My Manager was pitching one of the “benefits” from my RA
I haven’t even looked at what was in my RA Letter
Are they reputable? Or is it more of a Resume chop shop?
6 replies (most recent on top)
I was part of the large 7000 employees RA in April 2023 due to AI (BS! my job was relocated to Brazil as others; AI was barely a factor, but it served their narrative. I sent my resume to Randstad for review and signed up for their service. Resume had merely a few changes and did better only using Chat GPT.I used their service and job search but it wasn’t great. Best benefits of the IBM packaged was $2500 reimbursement that had to be completed before one year after last day of employment. Also, a lot of free training/certifications accessible from Lighthouse for 6 months.Good luck in your job search.
@je
From my experience, the IBM CICs typically don’t conduct large-scale layoffs--at least that wasn’t the case when I worked there. In the past, performance improvement plans (PIPs) were more common. I did hear about a situation in Baton Rouge where a new hire was reportedly let go shortly after starting, so it’s possible their policies around bench time or staffing have shifted. That said, this is secondhand information, so I can’t confirm how accurate it is. If I hear anything more concrete, I'll reply back here.
is the ibm baton rouge cic doing layoffs?
@an it's a better deal than the one you get from IBM CEO Alvind and his bloodsucking Pipmunks when they lay you off. IBM HR just likes to sc--w with employees all the time - that's Nickle and Dime for ya. Nothing good comes out of IBM any more, unless you like slavery run run by the Indians in Armonk.
@ap At least it wasn't Adashak who lusts after camels.
or Rob the c-su---r.
@OP it's not a benefit but a scam if the company called Randstad is doing the out placement. IBM contracts Randstad to provide 6 months of out placement service including doing your resume. The folks doing the resume aren't great - you could do a better job with AI than their incompetent human resume writers. Their coaches are mediocre at best, they don't give a darn about your job prospects and in my case the first coach didn't even show up for the meeting and second once was an ex-HR professional who didn't have a clue. IBM could do a whole lot better than using Randstad for outplacement. But it's probably a case of being cheaper by the thousand when you have so many layoffs at once (9000 in the US is not a small number). And Randstad might also ask you to sign up for their "FREE" job service and you get periodic emails. But if you find any job that might suit you be extremely careful if they ask you to provide your SSN without getting a job offer or if they talk you into putting up a little money for some scam non-existent job like fake Web design using Whatsapp. In my area there is a Ranstad hiring manager - S. Cosgrove - who should not be trusted under any circumstances. Nothing but a con artist. This is my opinion and your mileage will vary.
IBM probably chose the cheapest outplacement company to increase AK's bonus for 2026. It is a case Buyer Beware. If you want to find a job in this economy , go to your network, don't waste your time on Randstad or their incompetent coaches or resume writers. The only good thing I had with Randstad was a group that was working with a senior Radstad coach who ran a master class once a week with 10 unemployed professionals; she was experienced, good and helpful but she stressed that in the end it came down to building your own network of friends, former colleagues and family to help you find your next job opportunity. This is what I have found also. Not LinkedIn, GlassDoor or even Indeed. Beware particularly of Linkedin Premium - they hook you in with the offer of a FREE month - but then it's very very hard to get out of it. It's as bad as an IBM customer warranty for service written by IBM legal crooks. Customer pays a lot of money for support and service but gets Nothing / Nada / The big goose egg. Not kidding. That is IBM and Randstad for you.