Singapore Recruit Express review: Bad experience, being look down at 19

Let me summarize my experience with Recruit Express:

1. Hard sells a job but lowballs you

2. Doesn't want to help you in anyway as long as it doesn't affect their commission or contract

3. Willing to go through underhanded means to achieve the above two, very unprofessional

I hope everyone who got a call from Recruit Express reads this and understands the consequence of their decision. If a company is willing to go through Recruit Express to hire people, they likely have the same mentality too. Make your informed decisions. All the best to you.

Received a call from Jesicca, Recruit Express. When i told her on what kind of job I’m looking for, she replied with a big sigh and unfriendly tone. Her replies were rude and impatient. She really need to change the way she talked to people and her attitude is really [censored]. I highly don’t recommend Recruit Express because I’ve encountered many bad experience with them and this Jessica is the worst of all. Rude b**ch.

When we talk about recuit express from most candidates view nobody will hire you if you don't have degree. all I can says depending on the job requirement. Be selective with head hunter BUT if the recruiter from particular head hunter was rude to you find a head hunter but if a specific working area. I have been the same boat but sime recruiter will mentioned " I am not giing to help you if you don't take this job !"

Find a professional head hunter , or you search ypur self. And you need to do your homework

1.Location

2.What does company do

3. Check the glassdoor website you will surprise what does website tell ypu .

4. Be specific and realistic what kind job you want to do.

5. ALWAYS ask questions

Unless you want to take contract job but no guarantees convert to perm . I have been the same as you are. If you this head hunter not helping find alternative.

Remember without candidates , a head hunter company would not exist. Look out some website fhead hunter or a job. They dont advertise but they will help you.

it is parts of parcel of life .

got a bad experience with RE also. long story cut short

i was asked to go to an interview in the east and i stay in the west. workplace is not in east but the hiring manager or whoever is there and interview is early morning. alright, fair enough but i triple confirmed with the agent if they are able to meet my expectation in salary. keep avoiding my questions till finally replied say is in their range. the travelling took 1.5 hours in morning heavy traffic.

end of interview. the manager (my superior if i take the job) command a lower pay than me currently. is there any possibility they can meet my current salary? nope, at least a big pay cut if i were to take that job. called that agent numerous times but simply cannot reach her. obviously she just want to send candidates to their clients and knowing what i will be saying, refused to answer her hp, office call and messages. just do an ostrich and everything is fine

want to send a complaint to the company but upon reading the reviews, i guess it's perfectly fine for them to do such unscrupulous things. to them is just some phone calls, emails, messages. to jobseekers, u need to take leave (if working) and prepare for interview, prepare resumes, photocopy certs, dress well and appear there and get utterly disappointed.

Normally I don't bad mouth about people. But this horrible experience that I just had with RE has prompt me to vent here (sorry about the negativity). I have to say that all the experiences here are real and job seekers (especially fresh graduates), DO NOT be fooled by RE and DO NOT take up their job offers. They 1) posted fake job advertisements 2) intimidate and insult your education background and experience so you would accept a lesser job that does NOT match your interest or experience at all 3) insincerity, EXTREME rudeness of CEO Mr. Sim..

Okay so for first point, was looking for HR perm position, I graduated from local university decent GPA, scholar since secondary school, 5 internship experiences and some of them in MNC. So I saw their ad about a few perm HR positions and applied for it (salary ranging from 3k to 3.5k). And guess what? The guy called me and said, "oh now the market is really bad, so for fresh grads like you, even 2.5k is too much". Hello? if i'm fine with 2.5k then might as well just work after diploma right? Spend so much time and money to study degree for WHAT ? And if market is really bad as you say, WHY ARE OTHER EMPLOYERS OFFERING ME 3K AND ABOVE? Bloody LIARS!

For point 2, applied for HR training and development job (as I had internship experience with MNC), then this agent matched me to ADMIN JOB while the job advertised was HR specialist. And the description of job is totally different, instead of 5 day work week, life balance, job turns out to be 5 and half day, no benefit whatsover, and qualification criteria is DIPLOMA. And he told me "well actually qualification is not important". Then why do you post the job under degree holder you stupid?

Point 3, the CEO Mr. Sim is just the rudest and most perverted that I have the misfortune to see in my entire life. Even the discipline master in my primary school look like Santa Clause next to him. I just regret that I didn't manage to give him a piece of my mind before I left that insulting session that they called interview. Actually applied for RE HR specialist job too. Went there, took 2 hours to complete their personality tests. They didn't show me the results and just forced me to go for second interview when I told them I have school projects next day. During the actual interview, was told to reach early so the consultant would brief me first. And was actually told NOT TO WEAR GLASS BUT CONTACT LENSE, and WEAR MAKEUP, and BRIGHTLY COLORED DRESS. What the xxck? Is this a beauty show or something? It's only subsequent research online that I realized that this CEO Mr. Sim is the most perverted boss ever, always flirt with young fresh graduate chicks and crossing the line. He was late for 20 minutes during interview, asked personal question " how much salary your parents are getting, how much rent you're paying, how come you don't live with your parents, where are your boyfriend from " is that your taiji is it? And kept asking me in this rude voice "why should i hire you" "ask me questions" and whatever questions I asked him, he just scolded me and insulted me, and keeps writing down my personal details on a piece of paper.
Even if you pay me CEO's package I would never sign that contract of yours.

2 complaints to make here.

1) Went to RE for recruiter job, passed the first 2 round of interview with all the personality tests and all. To be fair, the manager and the 3 consultant that I spoke to they are nice and helpful people. The biggest problem of the company is the CEO, just like what was mentioned above he was anything but professional.
Firstly, he was late and nope he was not busy, just having lunch and chit chatting with the staff outside (he probably thought I couldn't see him from the interview room).
Secondly, criticised my sitting posture.
Thirdly, asked about all irrelevant things (Horoscope, blood type, bf, family etc.), he even criticised what my dad does for a living "What kind of job is that, nonsense" and after that he started criticising my previous part time jobs which I held while schooling, "All of these is no use, WHAT IS THIS?" I told him my previous jobs might not mean anything to him but it meant a lot to me, it provided me with my allowance for school etc and I don't think I deserved to be looked down for working in retail, events and pre- school cause they are all meaningful jobs, providing solutions to people, interactions, trained and observed pre-schoolers of their behaviours to design lesson plan that is suitable for them.
Fourthly, he didn't answer any of my questions. "This are not important", "Don't ask about me". "There is no career prospect here". "No ideal candidate, just people who can bring in money", "Why should I answer you? (He said this a few times)". All he ask is "why should I hire you?" and he is not happy with any respond. At the end of the interview I told him, the things that he don't think I should know, or things that he don't want to answer me might be unimportant to him but it is important to me to know how the company operates and the expectations of work performance.

Right where he started criticising my family, I already know this is not a place I want to work in. There is no respect for individual, I don't care who you are, you can be the president all you want but disrespecting me and my family or anybody family is not acceptable. He have a super rude attitude, his sitting posture was so bad and he played with his phone while interviewing me. Yes, as some people may say he could be doing this on purpose to see how you will react to difficult client but nope, this is not a good excuse as i believe that there is other way to it and it reflects super badly on the company you are representing. My only getaway was how money minded this person is, no ethics, no respect, rude and arrogant hence, the people under his wing have the same kind of attitude.

2) Went Recruit First for an interview not knowing they are affiliated to RE.
I rescheduled the interview to the next day as I was not feeling well, upon reaching the office (located at ngee ann city tower A level 2), I was given form to fill in as usual and one of the staff took my IC and photocopied it after that I was there waiting as other consultant are only concern about their own candidate and have no interest in attending to me. After about 20 mins, I was told to go in an interview room where I spent more than 30 mins waiting. The minute the consultant (her name starts with a "A " and ends with a "L" ) saw me she was like "Oh, you feeling better" but was not at all sincere, it feels more like a mocking (she probably thinks that I lied about not feeling well the day before). She left and I am there waiting AGAIN. She came back sat down and ask me to talk about myself and throughout while i was talking she just glared at me from top to bottom and started questioning what I said with sarcasm then she left AGAIN to print my resume (obviously she was not interested and not prepared), waiting game again. After she came back, she asked me to talk about all my job experiences with my resume in her hand (lol, she apparently did not even take a look at it beforehand) and then she started commenting, "oh you get sick easily not suitable for this kind of job", "you cannot afford to fall sick", "what if you fall sick again and cannot come for work?", "why not you just take up admin job (Hello, I have a degree and looking for a FT perm position)", "from your description and job experiences, you looked like you are not even sure what you want", "you wait la, I go show my manager your profile see if she want see you or not". That's when I just stood up and leave the place. I was in there for close to 2 hours (WASTE MY TIME) and gain nothing but sarcasm and getting glared at.

Seriously, people if you ever want to apply through agency please make sure they are not the same entity with RE, its so bad!

I was trying to find a job through online which i encounter a job application which suit me and is under recruit express agencies, after i submitting through online, i receive a call from them. A lady consultant was attending to me and i ask me that i still looking for a job, i replied said yes and start to ask me that she got a offer for me is the temp job more to data entry and i replied back, i actually looking for a permanent job not temp and start asking me again for the hourly wage i prefer and is it possible i can go down to interview at jurong east branch for 15 minutes, i was thinking it just a waste on time to go there and i have applies some other agencies which not required to go down and i told her, i not very convenient as i have some busy stuff to do. yet she replied to me in a attitude manner, (Ok it's fine, Since you don't want to come down for interview and we will see any suitable for you).
My impression was *What are trying to waste my time which i get this answer from you* *Angry*
In future, i will blacklisted this company when it came to seeking a job for me.

Totally agree! Especially the one at Ngee Ann tower A. Should have researched and read up before going over and wasting my time. They totally look down on people without a degree. I got pushed to accept a job that is obviously not suitable. Even when i rejected the offer they still sent it for me and force me go for interview. When I reject that offer again, the agent became pissed and slammed the phone. They are just trying to reach their sales target without putting the needs of customers first. *angry*

I went to the one at UOB Plaza, they found a job for me then after one week plus they said I not efficient and tell me to go... However the bad things they do doesn't just simply end here! Allow me to explain why:

If you have been to recruit express or any other recruitment agencies and got a job successfully we all got sign a contract one right? A typical contract would usually include in itself a termination notice which usually would be stated fairly both to employer & employee, a sufficient time frame if either one of us wants to stop the employment (like 3 days or 1 week kind of thing) so as to look good and doesn't look like some maguan treaty and our chances of signing is higher (although I agree there are indeed some stupid agencies that really make their contracts look maguan, stating things like employer is supreme and can terminate you without notice if you fail to satisfy them 'I guess this should be in terms of work' or whatever).

So, going back to my case: This 'smart ###' Recruit Express stated the terms sooo fairly for me (it says if I were to get terminated I would be given 3 days' notice) until I have nothing to say but to agree and sign it. So, after 1 week+ of work, this company I work with find my efficiency no good and decides to terminate me... I guess is to find a replacement, FAST! They get Recruit Express to call me in the evening and tell me my last day is TODAY! So, accordingly to the contract they should pay me 3 days payment right? Nooo, they didn't, and what is Recruit Express' final solution to this? They told me to go up to their office to sign a termination contract! Oh, BTW I wasn't told to go up to sign it, I was getting duped to go up to find out about this. The staff simply called me to say my last day is today after work go up to R.E. level xx to settle something. I asked what is it? She said DON'T ASK JUST GO UP AND YOU WILL KNOW! Okay so I went as told...

Up at R.E. when I was signing the 'termination contract' I realized a time frame error. I finished work on that day before all this termination contract signing thing is happening, but the contract states that my 'employment terminates w.e.f (date of today)'! (got what I mean?) I asked that b**** manager (yes it is manager so you see how mean the way they do things) who is signing the contract with me is the date wrong? She say legally it is right, the contract shall mean my works ends 'today' no problem. WTH is this! Are they trying to play with jargon? Before I go, I looked at the contract again, this b**** actually told me no need to keep looking at it. It is the same thing as the one she is holding. Why tell me that? She got guilty conscious or what? (so you say lah, why I call her b****!)

Next, I want to introduce one more thing into the picture and that is time sheet. Again, if you are as staff under such agencies you should know that you are required to hand up time sheet to them end of every month and these time sheets have to be signed by client's signature then start a new month with a one. Because 'today's' date happen to be first day of the month, I had to get a new time sheet clock one day's work and get signature before handing up to them. Once again, I must bring out the experience quote: if you are as staff under such agencies most of us will not bring out our time sheet everyday unless required to because not practical. So the situation goes, as it was immediate termination I do not have a time sheet on the spot to let client i.e. company I work in to sign. So I ask for a time sheet since I already at R.E. but here I got another problem, how to get the client's signature? I just got terminated and I still go back there? Impossible what, right huh, you tell me. I got no choice but to rely on this b**** to get everything done. Before I go, I even reminded her to scan a virtual copy of the time sheet to me and she can talk big saying she can mail it to me.

2 days later another situation came up, I forget to return my access card, it seems that that company blur cork HR also totally forget about it. I had to go down to return the card. Okay, that's necessary of course I will oblige in doing this. But f***ing senseless Recruit Express tell me to go back to that company to do so instead of automatically offering to do it on my behalf and I had to tell them this! Then I ask them if I could exchange the card for the carbon copy of that time sheet I should be keeping entrusted to that b**** 2 days ago to settle. But this staff tell me they haven't get it done! What are they trying to prove? First there is legal jargon in that termination contract, then it has been a few days they haven't settle my time sheet problem or it looks like they did not even want to settle it at all. It seems to me that they TRULY have intention to eat into my existing pay (if you are able to picture what I have described) do you? Luckily I prompt and prompt until they give me pay slip with the correct amount to make sure my existing pay is not eaten.

Finally, what about that access card? After doing so many bad things, I feel they are not so trustworthy so I ask them to sign me an acknowledgement when I pass the access card to them. B**** hell staff actually divert the topic and threaten to hold back my pay unless I give the access card to them WITH NO CONDITION ATTACHED I gather of course! Such cowardly bstrds who did not dare to hold responsibility! You think your money is great ah! I have to take responsibility for you if you lose that company property in order to take your money!

So, tell me after sharing so many things with you, don't you agree that Recruit Express is simply some organization that is close to the EPITOME OF EVIL! For those who disagree, explain to me why this is not the case, I am more than willing to see why?

I had the same exact experience as you as well!

Went for an interview, took a personality test, and this so-called "professional team manager" of the marketing team at Healthcare and life science division came to brief me regarding the results of my personality test. Instead of revealing my results, she went on to insert snide remarks like, "from the test i can see you are a slow learner" and things like "the personality tests indicates you dont play competitive sports, which means you are not driven and competitive" without giving me the chance to explain or defend myself. It seemed like a good 10 minutes of unnecessary chiding. Okay firstly, excuse me, if i was not a fast learner i would not be able to juggle 2 part-time jobs and studying, and getting good grades throughout my semesters? and secondly, how can playing competitive sports equals to becoming a "driven" person? That is such a terrible, blatant stereotype that i feel sad for this team manager on her narrow worldview. Clearly our education system has been wasted on her.

Anyhow, she proceeded to intimidate me with how Recruit Express demands exceptional performance and is a fast-paced company (sure, considering how they are more profit driven/ KPI centred instead of focusing on finding the right candidate for the right job). If i am unable to deliver results as on the job within 2 weeks, i will be forced to go. I then replied that I can learn on the go with the RIGHT mentor and RIGHT training, which i assumed was part of the package since it was CLEARLY stated on the web that training will be provided to those who are keen and she cut me curtly, staring back at me with those disgusting bug-liked eyes, "we are not here to train people, we are here to hit quotas". Once again, says alot about the nature of this company and its recruitment ethics.

All-in-all, it was a terribly disappointing, frustrating and indignant experience as an interviewee. As much as we are seeking for jobs/ internship opportunities, the interviewer herself/ himself should carry herself/ himself the right way as well since it is a clear reflection of their company ethics and performance in the long run.

VENUE:NGEE ANN TOWER TOWER A #12-08

The negative feedbacks from the others are so true. Went for an interview at Ngee Ann City tower A with the Recruit express CEO Mr Sim . Upon meeting him, he already criticised my sitting posture. He was slouching throughout the interview. =.= The impression I have on him is VERY bad. He is the worst interviewer I have ever met. He is so rude and arrogant. Ask irrelevant questions regarding my star sign, parents, bf etc.. Even ask me to write down my Chinese name for him during the interview. During the time when he asked me to ask him questions, I asked some but he refused to answer. He even laughed and criticised the questions that i asked are too general and prompt me to ask other kind of questions?! What other kind he want? Ask him his star sign or he got gf or wife isit? zzzz So absurd! This reflects how ridiculous he is. He is clearly not interested into my educational background or interests, but more into my personal details. What kind of stupid CEO is this?! Also, i was informed it is a MUST to wear blazer. Act high class only! Wear formal to meet this kind of ###! Wasted my time and travel fare.. Even if I got the job I would not accept it.

To other job seekers out there, please don't approach recruit express, they will push u jobs that are not suitable for u so that they can meet their quotas. The job advertisements that they posted online are mostly fake. The pay indicated on the job advertisement is also mostly fake. The salary of the jobs they offered usually are below market rate because they want to earn your $$$$! WAKE UP PEOPLE!

TERRIBLE CEO, TERRIBLE INTERVIEW

I wasn't being looked down at actually. I am currently a contractor of Recruit Express. I agree with the bad attitude proposed by many of you. I really dislike the attitude of my agent. She never explain properly, so when I asked her some questions, she answered with impatience, assuming that I know for sure (why asking her) something like that. I will never go through recruit express! I really will not recommend! I don't usually complain, but this attitude.. I must say it out!

so their culture have not changed over so many years. was an employee with them 10+ yrs back. to each his own, fight for yourself.. back stabbing... rules like a school.. the consultants are like prefects in school.. listen to instructions and they will force u to take their ideas. very bad environment and culture. the top management is not behaving like one. all your sales and money goes into their pocket. beware...

I went for their interview today with recruit express, ceo, Mr sim at nee ann tower A. I have to say the reviews here all are so true and i shouldn't have doubt it.
The CEO himself asked my about my star sign and about my boyfriend and what he did. He then made fun of my parents name saying "This your father name ah?" replied : "yes" and he said "Why sound like girl name..laughs to himself " like it;s funny? NOT. So unprofessional. Too add on, i even had to wait one hour after my appointment just for this stupid interview with him. 0.0

The best part was i realized that not recruit express is under them, search asia, Capita, PeopleSearch. So don't be fooled into thinking they are a different company.

Total waste of my time and travelling fare!

I actually have an interview with them tomorrow and after all the negative things i have read about them, on other sites and forums as well, i am not so sure i want to keep the appointment. The place is very far for me from where i live and the consultant sounded extremely unsure on the phone. I asked him why he needed me to come down when he claimed he had not found anything suitable for me yet. ( he has my resume as well) and he gave me some line about getting to know my interests better.

I remember applying for a job vacancy via jobsdb and their company logo being posted on the listing and so i assume that is how they got my number. However on the phone the consultant failed to mention anything about the position i applied for and instead asked me rubbish questions about my qualifications which were already listed in my resume. (Do these people not know how to read?)

Also if anyone could give me a heads up on an agency handling job contacts for Mass Communications and other arts degree holders, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I was told I had I leave after signing up for six month contract under my company but i need to pass ad-least 3 month to use that benefit but went I took leave after more then three month my pay is still get cut.. I dnt understand.. And worse some of my collages didn't want to OT due to pay is going to be normal if our hours is nOT full for that weeks.. So if I do nOT have leave I took a unpaid leave and OT the next coming day my OT is just normal nOT 1.5 extra anymore.. I feel nOT like to OT even after that. Only went I work straight the whole period.. We are Singaporean and it nOT easy to find money can they just see that?

I went there with my friends for a temporarily jobs. The person called/texted me to go down to the Bishan CPF Building for an interview. The man named Je*i*K, is so rude and unprofessional. Make us wait for 1h 30 minutes, and tell us he still need to send email and such. If in the first place, he doesn't want to recruit us, why cant he tell us and he said he will call back by 3pm. In the end, we waited his call but he didn't call us back. We called him back and guess what? He answered and hanged our call. What an unprofessional ambassador of recruit express pte ltd. Wasted our precious time travelling there for nothing. only fill up the form and let them scan our IC. Wasted our time waiting for a man! Wasted our time talking to him when he has no intention to give us a job! What a joke man! Will never step into Recruit Express, they only want earn commission only. What a disgrace!

Totally! Had similar experience with you! It seems they are trained to demoralise people to force them take up the jobs. Personally my friends and I was tricked by their agent Sherlin abt the job over the phone, just to come down to find out its another job they are offering. NEVER APPLY FROM RECRUIT EXPRESS AGAIN!

I totally agree with you! I used to work there for a very short period, but i do not like their culture. They are very unprofessional people who thinks they know how to interview people, and they way they describe the job is very different from wad the job is. As they themselves do not know wad exactly the job is about. They will only be able to explain from a very short job descriptions. But yet they act as if they know very well. Usually they are people who do not come from tat particular background hence they will not be able to explain clearly wad the job is about.