Does anyone know anything about the company SetFocus?

  • This company posted a job in Monster.com so I applied. Then I found out if they accepted me, I had to take their business intelligence class for 9 weeks (no pay). Then I have two options - one becomes their employee working for $25/hour for 18 months or becoming a contractor but have to pay the tuition for the 9 weeks training class. The class costs $16500. Is this company a fake?

    Here is the website for the class.

    http://www.setfocus.com/mastersprogram/curriculum_businessintelligence.aspx

  • You should never have to pay to accept a job and nor should you go without pay for a company administered and required course.

  • I wouldn't do this. There are places that require coursework (stockbrokers, etc), but not the IT jobs. Most of those places pay for the training.

    This sounds like they're either scamming or they want to get people to advocate their company/product. If you invest 9 weeks, you're unlikely to leave.

  • Microsoft provide decent samples for experienced developers for free you just pay for the developer edition because it comes with all the components of the enterprise edition.  Go to the 90 subfolder in Microsoft SQL Server folder in programs there are samples and tutorials that covers all you need to get started.  Buy some Kimbal books and buy Brian Larson books both the Reporting services and the BI book.  You can download the samples below and the databases must be attached to be used. 

    http://www.codeplex.com/MSFTDBProdSamples/Release/ProjectReleases.aspx?ReleaseId=4004

    Kind regards,
    Gift Peddie

  • SetFocus as best as I can determine is a training company and they do charge a lot for their coursework. They offer it for free if ou are willing to work for them afterwards for a fixed period of time.

    However the fact they posted as a job on Monster not mentioning what they are actually doing does give you grounds for reporting to BBB as a bait and switch, but even that isn't clear cut.

    See

    http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/guides/baitads-gd.htm

    The problem is this is a job offer but in accoranced can be viewed as an advertisement of available position. Still kind of a grey area as best I can tell.

    People just need to start report this to the BBB to make sure that the posts are honest and do not use trickery like this.

  • loner please run as fast as possible from this firm. Any firm 'worth their salt' will hire you and train you appropriately. and not have you essentially 'pay them' for a job.

    RegardsRudy KomacsarSenior Database Administrator"Ave Caesar! - Morituri te salutamus."

  • I agree with Rudy - run not walk from these folks.

    Find an employer who recognizes your potential and will then train you for it on their dime/time. 

    That said, there's nothing wrong with taking training classes, etc. on your own time/dime so that the employer who will want to "bring you along" takes notice.

     

    Joe

     

  • I agreed, they accepted me and sent me the package. The tuition is $16500 even I can defer it. But it looked they were more interested me enrolling the class than anything else.

  • Half the stuff posted on Monster anymore seems to be trying to get people into Sales jobs or get them into training classes.  It's sad.

    Worse when they stick ads for "Work from home" on the IT pages and all they want you to do is telemarketing.

    Brandie Tarvin, MCITP Database AdministratorLiveJournal Blog: http://brandietarvin.livejournal.com/[/url]On LinkedIn!, Google+, and Twitter.Freelance Writer: ShadowrunLatchkeys: Nevermore, Latchkeys: The Bootleg War, and Latchkeys: Roscoes in the Night are now available on Nook and Kindle.

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