Tatum Interview Questions & Reviews

Interviewed Jul 2010 (took 3 months)

Tatum LLC ( the interim CFO part of their business, NOT the staffing part) is a company which has a challenge finding the perfect employee, since CFOs are often quite introverted. On the other hand, Tatum's model requires the Partner/interim CFO, to be outgoing and gregarious. The company which was recently acquired by Spherion, (the staffing company) is working its way out of a corporate culture which represents more of a loose group of persons who all have a common business card. The former internal culture was "eat what you kill". This was not a supportive culture nor a culture which TRULY PROMOTES personal or career growth. More like a parking spot than a train.

Tatum seems to "want" to become more of a professional services firm which offers not only interim CFOs, but also had experienced and capable managers who can execute on key projects for a client in critical functions in or around the finance function. So far this is not convincing.

In addition, at no time during the interview process, was there an explanation of "what they are looking for", or what the next steps are in the process. Do they even have a real process? Are they growing, or just mutating?
Not very clear.

Once hired by TATUM LLC, the new employee does NOT have a salary, but rather receives a retainer (less than $4,000 per month) until he has acquired an assignment. Although this lowers their fixed costs, this also seems to be a bit of a "half pregnant" situation in which the new employee finds himself employed but not really earning much. This encourages the employee to find work. (But isn't that part of the job for which the employee/Partner is supposed to be paid for?)

A confusing process at best.