "the look," the white shirt, dark suit,
polished shoes, expensive watch and the graying temples that just
screamed integrity and knowledge. Oh yeah...and I had been laid off
from my $100,000 plus position due to downsizing, and for the first
time in my life had been forced to really look for a job
(incidentally, GSM is just one of the predators that are out there
waiting to talk to displaced executives that happen to be over 40
years old and scared).
After six months of sending out a couple of hundred resumes and
getting very few calls of interest from anyone really reputable or being told at interview after interview that I was “too experienced” or that I “wouldn't be happy starting
at such a great reduction in salary” (truth be told I would have been
happy just to work) then, when I began to doubt myself, the George S. May Company called me. The absolute relief at hearing that "one of the oldest and largest
consulting firms in the world" was interested in me and was
discussing a position where I could make, "as one of their top
performers over $175,000." It got even better, my plane fares would
be covered and I would receive a per diem to cover my travel
expenses, and INSURANCE!!! I was directed, very carefully, to their
website to investigate the position further and then set up with an
appointment to meet their recruiter.
If you have actually applied to GSM or have been contacted by them
in response to your resume being posted on Monster then you have
undoubtedly received the same spiel...I know, because on occasion I
was the person calling you up to set the appointment! That's right,
even the recruiting call is scripted, and in such a way as to sound
enticing without giving too much information. In retrospect I heard
in your voices the same relief that I know I had in mine when I
eagerly accepted the invitation to meet with the recruiter (the
psychology that these guys use is truly frightening).
I watched the video on the website and realized that this was truly
my calling; I was going to be helping small to mid-size business
owners get back their dreams! I would be traveling to wonderful
locations and meeting with people who have decided they needed the
help of outside experts and since I would undoubtedly be one of the
top producers I would be paid at the level that I was used to. What
could possibly be the downside?
Evidently this initial scam works quite well amongst its target
market; the desperate displaced executive. In my class we had
M.B.A.s, lawyers, bankers, former business owners, Silicon Valley
casualties and a couple of young, aggressive wanna-bees that fell
for the pitch too. After the well documented “training sessions” we were sent out, one at a time/one to a taxi, to travel home before leaving for our first assignment the
following week. I probably should have paid a bit more attention to
the cab driver that took me to the airport because believe me, he
knew more about the company, its turnover rate, and the probability
of my failure than I ever did. He laid it all out; the numbers they bring in each week, the numbers that go out, and the fact that none of us ever come back.
I honestly felt, initially, that I was doing a great deal of good for the business
owners that I was calling on. The reality of the small business
owner is that very few of them have the business skills to
effectively run (by business school standards) their own operations.
I met people who had no idea how to read their Profit and Loss
statements, didn't know their profit margins, had employees stealing
them blind, truly were heading down the path to bankruptcy and had
no one to turn to for help. I was the answer...I followed the script
because I knew that, even if the methods seemed canned, the ultimate
goal was to get these people the help they needed from the experts
that would be following me. I was good...I could make them laugh or
cry and I was getting closer to attaining that auto pilot attitude
where I could mouth whatever "the council" wanted me to say. I bought into all of it except for one part; how would these people pay for the $40,000 in services
that I was telling them they needed?
That's right, I could beat them into submission, get them to admit
their faults, recognize that they had to call us in or face certain
ruin, I just couldn't buy into the concept that we would take their
last bit of cash flow to help them. I had Senexs tell me to get them
on a certain credit card website to see if they could qualify for a
new card to finance the services (at 18% annual interest). I was
told to "roll up my sleeves" and call their overdue accounts to see
if we could generate enough cash flow to "just get started." It was
suggested that they call their families to see if there was a way to
pool finances to get us in the door, to cover just one day (so that
the next crew could have an opportunity to locate the money for the
rest of the contract). Well, I couldn't do it...oh at first it made
sense, after all I was saving their company, but after awhile I
realized that if these people actually had the cash flow to finance
our services they probably didn't need us and if they had no money
how on earth were they going to pay us.
I also began to question the quality of the "experts" from
Management Services that followed me. I began to notice on my
commission statements that very few of my jobs actually ran for the
full term. Granted there were a couple that did, and a couple that
ran over but by and large the vast majority ended very quickly. What
was going on after I left? We were forbidden by the company from
contacting our clients after we left their premises so I couldn't
call to find out but I did have to do a couple of personal turnovers
(where the Analyst turns over the account personally to the
Management Services people at the business with the client present).
I found out that these weren't the advanced specialists that we were
led to believe...they were simply analysts that couldn't cut it in
the field and for whatever reason stayed on with GSM for a while
longer.
There job was just to print out the boilerplate notebook, eat up
billable hours and stay on as long as the client could tolerate
them. It sounds harsh I know, but in my mind the one justification
for my actions was that I was bringing in
experts,....yeah,....right.
I got quite a few go aheads but because I was never able to make it
to the elusive "x contract" the money was truly negligible. In the
time I was there my commissions never went over $22,000, I did
qualify for their insurance, which incidentally is very
good...probably because no one ever gets to use it. I realized early
on that what I was doing wasn't entirely right but I managed to
convince myself that it wasn't entirely wrong either and then the company
psychology kicks in... the Senex informed me that I was being
considered for a management trainee position!! That's right after
just a few short months they saw in me the talent necessary to
become a Senex! That would mean I wouldn't have to leave my family
every Sunday night, I wouldn't have to stay in flea bag motels, I
wouldn't have to drive till two or three in the morning to get to
the small town where my unsuspecting victim's business was located.
I just needed to play the game a little better, and get a little
more ruthless at taking peoples money.
Wow, essentially if I gave up all semblance of integrity in just a
short time I could be the idiot screaming at bewildered, former
professionals reduced to being Executive Analysts! I actually got to
shadow these people (Senexs) and believe me they are every bit as
intimidated by their higher ups as an analyst is. The difference is
that they know they are selling crap...and for that they can not be
forgiven. I was almost willing to make this compact with the devil
until a client brought the Rip-off Report to my attention (in a not
so subtle way, I might add). I was astonished, this had never been
discussed in training, and what made it even more disturbing was
that everything I read rang true. The Senex I was working with just
had the same, lame excuse cited by others, its just disgruntled ex-
employees,...even Disney has complaints on this website,...don't
worry about it, most people will never even read it.
Well I did, as often as I could, and the more I read the more
ashamed I became of what I was doing. Here it was in black and
white, the whole horrible "act," and not just for me to see but also
my friends, my previous co-workers, and my family. Never had I been
ashamed of what I did for employment until I joined the George S.
May International Company. It has taken some time to admit to myself
that I was duped by this ridiculous operation. It took many nights
in many "fleabag" motels, many hours sitting bored out of my mind at
airports awaiting my next assignment, many holidays and birthdays
away from family, and many months of facing virtual financial ruin
to realize just how badly I had been had. I can not say that I ever
look forward to meeting any of my former clients again because I
simply can't face them knowing the economic hardship I undoubtedly
put them through.
In a sense this posting has been cathartic,...if I can convince one
person as to the validity of all that is posted here and persuade
them not to work for or hire this company then I will feel that I
have achieved something positive from my horrendous relationship
with GSM.
There are no Pros...none. I will forever be embarrassed by my association with this horrid company.
The George S. May International Co. is one of the most abusive companies I have ever had the displeasure of working for. Their reimbursements for expenses left me pulling money out of my pocket frequently just to pay my traveling costs. And their tactics for garnering clients borders on fraud in my opinion. Once you have completed your "analysis" of the company you are surveying you have all these "canned" observations and opinions that are adjusted slightly and used for every prospective client you see. At the time I was there you were required to hand write out these responses so it didn't look like you were reading off a "script" when in reality that is exactly what you were doing. The vast majority of prospects I was sent to were barely able to keep their doors open no less pay for the expensive consulting services that the company offered. The end result is that they send you all over the country to attempt to close marginal leads with subversive techniques. If you are a high pressure, one-call-closer you might do okay in this type of environment, but check your ethics at the door before you leave on your next assignment.
I would like to say that I have worked as a Special Representative in the Field for George S. May International for almost one and one-half years. I have not only been treated fairly, but I have been dealt with honestly. I appreciate the work that George S. May has done for our clients.
I have worked with almost 150 clients in my time with the company, and have always done a "follow-up" with our clients after the Analyst has left the business. I have always received a positive response from the owners to the Survey, and they (the owners) also often go on to tell me that they are shocked at what the Analyst has been able to show them during the analysis to help them in their business. And I am speaking about the only investment being the $350.00 Survey fee!
In my experience, I have watched our other Field Reps, our Analysts and our Management Service people, serve our clients with honesty and integrity. I am tired of of seeing things posted on sites such as this that degrade a company simply because the individual has a case of "sour grapes," or did not have a proper "work ethic." Yes, you can make very good money with the George S. May International Comapny, but you must work hard at the job, just as you would with any job to be succesful.
I am proud to work for a company that for 84 years has not only saved businesses from extinction, but has made very good businesses even more prosperous.
The George S. May Business Model might have worked 80 years ago when Mr. May founded it, but today it is decades out of date, and failing in every respect. The Company claims it has helped over half a million small to medium sized businesses. Really? I had six Survey assignments, only one was to a properly qualified business that was superbly managed and could have provided consulting service to GSM! Of the remaining five, three were second visits after the Business Owners had run the previous Analyst off, and in two cases threatened to call the Police should anyone from GSM ever enter the place of Business again. The final two Analyst jobs I had were of companies that were either already bankrupt, or one pay period from closing down. Not what you call a target rich environment! My experience was not unusual. The previous posts regarding the abusive treatment by the Senior Executives, and the totally inadequate travel policies and reimbursement were spot as related to me.
This is as bad a company as there is. Fortunately it seems the reporting on the GSM methods by screwed employees and customers is working. I for one will rejoice when GSM is finished.
Perfectly said by the previous poster. The only thing I can add is why does it continue? Any company or person that preys on the less fortunate has a special place to reside in the hereafter.
I escaped before they stole my soul.
Regardless of how careful one was to remain objective and completely factual with respect to actual experiences and events observed or engaged while in the employ of the George S. May International Company - there is little chance that the information would be received as credible. Most reasonable, moral, law abiding persons would likely retort such information and circumstances as pure fiction - but so real it is!
The depth of deception and unethical business practices at the George S. May International Company could be described as perhaps beyond equal or precedent in our society.
Given we are a nation of law - the May Company's longevity and apparent ability to circumvent accountability should be viewed as a shameful oversight by the national business community and our public policy agencies. Shame on all of us for permitting what could be characterized as long-held and unbridled victimization of people, small and medium sized businesses, and, their respective financial well-being.
As a business community and as professionals - we can do better - we can do without, the all to frequent, and wide-ranging negative affect to the lives of our citizens and our businesses allegedly perpetrated by the George S. May International Company.
The cons are unlike any prior experience - even beyond any previous nightmare!
Pros? Only true pro to report is that I am out of George S. May International Company.
This could be the worst Company on the Planet! The only reason this rotten outfit continues is because it is privately held, and avoids any disclosure regarding how they operate. Do not hire or work for these crooks unless you want to ruin your life.
There is nothing good about this crooked company!
This company sucks! As the previous poster states, they will force employees to send glowing reviews to sites like this to try and offset the complaints they receive from clients and the poor bastards who fell for the George S. May pitch. If this doesn't convince you to stay away, do yourself a favor. If you go to the "Paid" training ask yourself if the business model they are pitching is something you could stand behind, and be proud of. Unless you are on the same ethical level as GSM you will not work for them.
No salary, a standard work week that with travel exceeds 70 hours per week. The expense reimbursement policy does not cover a third of actual costs of your travel. Less than 10% of projects sold (how you make money) run longer than a couple of days. A complete rip off in every respect.
Every site is consistent other than those where GSMIC interferes with forced comments from employees in Chicago. It is simply a billing pyramid game and those with any sophistication know too well how that works....certainly not for a defrauded new hire...and certainly not from a force-fed client base. This is a scam of scams....don't work there....do not work there!
All negatives regardless of their hard sell.
Horrible cookie cutter training....generic at best. Attempts to condition you for the crap on your assignments. If you are somewhat financially oriented, this experience is belittling.
Too much trickery....too much fraud!
This place is a total joke. The previous reports are totally accurate in my experience. One additional unusual aspect of working for GSMIC is the segregation. I worked in Survey, but never interacted with the person who sold the survey I conducted, or with the Consulting folks who ran the projects I sold. Training was nothing but learning how to humiliate the owner of an underperforming, and usually failing business, into purchasing horribly expensive management consulting project. GSMIC bleeds the final life out of these companies, then quickly moves on to the next victim. You cannot do this for long and keep your self respect. Thankfully most don't.
100% travel, and compensation for expenses is pure and simple fraud! You are in control of nothing. You are sent on one way airline tickets so you cannot leave until you are "Released" by the SENEX. I was regularly ordered back into a hostile, physically theatening business to press for a "Go Ahead"
when it was dangerous to do so. There is nothing good about this outfit to report.
This is a terrible place to work. They hire and "train" hundreds of folks per year to keep the Scam going. You are sent to businesses you are told have asked to meet with you to only find out they not only didn't request the appointment, they would not even let you in! On more than one occasion I was threatened physically. In my three months I didn't meet a single Special Representative (Sales Rep) who was making any money, and expense reimbursement was a joke.
Everything is scripted. In my experience there is not a single positive aspect to this job. When I quit after just three months there was only one person remaining from my traing class of 22.
Outside sales. You attempt to sell a Survey to small to medium size businesses. Some leads are provided, but these are almost never qualified. Vehicle reimbursement is not a third the IRS standard. If you are authorized a night on the road they pay about half the cost of the cheapest hotel/motel you can find, and nothing for any other expenses. Worst part is the Companies poor reputation. Almost every place I went I was confronted with bad stories/reports of George S. May. Very, very tough sell!
You work from home and are promised a territory, but you often are sent into businesses that previously had be contacted, and refused to sign. To say the least, these folks are not happy to see you, and can't understand why you are there. You take a lot of verbal abuse from management for not closing deals that are uncloseable until you can't take it any more.
These guys will hire anyone, because employees quit them the minute they figure out the scam. Can only speak for the Survey portion of the company, but that is because they keep you from meeting or interacting with either the person who sold the Survey or the person who will do the consulting. This is nothing but a high pressure sales job that runs you all over the country trying to find a client who's business is failing, but has money to pay thousands of dollars for a "Quick Books" solution they could have purchased for a couple of hundred. Travel is 100% and reimbursement is a joke. I paid over four thousand dollars out of pocket in less than three months with them. Worst of all is when you sell a consulting project. Any company desparate enough to engage GSM is most likely beyond help. At over $200.00 per hour plus all expenses it does not take long to bankrupt a small struggling business. GSM recruits all over the country to feed their constantly quiting workforce. I don't know for a fact how many GSM employees have been with the company longer than a year, but I do know of my class of 12, I was the last to quit after less than 90 days.
You work from home, but that is because they send you literally all over the country and Canada. The think nothing of having you travel all day and night to start a Survey without any rest or preparation. Bear in mind there is no compensation whatsoever for your travel time. You normally depart on Sunday and return home very late Friday night. They do have some cost shared benefits as they call you an employee. These are nothing special, and have a 90 day or greater requirement to be in force. They also require you to provide cell phone, laptop, portable printer and all other equipment and materials to do the job. Finally, they require you to name GSM as an additional insured on your personal auto insurance without reimbursement. I haven't even touched on the verbal abuse you get from the Senior Executives who demand you continue to pressure a broke business owner to sign a consulting contract when he or she has repeatedly told you no, and in some cases has even threatened you. This is a place to avoid at all costs.
Concur with the previous post. My personal experience was several years ago, but George S. May is simly lost in a world where high pressure sales tactics are almost instantly reported and shared by both customers and the unsuspecting work force they simply use like a bar of soap! If you are considering either working for GSM or having them do anything for your company do yourself a favor and demand everything in writing, and never, never sign amything without having your trusted attorney approve it first.
It will cost you to work for them. You are only paid commissions and the expenses you incur working for them far exceed what you are reimbursed. They will send you literally all over the country on one way airline tickets so they can demand you go back and force the business owner to sign a contract for consulting services when he or she has already stated they DO NOT want it. They think nothing of having you travel to well after midnight on Sunday to be at a Clients location before the business opens on Monday morning. Also, there is NO compensation for this travel time, or the time you simply wait at some airport for the SENEX to send your next one way ticket. I made it almost three months with George S. May. I was the last of my Class of 13 to quit. If you could turn this into a success I salute you, but I have watched the reporting about GSM for over three years and can tell you, it is not a place to work.
George S. May International has a 90% employee turnover each year, and most employees, myself included, stay less than 2 months. Most positions are 100% travel, and reimbursement does not cover half the cost. Employees must provide "business required" equipment and even make GSM an additional (named) member of the employees personal auto insurance!
No salary, sales only and no vacation. Some benefits, but not available until 3 months and as stated above, fewer than one in ten stay long enough.
This place simply sucks in every respect. Do not go to work for them unless you want to loose your money and your self respect. This company warrants investigation.
There is simply nothing good to report.
