Kopperhead Kustoms and High-Performance Cars, Inc.

The unemployed of the Madison area need to know about this shady company masquerading as a beacon of hope in this down turned economyI had the lovely experience of interviewing with Midwest Infinity Group, Incthe other day for what I thought was going to be the stuff of fairy tales- a real, salaried office job with potential for moving upward through the ranksThe job is advertised as a 'sales-to-management training program.'
I showed up at their office at 9am Monday morning for my first interview with the office manager, a woman we'll call 'K.' It all seemed legit- the office was small, and there were a lot of people there for the interviews, but that's the economy right now, right?
The first interview went wellIt sounded like a legitimate marketing company with real, big-time clients like Direand Charter Cable (no non-competition clauses)So we schedule a 'follinterview' at 1pmThe gentleman interviewing me got into his car and had me follow him across the street to a Menard's, where he showed me the Direkiosk, where I would be conducting salesAside from the prospect of cold-approaching strangers while they're trying to shop, this all still seems like a legit job, especially when he tells me sales-people start with a guaranteed salary of $a week plus commissions on salesThis is when he gets down to shady brass-taxIf you are a good salesman, you get promoted to supervisor, and you supervise three salespeople at the kiosksThen, if they do well, you get promoted to assistant-manager, with three supervisors underneath youHe calls assistant-manager stage an 'office-job' with responsibilities like payroll, etcEventually you can become a manager and have your own office, like KAt this point I'm starting to see where this is going, but I still see no risk on my partThere are salaries, right?
WRONGWhen you get promoted to supervisor, assistant-manager, etcyou become responsible for the guaranteed salaries of all the people underneath you! He told me by the time I become assistant manager I should make sure to have $40,saved up!
The most cynical, twisted part of this whole charade is their marketingThey call it a sales-to-management training program to lure in college graduates and out-of-work professionals looking for a real, down-to-earth American office jobThe titles of 'supervisor,' 'assistant-manager,' etcall feed this illusionHe only waited to take me into the Menard's to tell me all this because he wanted the psychological edge of me seeing that, yes, we are selling a real product, and it is in a real venueIf they ever have to say "this is not a pyramid scheme," trust me, it isDon't be fooled and waste your time and moneyOne poor guy in the waiting room told me he drove all the way from Iowa City for this 'job-interview.'
Here is an example of the ads they run, from monster.com:
http://jobview.monster.com/Entry-Level-Marketing-Advertising-Executive-Job-Fitch...⇄ Also, check out their super-sleek company website to get a better idea what people are up against:
http://midwestinfinitygroupinc.com/