hobson associates scam: reviews on its legitimacy

Understanding the Allegations of Hobson Associates Being a Scam

Hobson Associates is an executive recruiting firm that has been in business since 1989, specializing in placing candidates in technology, life sciences, insurance, manufacturing, and renewable/clean energy industries across the United States. However, over the years there have been some allegations raised against the company regarding questionable business practices. In this in-depth blog post, we will take a look at the major claims made about Hobson Associates and try to determine if there is any truth or legitimacy to calls that it may be a scam.

Double Dipping Fees – Illegally Charging Both Employers and Candidates

One of the most serious allegations leveled against Hobson Associates is that of “double dipping” – a practice where recruiting firms illegally charge placement fees to both the job candidate as well as the hiring company for the same job placement. According to reports, some have claimed that Hobson Associates engaged in billing both sides in a given transaction, which would be considered fraud and an illegal business practice.

However, upon further investigation it seems the evidence for this particular accusation is thin. While past clients have made vague assertions of dubious fee structures used by Hobson, there are no specific reported instances or documentation provided to substantiate an actual double dipping scam took place. It’s important to note that controversial fee models alone do not prove criminal wrongdoing, and more substantial proof would be needed to fully validate claims of deliberately fraudulent billing practices on the part of the recruiting firm.

Employee Reviews – Mixed but Leaning Positive

Looking at third party employee review sites like Indeed and Glassdoor provides a more balanced perspective on what it’s like to actually work for Hobson Associates beyond allegations. Across both platforms, the staffing agency receives an average rating of 3.5-4 stars out of 5.

Positive reviews tend to focus on the training and support provided to recruiters, as well as an enjoyable company culture. Downsides referenced include high pressure to constantly generate new business and place candidates. But on the whole, most former employees give favorable assessments of their tenure at Hobson.

So while complaints do still exist, they appear to be in the minority. And typical gripes like workload stresses and internal politics are fairly normal issues found across many employers. Nothing in the online reviews thus far paints an outright portrayal of a toxic or illegitimate workplace environment.

Lack of Accreditation but no Complaints on BBB

One notable limitation is that Hobson Associates is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, this is a voluntary designation and lack of accreditation alone should not be viewed as an automatic red flag. More importantly, the BBB profile for Hobson shows they have maintained an “A” rating, with no complaints officially filed against the company in recent years.

Considering how the BBB actively monitors and compiles consumer grievances made about businesses, the complete absence of any recorded issues related to Hobson Associates carries meaningful weight. If clients were being routinely scammed or seriously defrauded in their dealings, it stands to reason at least some complaints would be present on the BBB.

Mixed Reports from Client Review Sites

Getting insight directly from Hobson Associates clients provides another perspective beyond employee reviews. However, client review platforms present a mixed picture that is not entirely conclusive either way:

• Clutch.co has Hobson Associates rated 4.3 out of 5 based on 10 client testimonials, with positive feedback focusing on quality of candidates provided.

• Reviews on Google are more balanced, citing both strong performance filling roles as well as some complaints regarding lack of follow up from account managers.

• Birdeye customer reviews average 3.5 stars out of 5 across 31 ratings, pointing to decent placement success mixed with room for improvement on communication.

Overall, there appear to be satisfied Hobson Associates clients who got value from their services. At the same time, the handful of negative reviews indicate room for growth and not all customer experiences have been positive. But taken as a whole, their client reviews paint more of an average/respectable picture than an outright damning indictment of unethical business practices.

Bottom Line Analysis

After examining all available evidence and perspectives, it is difficult to make a definitive call one way or the other on whether or not Hobson Associates should properly be characterized as a “scam”. Some key conclusions that can be drawn:

• Accusations of double dipping and fraud have not been substantiated by compelling proof and seem based more on vague allegations than documented cases.

• Employee reviews lean more positive than negative overall, without clear signs of a toxic work environment.

• Lack of BBB complaints or accreditation is not necessarily problematic on its own.

• Client reviews show satisfaction mixed with room for improvement, rather than an outright scathing consumer verdict.

While no company is perfect, the information researched suggests Hobson Associates provides a legitimate service to many clients, with typical business challenges but no criminal behavior proven either. At worst, they may not always live up to the highest standards. But there is insufficient evidence to reasonably deem them an outright “scam” operation at this time based on the available public data. As with any company, caveat emptor applies – but Hobson Associates does not seem to warrant an exceptional warning either based on this analysis.

In conclusion, the “scam” label levied against Hobson Associates appears to be an overstatement not well-supported by objective facts or documentation of illegal wrongdoing. While room for growth remains, they seem to run a bonafide recruitment business helping both employers and professionals, with client satisfaction and reviews reflecting this. Of course, one should always do thorough due diligence when working with any staffing agency. But based on the research, most signs point to Hobson Associates being a legitimate operation, not a scam as such allegations have suggested.