The World's Worst Employer? (HFC Beneficial Finance) (HSBC)

Member Name: malibu_jenny

Product:	HSBC
Date:	09/10/06 (10050 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Maybe it gets better higher up the ladder?

Disadvantages: Appalling and unpleasant interview procedures.

HSBC Loans – Beware choosing a career with these people!

This morning, I dragged myself out of bed, carefully ironed my shirt and unfolded my suit. I meticulously applied my makeup and dried my hair with the hairdryer (something I never normally do.) A lot of effort to spend another day watching Neighbours and listening to the hold message for Jobline you might think – but lo and behold, I actually had an interview! This time the company were not scammers on the other side of London, but a respected international company with fantastically local offices. My confirmation call from the agency psyched me up and I was off!

Before anyone feels the need to point out that perhaps this review should be under a different heading, I must warn you that I was invited for an interview to dish out personal loans. Yes, with little financial knowledge, I can poke through the credit history of anyone who has ever bought something on finance from Dixons, Curry’s, DFS and so on. HFC Beneficial Finance is a company owned by HSBC. They provide store finance but it seems that they also make continuous cold calls to previous customers to try and persuade them to take out a personal loan. The two companies are obviously closely affiliated and share a logo. HSBC appears in the small print of the HFC loan terms and conditions.

I arrived at the offices with the 6 page application form filled out. Normally I hate application forms – it says to me that a company is too lazy or incompetent to get the requisite amount of detail from my CV. However, this looked like a top notch job with a respected corporation and ‘needs must’. The job spec promised the earth; share schemes, medical insurance, childcare provision, pension plan and – best of all - the top Customer Service Executives could secure themselves an exotic 2 week expenses paid holiday.

Not only was I dressed to impress, but I had carefully studied the job specification to make sure that first impressions were good. It stated that the role would be 80% telephone sales and the rest face to face. I’ve a reasonable sales background and it pleased me that I would be doing something I enjoy, I also had visions that it would be much less seedy than other sales workplaces with a decent approach to investing in staff. This was a reasonable deduction given the information on the benefits. It was highlighted that the ideal candidate would be enthusiastic about meeting the team and would show a strong interest.

Beneficial Finance does indeed have nice offices. I rang the buzzer and was admitted through the plate glass doors where I saw myself to the 3rd floor. I waited patiently in the empty waiting area until an older man stuck his head out of an office. He shook my hand and took the application form, assuring me that someone would see to me shortly. I was 5 minutes early so I thought this fair enough and settled down to wait. 15 minutes later I was still waiting in the deserted corridor and much less patiently by now. A younger man appeared and again shook my hand. I was offered a drink which I gratefully accepted and after 10 more minutes had elapsed I began to wonder. Looking through the glass in the office door, the two men were not patiently discussing the company with a fellow interviewee but still making sales calls. I watched them pick the phone up and dial, wondering why my interview had been scheduled for such a busy time. There were no other staff about and a radio playing somewhere began to bore into my head.

As far as I’m concerned, the interviewee is there to sell themselves and the interviewer to sell the job. I was ready, why weren’t they?

After what seemed an eternity, the younger man emerged again and handed me 4 sheets of questions. He told me that he’d give me 20 minutes to fill them in and left to make some more calls. Looking at this sheet, it was obvious that these were the questions he was meant to ask me. It was even headed “Questions to ask the candidate” and “Let them know you will be taking notes”.

The thought of spending 20 minutes doing this man’s job FOR him made my blood boil. It was bad enough leaving someone sat that long without an apology, but now, without even entering into conversation with me he expected me to silently divulge all my personal information. If it was necessary for me to fill these four sheets in, I didn’t see why it couldn’t have been done in advance of the interview. Surely the 6 page application form was enough. Perhaps he was so overworked he hadn't even got time to interview?

I walked to the office and tapped on the door. He was sat alone in the messy room, the older man had left. At 2pm we were the ONLY people in the building (where were the 'team'?) and it became apparent he no longer felt the need to be civil. “Could I ask about the job….?” I enquired from the doorway.

He put the phone down from the call he was making and rudely snapped; “Just fill in the sheet. Do you find something strange about that?”
I replied “I find it strange that you haven’t told me anything about the job. And, I think the sheet might be for you to fill in.”
“So, you want a verbal interview.” He put emphasis on the word verbal as though we were entering foreign territory.
I followed him to the desk. He sat down and told me that it was just telesales. There were no ‘hot leads’ or clients who had made previous enquiries. I was to make 75 calls a day rather that the 25 stated in the job spec. That piece of paper was alien to my experience, ‘keen to meet the team”? What team? There was no mention of salary, commission or benefits. Intriguing that this guy was the worst salesman I have ever seen yet somehow qualified to interview others. I motioned towards the discrepancy on the job description in front of me and he blamed the agency. He walked off, slamming the door to the office and I saw myself out.

I have misgivings about these companies in any case. Fair enough they may help people to consolidate their other debts, but there is something immoral about pushing loans on people who cannot afford to pay them back. HSBC should be ashamed to put their name and logo to this company. If you interview with HFC, be aware that signing the application form gives them a right to credit check you.

If you want to work for a company which is ethical and competent, with happy well trained staff, this isn’t it. In my opinion, a happy career will not be available at HFC Beneficial Finance.

I admit, it’s starting to look like my top ten will be ‘the top ten worst companies to interview’!

Summary: HSBC need to be careful what they're putting their name to. I wouldn't work here if you paid me :-)