The A List, Exceptional Staffing

Highly Unprofessional, Uncommunicative, Indifferent.



That's how I would describe my experience with The A List in 3 words.



I tried to leave a review on Yelp. Apparently, however, only positive 5-star reviews won't be filtered out. I recommend everyone to carefully read all the filtered reviews on Yelp (scroll down below on the left and click on 32 Filtered in a grey hyperlink) and you will discover I am not the only one who had an unprofessional experience with them. I find the review filtering rather unfair and unethical, considering this doesn't offer others the opportunity to illustrate the real vast picture of this staffing agency.



From a logical standpoint, it goes without saying that contacting a quality staffing agency should make your life easier, and help you shine professionally in every way possible.



Based on the positive reviews I read on Yelp - mostly dated from 2008-2011 - I immediately decided contact The A List / Ashby. Especially, considering they initially seemed a quality-oriented, professional agency with many happy and employed Yelpers. After a telephone conversation, one of their staff members expressed to send my resume.



2 weeks passed and I never heard back from them. I kindly followed up with them by e-mail early in the morning, and for their convenience I even attached my resume once again. Almost two months later, I have never received a single response; neither by e-mail or phone. I do not believe this is due to my lack of experience. There are job openings posted on their website that easily parallel my professional background and skills.



I worked for international organizations where I received exceptional performance reviews working with Directors, Diplomats, VIP's to Royalty. I speak five languages. I have U.S. Citizenship with Security Clearance. In sum, this says enough I am authorized to work in the States and competent enough to do the job. Anytime. Anywhere.



I occasionally worked with a high-end staffing agency back in Europe. Even though they were extremely selective and I had significantly less experience back then, they got back to me within 24 hours to conduct a phone interview. Shortly after that, I met with them in person and had a positive interview. They called me twice a week regarding job opportunities. Within a week, I was offered a job at a semi-governmental organization.



In the meantime, I have been moving on with another staffing agency that is extremely professional, responsive, friendly and welcoming regarding my return back to the States. Moreover, I have several job interviews lined up in response to job applications.



I will additionally be launching my own business in the near future. Due to my unpleasant experience with The A List, I certainly will not do business with them, in case I would want to hire someone for my forthcoming company.



Because The A List does not deliver the very minimum of communication nor initiative, I do not recommend them.



Perhaps several years ago they had a more motivated, professional and proactive team. However, because of their lack of professionalism, unresponsiveness and indifference - something I have never experienced before with an agency or company - all I can give them is one star.



We all deserve to be treated with some respect. Even when a staffing agency - hypothetically - currently does not have a position available that would match your background, they should at least get in touch with you to maintain a good relationship for the future. The A List has been nothing but a source of disappointment. And in irony, they're certainly not living up to the standards they would expect from prospective job seekers.



Good luck to everyone who are seeking a job, or an exciting new opportunity!

I wanted to work as a cashier for SXSW. A List was doing the hiring. I told everyone I talked to at A List from the beginning that I worked nights during the week and wouldn't be available during those hours. I was told that there would still be jobs with the SXSW Film Festival. I was brought in for an interview, where it was mentioned again several times that I worked nights during the week and would need cashier shifts during other times. I emailed several weeks after the interview to find out if everything was a go and was told that I was down for the Festival, but they just didn't have the schedule yet. The week the Festival begins, I was told by Jessica that there's a mandatory meeting for all cashiers on Wednesday night. I told her (again) that I work nights and would be unavailable on Wed. evening. I said I wished I had been told about the mandatory meeting before, because I had been up front all along about working evenings on weeknights. Jessica was very rude and told me there was nothing she could do about it and she must have missed the note that said I worked nights and abruptly hung up. Even if they have an endless list of applicants to choose from, that is not the way to treat a prospective client/employee. After being strung along for weeks thinking I had a job at SXSW, now it's too late for me to sign up for any other SXSW jobs or even volunteer. I have told all my friends not to deal with The A List Staffing.