What Is Insight Global? Dream Job or Scam?

What Is Insight Global?

Insight Global is a staffing agency based out of Atlanta, Georgia. They have grown from a single office in 2001, to forty-four branches today, located throughout the US and Canada.

They operate in a wide variety of industries from aerospace and defense, to healthcare and retail, satisfying an estimated 35,000 job placements every year.

Their mission… or core principles rather are to “foster hard work and superior customer service. To provide “deep care” for their clients and employees.  

There’s nothing wrong with their principles. They check off all the boxes… but they're the bare minimum any company should strive for and they don't really tell us who Insight Global really is.

How Does It Work?

There are two reasons you may be reading this review. The first is to learn more about Insight Global as a staffing company. Can they find you a job, and if so… what kind of job, what kind of salary and so on.

The second reason is because you may have come across a job posting for Insight Global, or they have approached you to become one of their recruiters.

If you fall into the first category, Insight Global works like most hiring agencies. They act as a brokerage, connecting employers and employees. 

Unfortunately... in this scenario, you could also say, buying and selling employees. Workers are a commodity.

In a staffing agency article written by Russell Huebsch, he explains it this way; “Employment consults (staffing agencies) help prospective employees find a job in return for a cut of the employee’s salary”  and "Often the agency receives the same amount as the employee."

So, if you're offered a position through a staffing agency and you know your qualifications are unique, or difficult to match… there may be significant room to negotiation a fair salary.

As a disclaimer… each situation is different. There may be several people in line for that position. Holding out for a higher salary is something you do at your own risk, because there is potential of losing the opportunity to another candidate.

Like any negotiation, it requires skill and sharp intuition.

Recruiters at Insight Global

If you’ve been contacted by Insight Global for a job, you may be wondering what they (or the job) is all about.

There are two main positions at Insight Global. Recruiters and Account Managers. When you start out, you are a recruiter.

A recruiter is similar to a telemarketer. Your job is to find and qualify leads, which are then handed over to an account manager. You’re expected to work what some might consider long hours (usually 7:30 – 5:00). 

If you’re a recent graduated and your work experience is limited... these will be long days. Especially since you’re expected to make up to a hundred outbound calls per day. 

Does Insight Global Scam College Kids?

With limited work experience, college students top the list of candidates hired as recruiters. And… since Insight Global often reaches out to you (rather than you searching out them), the obvious question becomes, “Is Insight Global a scam?”

The answer depends on who you ask.

Insight Global (the company) is not a scam. They’ve been in business since 2001 and have worked with Fortune 500 companies. However, their onboarding practices and promotion ladder may be questionable... what some might consider a scam. I’ll explain…

No one wants to be a recruiter (telemarketer) and make thousands of outbound calls month after month. There must be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Within the ranks of Insight Global, that pot of gold is a promotion to Account Manager.

As an Account Manager you are told you’ll make hundreds of thousands of dollars. This may or may not be true. I'll show you some Account Manager salaries in a moment.

It's the incentive, or promise of becoming rich that (like any get-rich-scheme) comes off as a scam. In addition, some have made the claim that they trick naive kids into working long hours for little pay... again with the promise of future earnings.

You may have already read the two reviews posted below (screenshots). These are just examples of the accusations made against Insight Global.  

Their are two main accusations being made here. The first is that they take advantage of, and scam college kids. The second accusation is that all the positive reviews you read online are fake... written by paid employees or somehow forced. 

I'll defend Insight Global on the first claim, for two reasons.

First, this is an entry level position in a learning environment. There's an opportunity to develop skills that will not only help you in higher paying and more important jobs as you get older... but may also be the reason you get one of those jobs. 

The second reason is that these accusations may be limited to a single branch or person, and I don't know that it's fair to blame the entire company for these practices.

The second accusation... about positive reviews being fake reviews... it's possible. I've had companies offer me free products if I'd go online and give them 5 star reviews.

A car dealership also tried to make me feel guilty once for not leaving a 5 star review, saying people may lose their job over it. 

If someone is aware of this happening at Insight Global, maybe they could share their experience in the comments sections below this review.

Insight Global Salaries

I can't argue that they don't make false promises... I simply don't know.

Will you someday make hundreds of thousands of dollars as an Account Manager? Let's start with what a recruiter makes.

Based on hundreds of anonymous claims, recruiters earn on average 35-37K.  

I'm a skeptic when it comes to income claims, so I wouldn't take these as guaranteed. But, they're the only claims we have and the chance we'll see a pay stub is slim.  

So now that we know approximately how much recruiters earn, the question becomes... what do Account Managers earn?

I was surprised to be honest. Although the goal is to reach this level and make phat stacks of cash, the reality may be different. 

As it turns out, at least from what I could find... Account Managers may not make as much as recruiters are told. Certainly not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Admittedly, these claims are from new  Account Managers, but like a recruiter... you can hear the hope and promise of six-figures in their comments. They've definitely been conditioned to reach this goal, but the numbers do not yet reflect the big money.

I have no doubt that some Account Managers are making big bucks. These are the few that stick it out, maybe had a little luck along the way... worked hard no doubt, and have an uncommon knack for what they do. 

So, you’ll have to decide for yourself whether or not Insight Global is scam. Does dangling a six-figure salary in your face to keep you dialing the phone make it a scam? It could be I suppose. It may depend on the way they say it, and how often…

If every morning starts with a pep talk about driving Ferrari’s and importing exotic rocks to build a wall around your estate… in my opinion, that’s a scam. If all they do is show you a commission chart with potential earnings after years of being there, it might be a little insincere… but not a scam.

It's also important to mention here that the company, Insight Global, is not a scam. I'm only talking about the recruiting and retention practices of some managers, under certain conditions, could be deceptive. 

There is another problem though. How do you get promoted to Account Manager?

Is Insight Global A Scam – Part II

The big money all hinges on that Account Manager promotion. But, what if… despite the promises, you never had a chance of being promoted to begin with?

That’s the accusation in the following comment.

So, the commenter is claiming that promotions only go to “hot women” and guys who "buddied" up to management. In other words, it’s a culture of nepotism and sexism.

Let me be clear… I’m not making that accusation, I’m just sharing what one person has said about Insight Global. And we can’t make assumption based on one person’s testimony.

I was curious however, so I tried to find proof of his claim.

The following is a video from Insight Global’s Raleigh NC branch. It wouldn’t be a stretch to suggest that a certain age and "look" are being represented here. You be the judge…

In my opinion, this could be the cast of Big Brother, and it’s no secret that producers of that show  prefer a camera friendly face and body.

I must admit though, it looks like they get along well and it's probably a fun place to work... if you are under the age of 30 that is.

But that’s just one branch… and we don’t even know if the entire staff is represented in this video. It’s certainly not enough to assume Insight Global promotes based on looks.

What about some of the other branches? Again, you be the judge…

Insight Global Staff pic 1

Insight Global Staff pic 2

Insight Global Staff pic 3

If I'm being honest... there does seem to be a trend here. As I said, most people over 30 would probably not fit in. So maybe there's some truth to the claim that promotions are based on age and beauty. Maybe...

And, if you’re thinking that may be true, you’re not alone. Here are some comments from one of those pictures on Instagram.

These observations do NOT indicate Insight Global is a bad company, or a scam. But, if you do join their team as a recruiter and your goal is advancement... you may want to observe who they promote (and based on what criteria) before deciding if this is a company you should commit to.   

​Services

Unless you’re a potential client or represent a company, this may not be of interest to you. But, in addition to employee placements, Insight Global also offers business services such as port folio management and analytics.

It’s not all bad news.

Despite accusations and negative experiences, there are many employees with good things to say (provided these reviews haven't been faked or paid for as some have suggested). 

I also noticed that even though you can easily find negative Insight Global reviews and complaints, they have quite often taken the time to respond to those complaints. 

What I Like About Insight Global

• They offer a decent work environment and if salary claims are true, the money isn't bad for for an entry level position.
• No cap on commissions and Account Managers have significant earning potential.
• They are an established company with a clear path to success… provided you’re the right person for the position.

What I Don’t Like

• As mentioned, it’s the right opportunity for the right person. But, this is a high-volume sales grind. If you don’t enjoy sales, this is not the job for you. And, of course… from what appears to be a relative lack of diversity, your chances of promotion “may” be limited.
• There is a danger in promising high salaries to young people, which I have learned from experience. I started out in sales and management at an early age. But, because I was caught up in that lifestyle, I did not realize (or admit to myself) that I hated what I was doing. I was well into my thirties with a family when it occurred to me that backing out of school (architecture) a decade earlier to chase immediate gratification, was a serious mistake.
• Quotas and a high-pressure environment. This type of work has a high turnover rate and very few people can sustain it long-term. That might be why ninety percent (or more) of the employees you see in staff photos look to be under thirty.    

I started this review by saying I usually write about entrepreneurship and home business, particularly affiliate marketing… but the truth is, quite often what you really need is a job.

Insight Global may not be a long-term career ambition for most, but if you’re an outgoing person and you enjoy sales, you could do much worse.

It’s indoor, so you're not out in the wet cold or extreme heat. The hours belong to the living... so you can have a regular life not working evenings and weekends, or constantly switching shifts.

Again… if you’re the right person, you could do worse.

But… if you’re not an outgoing person and you don’t thrive in high-pressure sales environments; this job will make you miserable.

It might take a few weeks before you realize it, but the stress and anxiety will eventually set in. Constantly making calls, giving the same pitch over and over again, and having a manager breathing down your neck to reach your quotas... is not pleasant for most.

If you consider yourself more of an introvert, enjoy working at your own pace and doing your own thing… you may find that you're better suited to analytical type work.

There are also many companies looking for someone to manage their social media accounts and marketing... which can be done as an employer or a freelancer.

Another option is data entry, or setting up online business. 

My final verdict on Insight Global; worth a shot if it suits your personality.

I hope you found my Insight Global review helpful, and if you have and questions, comments or even a review of your own… please share in the comments section below. 😀

Thanks for reading,
Jay

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