Progressive Global Training
17 - 21 Castle StreetCardiff
CF10 1BT
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So I was contacted by Progressive Global Training quite a while ago. They said they had seen my CV online and invited me for an interview. I went along not having a clue what the company did. I did the interview and they still didn't tell us what they actually did. It was actually a shared interview with another woman. We both walked out of there saying "Umm... what?" I was invited back for a second interview a few days later. At that point, I actually found out what they did; they did door to door sales and it was purely commission based. I thought I'd give it a go as I needed a job and if anything it would be good experience. The first 4 days they refused to let me go out and sell so not making any money there... Day 5 I finally hit the streets with a trainer who had only worked at the company a few weeks himself and had the worst dandruff I have ever seen... He also barely spoke any English. Day 1, I got 5 sales but he said as I was training, he would fill out the paperwork for me. I thought, oh that's nice and helpful of him... Week 2 started the same. I would get sales and he would do the paperwork. Turns out, every night he would go back and tell the boss I wasn't getting any sales. I was partnered with a woman who can really only be described as a psycho bitch. She did exactly the same concerning the sales as the last guy. I finally had enough and quit. The whole time I worked there, they sent me to council estates where no one had any money. I had to work super hard to get any business and then other people stole it from me. I ended up getting paid nothing and then they were surprised when I quit.
Funny thing about these sales people; they all looked really smart but if you looked closely, their trouser legs were all torn and frayed and their shoes were scuffed and tatty. Not good...
It was good experience though. I will never do door to door again.
**just a quick edit (29/07/11)**
Even though I said this in the below comments, it seems to be missed and people are still sending me their CVs... My aforementioned company (now previous company...) are not currently hiring...
72 comments:
Totally agreed. I was "fortunate" enough to be contacted by them earlier this week. Luckily I read your post before going, so I sort of knew what to expect. Told the interviewer at the start that I wasn't interested in door to door or cold calling but would take any admin work or anything else they had. Suffice to say there wasn't anything else to be had and I didn't get invited back to a second interview. Good riddance.
Glad it worked out for you. I feel sorry for the people that get sucked into it. What I didn't mention in my original post was that I would get to the office at 10am and we would "practice" sales and have a buzz session with the managers before having to pay our own train or bus fare to whatever craphole we were assigned to that week and then be knocking on doors from about 1pm til 9pm (or later even though it is against the law but we had to cover the whole area at least twice) and I wouldn't get back to the office til 10 or 11pm. My feet swelled up to the point that when I finally left, I couldn't actually walk for 4 days afterwards. It's a horrible, horrible job.
Thanks for the info mate!
Did a similar sort of thing with another 'DM' company - essentially roping you into working as a sole trader with the promise of if you work hard enough that you'll be propelled through their manager programme. Sounded fair enough, went out and saw what they did: was pretty harsh, signing up council estate people for contracts they would probably default on by the time the first payment came about.
I then looked at the contract they offered and saw there was literally nothing offered in writing other than the application forms and an ability for either party to terminate the agreement with no notice. Coupled with the aggressive level of recruitment they were doing for these positions took the option to walk out the door rather than door to door (HAHA...no?).
Hello, just read your post with great interest as I'm due to start this Monday with Global Progressive, Cardiff. I've spent the past few days trying to research direct sales as the two interviews which I also have received left me an intense chill of scepticism. My second interview, which was dubbed "observation day", involved an extremely brief and fast paced insight into what the company does, with great emphasis then put onto the "business plan" which shows you how high you can get within the company's corporate ladder. I was then taken into the sales persons' morning meeting where they began reading aloud the previous days sales figures for each individual, which was each time received with hysterical applause. I spent the the next two hours with a girl, who oversaw a team of 5 and earned commision off their sales on top of her own. She proceeded to tell me her history with the company, and I must admit, I did start to get taken in.
I hope you read my comment and post a reply, as I could use all the advice I can get.
Hi Gareth, I know exactly what you mean. I got totally sucked into the "what could be..." of it all. What you need to realise, though, is these people are professional sales people and they are selling you the idea of the company. Of all those that work at PGT, only a very small percentage ever get further than knocking on doors. There are people working there now, still hitting the bricks, that were there when I worked for them 3 years ago. I would say don't quit another job to work for them but if you are not currently working, give it a try. Just be aware that you will have out of pocket expenses (unless there have been big changes, you will be paying for your own public transport costs) and I would say if after a week, you are down (ie, spent more than you have made), give up. If you have any further questions, feel free to either post them here or email me at japan.nomad@googlemail.com. Also, if you are searching for work, I work for a large company in Cardiff that is hiring right now. It is still sales but you will be in an office so no rain, no excessive train costs, no stupidly long days (unless you want to work ten hour shifts and then overtime pays about £11 an hour plus commission). Drop me a message if you want more info.
I have been to an interview and offered an 'open day experience' with Global Progressive Training and am highly skeptical. Was going to go along so I could later blog about what this sort of job entails however you have done it both eloquently and humorously. Thankyou for your comments, it now means I don't have to go through the rigmarole of pretence
Hi, Thank you so much! It would be nice if we could expose this kind of company to public scrutiny. They take advantage of really quite desperate people and no one even knows what is going on...
Funny thing... the other day, a door to door salesman came to my mom's house. He was selling double glazing but was working out of the same office as PGT. He must have thought my elderly mother would be an easy target (this is the women who was in national newspapers for beating the living crap out of her mugger) and he was telling her how she had to have new windows and doors as home insurance companies only accept 9 lever mortice locks now (it's actually 5 and she doesn't have home insurance anyway). She said she wasn't interested and then he started going on about how it was commission only and he wouldn't be able to feed his kids if she didn't buy something from him! At that point, she started lecturing him about what happened to me at PGT and even ordered him to get on here and read about my experiences. She went as far as to give him the phone number of my current company as they are still hiring. He emailed me yesterday to say he has quit the DM life and has an interview at my company in a few weeks.
We can save them all if we just try...
Thanks for the Twitter follow too! :)
I was contacted by Progressive Global training this morning. They invited me to an interview, but I actually couldn't remember applying for the job! So I checked my emails and it turned out I hadn't actually sent my C.V. to them but they may have seen it on one of those job sites.
However after reading all this I am extremely worried; I don't want to get involved in cold calling and door to door sales.
Do you think they might use for details for something and should I just not go to the interview?
Yeah they got mine from a job website too. Monster, I think. They will ONLY offer you door to door. Their other jobs (admin, etc) are set up through private agencies. It's obviously your choice but the interview is several hours of your life you will never get back...
One of the boys from PGT knocked on my mom's door the other day. Totally ignored the no cold callers sign and started the conversation with "It's OK, I'm Greek"... Load of crap.
I'm so glad I came across this information you've posted. I was contacted by the PGT too and was immediately suspicious when the job title in the email didn't match the title I applied for. I am due to visit today but I've emailed enquiring if it is a door to door role; if I don't hear back (and I expect not to) I won't be going.
Thanks for posting your experience, more should do the same.
Thanks for getting in touch. I wish you luck. I do wonder if PGT ever get suspicious of the number of people who now don't fall for their hiring practices...
What's great is I had an email off them on Monday inviting me for an interview!!!! I politely declined... Well... I declined... we'll leave it at that!
As an aside, anyone with a degree in media or marketing who is looking for work, drop me a message. There is a position going in my company. It would be based in England as it is at the head office but the starting pay is around £23,000 from what I remember. May be good for a recent graduate who is just starting out...
Thanks for posting this, they phoned me today, saying they've seen my cv so exactly same as all you and I agreed to it , luckily enough I came accross this post and have just sent them an email saying I dont door to door.
thanks alot guys :)
Excellent! Glad to be of help :)
Hi, Irezumi.
I had an interview with a company like this, is it based just off Greyfriars St?
Anyway, similar situation. Had a double interview with another applicant, this immediately sent alarm bells ringing. Then the idiot interviewer didn't read the CVs properly, so got mine and the girls mixed up.
Then he started trying to sell the job to us. This had me instantly thinking "this is a con". He casually said: "You will start about 10am, so no early mornings. Is £350 a week good enough, plus commission?"
I walked out of there and I said to the girl, this is bullshit! Needless to say, I didn't go back for the second interview.
There's at least 3 of these companies based in Cardiff. Offering you the world @ 100% commission-based wages.
Not too sure. It's over the road from the castle. I know there is xtreme (or some other such silly name) in Newport that have the npower contract. They get away with it because people don't talk about what is going on. How any company can get away with commission only is beyond me.
I completely agree with all of you. I lost 2 weeks of my life in February last year to this horrendous company, I only wish I had seen this discussion then!
I really hope more people do their research and look at this before they apply for a job there. It still gives me cold shivers just thinking about my short time working for them.
Thanks for your post. Hopefully if enough people speak out this company will have to change their practices.
I have an interview tomorrow with Progressive Global in Cardiff, decided to do some research on the company in case they asked me why I wanted to work for them, and I've found numerous forums n stuff complaining about them,some(including this one) with some funny stories about it! Almost everyone has the same story as me. I'm almost tempted to go to the interview just cos I am so intrigued by it all. Well almost.
Yeah there a lot of hate-filled websites out there about them and yet they still survive... If you do go, let us know how you get on.
Just had a phone call from a company who had seen my CV online (I didn't catch their name; something Elite?). I was asked if I was still looking for work and said no and then she said it was for Charity Fundraising and had I ever done that before? I said "It's commission only isn't it?" Silence... "...yes"... "I don't do that kind of work" Silence... "...OK"...
hehehehe
I should have directed the girl to this post...
Hi Irezumi,
read your posts on the blog and can say they are 100% right and havent changed in 6 years - which is when i had the mis-fortune of working there!
I myself wasnt as lucky as you and ended up staying @ the company for 2.5 months! i eneded up £2k in debt as i just wasnt making enough money to survive, and spent over a month in hospital after running myself into the ground without proper rest, food etc. Like you say i got hooked in by the promise of owning my own company on the fast track managers programme and @18 then was lapping it up.
My advice would be stay well shot - the bloke there at the time a Kiwi guy is only interested in his own wallet!
just my 2 cents!
Ah Howie... What I have always wondered is what the hell does that guy have in his pants?!! I'm leaning towards either a colostomy bag or a large rabbit because otherwise... ouch... o.O
Yeah they never mention how you have to pay your own way when you interview.
I'm sorry you suffered so much with them but am glad you got out. If we keep telling our stories, we will help others who get sucked in.
I was called on the phone after sending in an application online, Becki arranged an appointment for an interview the next day. I went to the interview today. She rushed through the interview and there was three other guys in the room with pads that seemed to be making notes of how I answered the questions she had for me. I was asked a couple questions but was never asked if i had any questions for her. As I am desperately looking for work i went along with it although i hated the hours, and the fact that it was commission bassed, I said I'd take anything. She mentioned that they'd be interviewing 18 people and 5 would be invited back for an open day, but she'll let me know later today if i made it. To my supprise i got a call from her saying i did really well and i am invited for an open day tomorrow, still feeling like i really need to do something i said I'd go but luckily i found this blog and changed my mind before i wasted 10hrs of my live. Thank u to all other bloggers
I'll let you know a little secret... no matter how bad you do in the interview, you still get called back again. It is their way of ensuring the intake is high enough. I discussed it with others who did horribly and still got offered a job. Hell, even I did horribly! There are other jobs out there - my place is still hiring if you fancy sales but with a basic.
I must be honest I got totally sucked in with this company, learnt an important lesson though :) I was there for just over a month and I think by the time I left there was an entirely different work force there to when I started which shows just how much the employee turnover is. And I don't think I've ever met a bigger d*** than Howie (excuse the language) the only thing he cares about is money and his own c**k.
Well said, that man!
isnt it funny all the people who think commission only is a bad thing because they havnt made any money out of it...i work in a commission only sales job and its the best money ive ever earned...so did u ever stop to think it could be you and not the commission...yes i do have to work hard but doesnt that line up with good money..sounds like there are a few lazy people on this forum with a bad attitude towards a bit of hard work...the beauty of working commission people is that i get to decide what im worth every day and u all seem happy to be told what u are worth by the company u work for..this means i get to make my own choices and not having them made for me..REMEMBER people who read the forum..all the people who have left comments seem to have failed at commission which is why they slag it off..loads of ppl work on commission that u dont even think about..self-employed electricians, plumbers, hairdressers etc, etc...no customers-no money...SO just be careful who u listen to on this forum as u could miss good opportunity...it just sounds like lot of bitter ppl who have failed at commission who want to rant and want to stop other ppl from having an opportunity...If i had the outlook, work ethic and attitude of some of these then i probably wouldnt make anything on commission neither..Always try something for yourselves guys.
Eddie,
I will address the points raised as well as I can.
It is not that we think commission only is bad because we make no money out of it; we think commission only is bad because of the way we were lied to and exploited and I - personally - was stolen from by my supervisors. I even posted in one of my replies that if you have nothing better to do, give it a try. Some people do well at commission-only, though in my experience, only the ruthless, moral-lacking individuals who exploit those around them.
Was it me and not the commission that caused the problems? Let me think... NOPE! As I said, I was getting sales that were claimed by others. I know the training period in a new job can be difficult but being robbed really doesn't go with it. What would I know though; I "failed" at commission-only...
So there "are a few lazy people... with a bad attitude towards hard work". Umm... You just destroyed any credibility you would have had with that one statement. So you think I am lazy because I found that leaving my house at 8am and not getting home until 1am every day made me unwell? You think the gentleman above you ended up in hospital because of the way this business is run is lazy? I currently work 11 hour shifts in a salaried job, go to university full time (working on a second advanced degree), and look after a family and a home. Am I lazy because I choose to do this over walking the streets for hours on end for little reward? Laziness is not the issue at all.
Now, you imply that anyone who earns a wage from a company lacks self-worth? So most of the country actually have a salary paid and therefore they are somehow inferior to you?
I would not say being self-employed is the same as working on commission only. I can also assure you that if you are in the direct marketing line of work, you do NOT have the autonomy you think you have. I ran my own business for years. A very successful business at that. Running your own business or being self-employed has no relevance to direct marketing. And do you honestly think if you were hitting the streets and only selling what you wanted to, the owner of the company you work for would allow that? They are making money off you so they expect a certain level of target-hitting. You are trying to romanticize your job but it is not working.
This isn't a forum, by the way - it is a blog. Have you cut and pasted this from somewhere else perchance?
No bitterness here. We are telling the truth. But I wouldn't call what PGT did to me "an opportunity".
As for my work ethic? I have already said what I do. What I haven't said is what I earn but I think it may enlighten you a little... I am about to change careers (hence the second masters degree) but currently I make a basic of 15.5k (I have been there a few years, though, so have had a few pay rises). I take home between one and two thousand a month in commission. Therefore, on a good year, I make an average of 33k. Do you make that walking the streets every day? Or are you one of those parasites who feeds off those who do the real work? Do you think I actually lack work ethic?
I also don't like your use of the word "failed". There is no failure in realising that you are being taken advantage of and being strong enough to move onto something better.
I would advise people to be careful to listen to YOU. Sounds like you are spouting propaganda to me.
And I have a little project for you. How about you make a list of everything you love about your job (money, an imagined sense of autonomy, etc) and then list everything you dislike about it (the long hours, exploiting the vulnerable for your own gains - and you can't deny you prey on the poorer sections of society. I know the game too well -, the lack of value your company places upon you as a worker, etc). See just how good your job really is.
Thank you for your comments. Always appreciate differing views to my own.
considering that progressive global training is such a bad company to work for its funny how one of the worlds biggest companies, sky tv want to work with them..i would have thought they knew what they were doing..u should know this tho as u have run a very successful business..so successful that u had u gave it all up for a door to door commission job..hmmm ok...and if u thought about it u worked on commission before when u had your ''successful business'' and it seems u didnt make that work...so if your not lazy ur just not very good at much are u.At the end of the day one of two things happen in life..u either fail or u suceed..your track record would be...your business-failed
pgt-failed
about to change career...so it cant be that rosy..which could be another fail...try sticking at something for once and succeeding apart from just slagging off an industry that millions of people are happy in and you seem to know quite little about. try not to be so negative..leave the past where it is and move on..by being so bitter isnt gonna change anything...look forward to hearing from u my new little friend..much luv.
hi! i used to work at PGT too. for almost a year!!! who used to work there with you?? there's a few who were a bit iffy and kind of creepy if u ask me. they all like to get one over each other.
Eddie, You seem to really be enjoying turning this into a character assassination of myself.
Here we go again...
What actually makes you think PGT is one of the world's biggest companies? Is that their latest propaganda? If you do the research, you will see they are actually incredibly tiny on the world scale.
Wow, Sky...
Anyway...
Yes, PGT know exactly what they are doing; they are exploiting people in despicable ways and because people do not talk about what goes on in DM companies, they get away with it. I complained that I was being scammed by my supervisors and the attitude was "oh well". Great company, huh?
At what point did I say I gave up my company to work at PGT? I actually continued my own company while I worked there. In fact, I continued with my company after I took my current job and only wound it down in mid-2009 because I was going back to uni full time and I didn't have the time to commit to it any longer. I still do the odd thing; large order to fulfil over the next fortnight. I do treat it as a hobby rather than a career now, though. Naughty me.
Again, I will say running your own business and working commission-only for a company are completely different. Too difficult a concept for you? Never mind.
So... because I didn't like getting scammed at PGT, I am "not good at much"? Hmm... That is a bizarre and almost libellous statement.
My business never failed. Again, I chose to run it down when other opportunities came along. I think that is my choice, don't you?
As for "failing" at PGT? MY SUPERVISORS WERE STEALING SALES FROM ME AND I WAS REPEATEDLY LIED TO BY THE COMPANY. Is that clear enough for you now? Probably not...
So because I am changing careers, I am failing again? Oh my... I have worked at my current company for almost four years. I actually have two options right now (if you ignore the option of staying in my current role). I have been offered a management role at a rival company, away from the sales department. It would be a completely new direction for me, though in the same industry I currently work in. My second option (which is, admittedly, more appealing) is using my education and becoming a forensic psychologist. I am about to qualify and that was kinda the whole point of going back to uni...
But that makes me a failure.
Obviously, you only value people that work in the same role forever with no desire for promotion or to better themselves in any way. I am sorry that the fact that I want to be the absolute best I can upsets you in some way. I just don't think that sales is what I want to be doing when I am 60. While it has been fun and has financed my masters degree, it has not exactly challenged me.
I know a lot about Direct Marketing. Perhaps you need to educate yourself about it. I also love your statistics! Wow. Do you also exaggerate the size of your penis when you are trolling chat rooms? You certainly seem the sort, with your aggressive attitude.
I am not a negative person at all. I state the facts and let people take what they want from it.
As for leaving the past in the past; I posted this absolutely ages ago. You seem to be the one who is enjoying rehashing it. PGT can fade into oblivion and I would not bat an eyelid.
Also not bitter in the slightest. What suggests bitterness? Again, I am stating facts (facts that can be backed up with evidence, by the way, unlike your crazy statistics!).
Wow, you really are condescending.
Oh and by the way, you obviously work for PGT so this is starting to look like harassment on the part of this company. Interesting...
@Frenchie. I wish I could remember the names of the two that stole my sales but I could barely remember them when I worked there! I remember a few faces; there's the big fat guy that catches the same train at me every morning. Then there was the guy that used to hit on me (he was short and definitely creepy). If I saw any of them again, I would remember them definitely. Never been great with names, though.
haha quite a few of them were hitting on me. one was married or something. and there was a girl who worked in the office who got a bit close for comfort an all...not that i have anything against homosexuals. but i think she was with another gir, who worked there anyway. she was like on her team i think, i can't rememeber their names for the life of me but the one was really good. both unusal names beginning with C im sure and had black hair...if they ring a bell? when was it that you worked there?
some said about one of them going to their house and saying ''it's ok, im greek!'' i bet i know who they were talking about. best part was, Howie used to tell him to say that! howie seemed ok though, although i saw him a few time belittle people.
to be fair mind, there were some good times working there although when things werent so good...it was hard finding money to even get to work, nevermind travel around, buy food...etc..
I worked there in 07. I do remember two dark-haired girls that were very close but they may be different ones...
Who I remember...
Only one I remember by name was Chris who lied about everything (told me he lived in the Bay with his girlfriend and daughter; he lived in his mom's spare room in the Valleys).
There was the Japanese woman whose trousers were always torn at the hem, the guy with horrible dandruff, there was an Italian guy but I think he left before I did...
If I saw any of them again, I would recognise them
I think companies like PGT have potential but they really need to sort out the way they treat staff; I did enjoy the team spirit but not the bad behaviour...
I'm so glad that I decided to do a little bit of research on this company. I was contacted about 2 days ago saying they had found my CV and wanted me for an interview. Unaware what the actual company did, I agreed. My interview is at 3PM today and I'm really not looking forward to it. Direct sales/door-to-door is not something I'm looking for at all and will kindly make them aware of it when I sit down. Thank you greatly for this eye opener!!
You're welcome! The problem with PGT is they are very cagey about what they do, hence the post. Good luck this afternoon!
I worked for PGT from Sept 2010 - 3rd Jan 2011. It was the biggest mistake I've ever made. my 1st interview was a group interview. I was only 18 at the time so when there were talks of bosses earning £60,000 a mth and they had only been there 3 years I got sucked in. I was based in the Swansea office, but we had to go to the Cardiff office twice a week so we could all high five each other. It was ridiculous we had to pay our own travel there and back but really learned nothing other than who had sales or not, and the Cardiff boss would give heat packs you could use in the field to the people who had 2 or more sales the day before. The bosses did things and asked their employees to do things that were so illegal. I was once asked by the Cardiff leaders/bosses to hand out vitamin tablets to everyone and if they wouldn't take one to let him know who it was. That is not expectable, to tell everyone they had to take a vitamin or? It got to the point where the travel was costing around £15 per day and if you only get one or two sales a day after they take off 30% for themselves then you earn about £10 for a work day that started at 9am and finished at 10.30 pm. I was repeatedly told your starting your own business, you could be earning this and that much soon. Rubbish you have to earn a few thousand pound crew profit before you can be promoted, and when you then don't earn it your demoted pretty quick! They make no allowances for weather either. I was told I wasn't allowed to wear a coat with a hood as I was knocking doors of older people, and you could take brollies but they wouldn't recommend it because they slow you down. On two occasions I was knocking doors and the rain was so bad people were telling me they were interested but wouldn't let me in because I'd get there carpet or whatever wet. I'd call my Swansea office boss and he'd say have you got any sales, I said no he said well stay out and get at least one then go. This also happened when I was knocking doors and was ill, I called the Swansea office boss and he told me to go and buy some painkillers and to stay out until I got a sale, I told him I wasn't well enough but he told me to get a sale then go otherwise the day was a waste. I got a sale then txt him and left, I was off for the next three days with a stomach bug, when I went in to work after I was better I was met with questions, like so what have you done watched tv for the last 3 days, don't you think you should have been here? and statements and sly comments like, Why didn't you come in at all, your starting your own business, and you need to show commitment. The fact I had spent the last 3 days being ill
didn't mean anything. On multiple occasions I was taken somewhere to work and I would be left there, and I was told well we got our sales so make your own way back to the office. I was an 18 year old girl alone at 9pm in the night being told to find my own way to the office. Thank goodness my dad could drive or I really would've been stuck in a place I had never been before.
Also in mid December when we had crazy snow, I called him and said I cant make it in to work, the buses, trains etc were stopped. I was bombarded with you can't do that, you can't not come into work, I told him I had no way of getting to work and was worried about getting home because I live in an out of the way place, he just repeated himself for about 5 mins, this is unacceptable, and I'm unsure if you are serious about this job, this was the last straw, I told him I couldn't make it in, I wasn't prepared to spend 2 hours walking to the office in almost knee deep snow and that was it. He then said right well I'll come pick you up and take you and the two other members of the team who were working on that day to the field and back. I told him I was still concerned with getting back to my home at 10pm as the roads freeze etc, and again I had a speech about being ungrateful and he would pick us up and drop us off, I felt cornered and like I had to go. But the final thing to push me over the edge in quitting was that I booked the 23rd of December off in mid November, he asked why, I told him me and my family go for a meal every year and see family we wont see on Christmas day. He gave me a stinking look and said it's up to you. I booked the day off especially after many members of the team booked days off to go see concerts, horse-racing and my team leader himself booked time off for a family party. I reminded him I wasn't in on the 23rd every time he brought up the office Christmas party which was happening the same day, he would always ask so what do you drink we'll make sure there's some of it in the office on the 23rd. I would say well I won't be in then I've got the meal and I would get a look from them. on the 22nd I called reminding him, he told me I had to come in on the 23rd because it was the last day of work before we finished for Christmas, I said no point blank and he said I had to, I needed to set an example. 5 mins of quilting and bulling me on the phone later and he said because I had a call back set up which was certain and I just had to go back for her bank details to do that then leave. I went in to the office at 9am like always and when I got there we were around the conference table and he said right Mel you spend a few hours, ring the bell, which means get 2 sales and then you can leave around 3.30 ish. I told him I was gonna do the one cb that he said on the phone and he said no that's not really right because other people are working today. I said yeah but I worked the days when they went to concerts and horse racing, I'm not doing it. he spent 10 mins lecturing me and reduced me to tears in the middle of the whole office and he loved it, and said I don't care that you're upset I'm looking after your financial well-being, I said I'll look after that thank you, I booked today off months ago. He told me I was lying and despite me having talked about it to everyone who worked their, not 1 person backed me up and said no she's booked this day off. I said no I'm not working today the meal is at 12.30 I was really upset at this point and he said just go, your no good to me today, you won't get any sales. Come back on the 28th because we were allowed to work 28, 29 and 30th of Dec if we wanted, the days were optional, you didn't have to go. I went and got all my stuff, and said buy to everyone and quit there and then and walked out. Any man/boss who makes you cry for his own amusement and for booking a day off is disgusting, and so unprofessional. so that was it I quit in front of everyone, then a week later on New years eve I got a txt from him saying Your fired and loads of abuse. I sent him a msg telling him exactly what I thought of him and that I had quit before Christmas. I've heard nothing since thank goodness.
But it did bring me joy that in my new job which I love and is £9 PER HOUR I've had two people come for an interview from the PGT Swansea office. I would also like to say that I don't recommend this job with this dodgy company to anyone, but especially women. When I started there was a woman in the office, her sales were awesome but she quit. I was then the only women in the entire office for mths, and I hated every second of it. The things I was called, nicknames and whatever were so sexist, but not in a harmless joke way. It was wrong and massively offensive. The entire time I was there only one girl started and she was told buy the Swansea office boss she looked like a S*** because she wore a skirt, he also made her cry. She quit soon after this. I really don't recommend this job to anyone. And this dodgy company also kept everyone's Christmas savings until early Jan because they wanted them to be able to afford the travel to and from the field, which is illegal. They also owe me over £300.00 in wages which you have to wait 4 mths for when you quit.
Melissa, Thank you so much for sharing this with us. You had it much worse than I did (and I hate them beyond belief!). I am glad you have found better and if you have any problems getting your money, let me know. They still owe me money and I am seriously considering legal action. I'd love to see that company go under for the way they treat their staff. Let's keep spreading the word! Thanks again, Helen
Can you help? My daughter
Can you provide advice please. My friend's daughter has started in Cardiff and seems comletly engaged. She is working 9 - 11pm Mon to Fri - and her payslip does not evidence tax and national insurance contributions. Do you know if these vacancies are advertised on JCP websites? If so there maybe some redress if any employment related rules are not being followed.
Hi Maria, I just sent you an email. Any queries, let me know.
Dear "S" - I have chosen to not publish your comment to me as there is no place on my blog for anti-Semitism.
But I tell you now... you call me racist again and I will sue you.
Hi again Maria, my system seems to be playing up tonight! I think they get around all of that by classing the staff as self-employed. I personally think it is borderline dangerous. The stories of others posted above show how their health was affected by the job. But that is how these marketing companies work. The only job offers I am getting right now are from companies like these. They just exploit those that need the money.
Just want to say a big thank you for making this blog so others can avoid making the same mistakes with PGT. I had a longer response typed up but it disappeared. I was really excited for this interview until I realised what it entailed but I'm so glad I know now rather than wasting my time with the interview.
Thanks so much
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=108097
This should be a useful read I found yesterday regarding Cobra, and a few of the other marketing companies such as PGT.
I really hope more people see this site before they get sucked into all their hollow promises.
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=108097
This should be a useful read I found yesterday regarding Cobra, and a few of the other marketing companies such as PGT.
I really hope more people see this site before they get sucked into all their hollow promises.
Hi,
I read your blog on PGT. I was at the interview today and it was kind a cagey. They are yet to tell me whether I can get the job or not, but as you mentioned in your blog, the door-to-door selling sounds kind of tough and a bit too much with no guaranteed income.
However, I also read from your blog that you work for a company in Cardiff that is hiring people from the media industry. So I was wondering if you could tell me more, so that I can send them my CV and apply for the job. I have an MA in Journalism from Cardiff University and am currently working as a sports journalist.
Please let me know and thanks for your time.
Cheers!
Sub
Hi, I am afraid they are not currently hiring but are hoping to later in the year. I will post details once they announce something.
Thankyou for your post. Up until I googled PGT this evening I was hopeful that I had actually found a decent summer job. Now I will not be attending my interview tomorrow. Definitely won't be that naive again!
heyzz All..
you guys are 100% ryt cuz it happened to me last year but after weeks I quit the job in Progressive Global Trainig...
In this job I have to go to newport,pontyprid,valle side and many other places.I have to pay all the fare from my own pocket.As Iam girl I used to be on street at 10pm which was very scary for me.As well I would like people to be aware of these people cuz they trap you..they show u fake dreams which you get trapped in.
As well its you who is putting the effort but they r getting all the money..is it fair??
I dont think so..
I still remember when I used to come back from work everyday I had to take Ibrophin(pain killer) my foot were swelled and couldnt even get up for the next day but still tried..
Was bad experience..never do only commission work and door to door sales..
Cienwen is the biggest bitch in the whole wide world. I worked there for about 6 months. There were some weeks that i got 12- 10. However, even then I was dipping into my savings to go to work. Some nights I remember getting home at 1 in the morning and being expected to work another 14 hour day for peanut money. I worked it out one time that I was getting 3.50 and hour. They can con-artists and crooks. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND FIND A CAREER WHERE YOU CAN BETTER YOURSELF!
hi all I am Saumya and I got a call from PGT this afternoon and was happy to know there is some one to give me a job. The lady so quickly said the company name over the phone and i didnt got it at first but i remembered progressive. Also had their number 02920227004 i just typed it in google and walla i found what this company is and then i got a mail from them and it was simple i put 2 and to 2 togather its an exploitation of people who are despratly looking for job. I am looking for a job from lat 3 months and all people are trying to give me a job are companies like this so name some Junior enterprise and MSG marketing all based in cardiff all do the same thing exploit the people in need but one thing that i learned earlier in life is research abt the company and has helped me and my search for job is still on and will keep update if any other scam company like this try to contact me so that people like me can know what they are getting into and not have a bad experiances like some over here have posted earlier so be aware of companies like this there is nothing to gain but all to loose
I should have an interview tomorrow but after reading this I think I'm going to leave it. I googled them as I couldnt remember sending them a CV or application and I couldn't work out from the website what the company was about. I asked my dad to take a look so I would be prepared for the interview and all that came up was 'telepest', 'SCAM' and this blog! Shocking!
Thanks a lot for the info, I have had two interviews with Progressive Global and was due to start work Monday but after reading this will definitely not be going.
It is very easy to get sucked into the whole idea and they do play it up very well, I was convinced I must
admit.
But after reading this it has all fallen into place for me and now seems so obvious what they are doing!
Hope others get out before wasting too much time
Hi,
I applied for a sales and marketing assistant role in Southampton last week through an agency. I got a call a few days later saying I had been short listed and they would like to give me an interview this thursday.
On the phone he said the company was called PGT, i typed this into google desparately trying to find some info on the company before i turned up to the interview.
I typed the postcode I was given for the office into google and it came up with so completely different company call blackrock marketing.
From reading this blog it looks like I will not be turning up to the interview on thursday.
I applied for a sales and marketing assistant role in southampton through an agency called MCUK ltd last week.
Couple of days later I had a missed call from a company called PGT saying I had been short listed and they would like to talk.
I rang them back and they offered me an interview which this thursday, but they failed to tell me what PGT stood for.
Ive been searching on the internet desparately trying to find some info on the company so I don't turn up to interview looking stupid.
So then I emailed the agency and they said you need to contact bla bla and gave me an email address for a guy at Progessive Training... so finally I now know what PGT stands for.
But after finding this blog Im pretty sure I won't be turning up to the interview on thursday.
Thanks guys
Hi,
I worked for this company for a couple of months about 2 years ago and I actually fell in love with the company at first as they made me feel so special, but after a while that started to fade, as at the beginning i was brilliant at sales one of the top people in the office but the longer i was there the more knackered i become, and because my sales started to go down they put me on what they call a "Retrain" with one of the high rollers which happened to be my leader at the time who was a confident girl and had an unusual name beginning with the letter C. it took me a while to say it let alone spell it. We went out to a place called Splott in Cardiff and were struggling because not many people had bank accounts and then i could not believe my eyes when my Leader the High-roller was taking cash off the customer and paying with her own bank card which we were not allowed to do, and did it so she could get the sale so people looked up to her. She said to me don't tell anyone and i will help you get some sales. So after working my ____ off all these months doing it the honest way i found out my leader wasn't. I then spoke to a couple of guys on our team and a couple of them said they did it aswell. So all my belief went out he window and the dream i was sold of actually running my own office was just a big gimme and i actually felt like i was conned. I never felt so down and used before. I hope who ever reads this doesn't make the same mistake i did and especially if your a girl because the boss man who walks around like hes something special is just a big perv and will flirt and stare at you every opportunity he gets. Its a terrible company and the only people making money are the ones in London called Cobra. I hope this helps...
Hi Gem I also worked at PGT a few years ago for a month. That confident woman who was your high rolling leader sounds like the same woman that lead me, Ceinwen is her name if my memory is correct. And that big pervy boss guy was that Howie the kiwi? He acted like a right knob while I worked there.
Yea they were the ones, I feel bad now one someone knocks my door as i know they have been sucked into the scam aswell. I worked out i was in more debt after i left the place than before i started as say i would get paid around £150 - £180 after my 30% Bond had been taken off me, and that was a good amount to be taking home as some people were only taking home between £60 - £120 a week after a minimum of 66 hours even more if they rope you to come in on a Saturday. So even the money i was making every day was not guaranteed because any customers cancelled i would have to pay it back out of my bond money and still to this day i haven't received my bond money back. If you have got an interview with this company and think the people on here are just writing this because we have had a bad experience, the only way is to go and see for yourself and ask some questions that have been written in this blog. And if your a girl aswell make sure you carry a torch or some kind of an alarm as the nights are getting darker now and you don't wanna be roaming the streets on your own at 8, 9, 10 o clock at night as i know from experience.
I was in the bath last night and my boyfriend called me down and said look at this program on TV that's what you used to do wasn't it? so i thought i would post the link on here so people could see before they go for an interview. Here it is, please take 10 minutes out to watch it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b015r35d/Panorama_All_Work_and_Low_Pay/
Just got called from great from progressive offered me a interview tomo but felt supscious as hadn't applied so done some online research and actually done an interview and applied for a job with a stupid name and company before, so thanks been very informative
Was just contacted my PGT southampton branch about an interview, remembering not applying done some research and found this big thanks as actually done a interview for a company similar still in southampton I will not be go for the interview
Oh man, this blog was a life-saver. I got called up by PGT, saying they liked my CV. I was like "brilliant!" after a month of constant applications and rejections. But then I had to think - who the hell were they? What did they do? And, for that matter, did I even apply? And it turns out I didn't, I had never even heard of them, and it was weird because I was looking for jobs in Edinburgh and definitely wouldn't have applied for one in Cardiff.
I guess they must have pulled my CV off Monster or something because my home address is "in the Cardiff area". Thank God I googled their phone number and found the name of the company (just looking for "pgt" got me nowhere), and then found this blog. Not at all the kind of work I want and am relieved I know this before I have my own horror story.
I have to agree that direct sales is not the easiest industry to work in, it's defiantly not for people who are used to a stable income and a cosy office job, I started in direct sales when I was 18, I'm now 25, I look back and laugh at my first 3 years, I remember bitching and moaning about my trainers, The owners were horrible, my parents told me everyday to quit ! on many occasions I got soaked through to my knickers :-/ I got into debt, it was an absolute struggle. However, I have lived in spain and now reside in south africa - thanks to knocking doors ! I am admin head of cape town for a direct marketing company ! I don't have a degree, and I finished school at 16 , very rebellious ! and not alot of confidence, so although I struggled and faced millions of negatives... I'm now lapping it up in the sun ! high paid salary ! lush apartment ! lovely car ! 25 yrs old :) I have so much to thank pgt for :) as tough as it was ....I cannot thank them enough for the experience I gained :) Unfortunately I didn't become an owner, but I learned how to manage a team of 5 - 10 people and there is nothing in this world that could knock me down ( tough as nails) and successful - don't want to blow my own trumpet ha ha ha
Hi Irezumi,
Thanks for making this blog, saved me £7.20 bus fare and and i can now spend valentines day with my fiancée. After reading this blog (10 mins after being contacted by PGT) i decided to call them. Being a Skeptic of blogs i was open minded before the phone call, but all i got was its 100% commission based and you pay your own expenses. So i politely told them i have a family to cater for and need a job with a stable income so no thank you. But for those non-believers of blogs take some serious consideration of this!
Hi
This blog is great!
I had the same experience with PGT as everyone else a couple of days ago. Phonecall out of the blue and after it thinking what the hell was that all about. Went for the interview the next day (a greek guy did the interview)and after the interview had finished and I came out of the room and went back into reception just about to leave when conveniently Howie was there and fired a load of questions at me and told me to come back the next day for a trial day. (a little staged.... i think so!) still in a bit of shock of not knowing what had just happened I went the next day. got there and the whole "he was impressed with you" speach came out "must have done something he liked". Anyway went into the interview room and met three team leaders/sector leaders, two guys and a girl. I was paired with the girl, Cienwen, she seemed pretty awesome, but it was a little funny that I had a similar life experience in previous work as she did. bare in mind that i had told howie about my previous work life experience from the questions he had asked me the day before. so he probably told her and they made up a similar story to rope me in a little more. after spending the day in the field i went back to the office for a second interview with howie himself where he told me i could be running my own office in about 6 months time on about 60k a year, like cienwen will be doing in about 2 months from now in italy. if anyone does see this and knows if she does go then please post a message, i would just like to know if she really is stupid enough to believe howie and his lies or if shes in on scamming people to and says about going to italy to pull you in. anyway long story short i hate people who seem nice and genuine and then sell you a bunch of lies!! but they are sales people thats what they do i guess... its wrong to scam people but knowing that your scamming people and doing it also is just sick!! anyone who comes into contact with any of these types of companies STAY AWAY ITS A CON!! anyway after being offered the job i still wasnt 100% sure so i checked them out a little more and came across this blog. i told them to do one a couple days later, but i wished i had gone in there and told everyone it was a CON and to get out asap and to confront howie and cienwen face to face. but to let people know Cobra are behind companies like this so stay well away from them!! i hope this helps....
I have done this work before, for a company in Cardiff not the one in question.Arcedia/Atlantic Star It's not for everyone, i don't feel i was ever mis-sold what the job was it's very very hard work but out of a room of 30 people there might be that one person with enough conviction and spunk to see it through, unfortunately that wasn't me, however i do think i met one person who will succeed in her dream..Lucinda! This experience had long days, not much pay and swollen feet, but i also got from it a boost in confidence, to reach outside my comfort zone, met some great people, went to places i've never been before, spoke to some lovely individuals on the door. If you've got nothing to lose go for it maybe with a company that has a basic wage would be good to start out, gives you some security if you have a family like me. I lasted a lot longer than i thought and i'm glad i did it and good luck to anyone who progresses.
Well I had my interview there today and i wish i had seen this post before so i did not bother to go. The receptionist Katie was so nice and really welcoming but i knew there was something not right when the lady who interviewed me (cant remember her name) told me it was door to door and commission only. Also saying about becoming a manger of my own group of people and making thousands per week. I left feeling Good at how i handled the interview to take to my next job application. I received a call later today to say how brilliant i would be and they would love for me to come in for the training day. I was a bit silly for not saying no but Katie called and i felt quilty, I id say i could not come till monday but i will phone and cancel now after ready this blog. It really is not the right job for me and i think its great i found this blog in time. Thank you and good luck to you job hunters out there. P.s if anyone knows of good jobs going let me know by email.
Thanks.
billylabus@hotmail.com
Just got the call. Door to door is not for me. And I agree, Katie does sound very nice. But then again so does the devil.
Howie looks like a mix of moe and krusty the clown from the Simpsons.
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