Stephen James Associates Reviews

Former Employee – worked at Stephen James Associates full-time for more than 3 years

Pros – Lots of growth for workaholics, 60+ hours a week, good for non-entrpreneurial sales people

Cons – Very low pay early on in your career, high pressue boiler room environment, requires cult like commitment to get promoted

Advice to Senior Management – Put down the cool-aid!

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm optimistic about the outlook for this company

Former Employee – worked at Stephen James Associates

Pros – Steven James Associates is a staffing firm that matches employees with employers. They offer temp assignments while still searching for permanent solutions for the employees. Another great benefit is that due to their affiliation with Allegis Group, they are able to offer benefits to their employees even if they are only working temporarily.

Cons – Sometimes if you start working a temp assignment, there is never a guarantee on the length of the assignment. It can end at a moments notice which is why it's called temporary- not really a downside of the company, just moreso a downside of working temp assignments. Temp assignments are positive in the sense that they provide a source of income for individuals without permanent positions.

Advice to Senior Management – I didn't work with Sr. Management at Stephen James so I don't have any feedback for them.

Former Employee – worked at Stephen James Associates

Pros – Financial backing of big parent company, marketing, access to clients. Work/life balance is good, no real complaints regarding vacation or benefits.

Cons – Messy corporate structure and lack of vision from upper management, no support from more established businesses within Allegis Corporate Family, trying hard to be Robert Half...but lack of talent at all levels of management...no formal training program...they have mastered the RHI micro-management and cut throat attitude however. Haven't figured out they can't run the finance/accounting subsidiary like they run the groups that provide admins, file clerks, etc. Expansion strategy is hard to figure out, no office in NY and some other large hubs suffer from lack of talent or attention. Buying smaller staffing firms in key markets to gain market share forces them to inherit management who in some cases aren't corporate types or managers at all. Lack of growth overall.

Advice to Senior Management – Go outside and hire someone at a high level from one of the successful large finance and accounting staffing firms to be the CEO. Clearly promoting people who were successful in the admin/engineering/IT business (Aerotek or Tek Systems) isn't working.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Current Employee – been working at Stephen James Associates

Pros – I learned the model of recruiting for which the Allegis Group (parent company) utilizes in all of its divisions which has led to the success of both Aerotek and Teksystems (the two leading sister companies). It worked for them, it can work for you, and it can be easily replicated.

Cons – 1. Lack of vision, direction, and coaching from senior and local leadership. 2. Terrible compensation. 3. Other than access to a database, zero resources for you to leverage.

Advice to Senior Management – Stop carrying dead weight (practice directors who don't produce and are more trouble than they are worth), pony up the funds to recruit a real leader in each market who has built a true search firm, and put a true CEO at the helm who people will believe in.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Stephen James Associates

Pros – There are some very talented recruiters there

Cons – High turnover which seems to be the norm, almost non-existent health benefits

Advice to Senior Management – Management courses with how to motivate and work with staff would be of great benefit to all at the company

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Stephen James Associates

Pros – Decent benefits (although the 401k match was terrible), professional environment, decent base salary. Strong intercompany pride. Ability to get out of the office and lunch prospective candidates/clients on the company dime.

Cons – Horrendous work/life balance - usually spent at least 10 hours a day in the office. Commission structure is very poor. It requires a great deal of activity in order to make good money. In this market, that just isn't possible. Horrible turnover as I saw 7 people come and go during my tenure there. Management really doesn't care, just refill the seat. Mgmt doesn't do enough to retain good, or potentially good, employees. You really are just a number.

Advice to Senior Management – Your people are the one's that make you money. Treat them as such...

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend

Former Employee – worked at Stephen James Associates

Pros – Typical agency. Most people transfer out of their sister companies (Aerotek and TEKsystems) becuase they are lured by a promise of untold riches and golden telephones. These people usually enter agency right out of college and don't have any real corporate exposure. The company's strategy has always been to attract established professionals to recruit in their respective field. In order to do so, SJA needs to paint the same rosy picture of untold riches and golden telephones to get people in seats. After the first reality check, retention becomes the company's primary Achilles' Heel, because the compensation structure is such where success is unusual.

Cons – Poor benefits, poor work / life balance, poor stability, questionable ethics, misleading expectations.

Advice to Senior Management – Level with prospective employees on expectations, and tighten-up company-wide policy and ethical standards.

No, I would not recommend this company to a friend