I had never heard of alder consulting until my friend mentioned how she has dreamed of working there for years, she studied economics but wants to go into graphic designs and all that ( shes really young and talented). You can understand how happy i was for her when i realised they were recruiting, i called her miles away and told her to apply.

My curiosity got the better of me and i glanced through their website last week, the website was nice and i thought this really would not be a bad place to work, considering i would actually be doing the kind of work i have always wanted to do, so i spent the next couple of days working on the essay for the application (ideas rule the world), i love writing so i kinda enjoyed the whole process,

Naturally when i was finding it hard to send in my application due to some internet glithces i belive, i called customer services, imagine the rude shock i got when i was answered very rudely by a lady on the phone and as if that was not enough she kept saying she had more important people to talk to on the phone and i was disturbing her( she said this less than 2 minutes into the conversation), then she left the phone hanging for about 6 minutes until my credit got zapped.

I must say i am highly disappointed in Alder consulting, i believe your employees speak for your company and if your customer service is that poor then i wonder what the work environment would be like. Where i work presently may not be all that but i have learnt simple work ethics: to respect people of all ages and also expect that kind of respect from people to. I might be looking for a job but i am not and will never be a boot licker, i don't think four years in the university taught me that.

my heart is broken because i believe i wrote a beautiful essay that will never be read(funny that i'm only mourning over my essay and not the job), but of course my friend will never hear this story because she would be crushed, no i wouldn't be a loud mouth and yak to her, I'll her pursue her dream and hope she doesn't get disappointed like me, so thats why I'm sharing this story with you guys, my friends and fellow job hunters because i know you guys would understand,

You know understood very well what you r going through. I actually submitted more than one before t finally went. The first one i did and i never knew it bounced back and to God be the glory i checked my email everyday cos of my work and when i checked it low and beholdd it was there in front of me.I actually tot that they have replied me but it was wrong email ad.
So i got to do it again and again and i lost hope. I forgot maybe after 2 days , then i went back and copied it from their cite and pasted it in my composed and sent it. i have not seen anything being sent back so i guess it must have gone. But wheether it went or not, thats not the end of the world. I believe that if i loose sometyhing 2day,t hats cos it was never meant to be. Dont cry over spilt milk somethying better than adler is coming for u. Hod on to ur faith.

Take care and God bles u

I feel you on the alder consulting thing, i spent like the whole day yesterday researching that essay, when i finally thought i had done a perfect job, i tried sending it again and again, but it just kept coming back to my box, saying message sending failed. Im still really dissapointed cos i know how much effort i put into writing that essay even if it was just a page. I also feel you on the fact that its the essay ure most pained about and not the job persay. Not to worry, shit happens, guess we're destined for greater things. As for the customer service at Alder consulting, if i were in your shoes i wuld call that coy again, or better still send a mail and let them know how the person(s) that answer their phones treat people. take care aite and do not despair, greater things await us all. Cheers

i feel you, for me Alder consulting is a bad organisation, i am happy i am not working there, i wrote a similar essay there too about 3 years ago, ideas rule the world, no reply, nothing, i just heard they have taken people, they are grossly unfair in their selection process, but thank God where i am now, Alder can NEVER pay my money, God has a plan for everybody, if it is not Alder,it is a better PLACE.

Wow. was actually thinking i was the only one with the issue o.

I used to ave this deep desire to work with alder but that has been watered with my experience. I must have sent that essay well over ten times before the deadline so i dont think anyone can accuse me of not trying. I even tried sending it to the main company mail but it just ketp coming back undelivered.

I would ave expected that that as mails come in, someone would be moving them to another folder or something to allow for new mails. Called their front desk too and the babe was muttering something like 'thats the instruction'. Sadly as with all things nigerian, noone will give you any explanation as to what went wronog exactly.

Guess all things nigerian are just the same, all shadow and no substance

@IYEYEMI
As much as i sympathise wit the Robbie, i must say that is just one experience out of many and it isnt a true picture of what all nigerian companies do( try calling PIVOT Engineering and so on).PLease try to avoid hasty generalisations;consider dat the customer service personnel in question might be aving a really bad day.
@Robbie
there are hundreds of other gr8 companies of similar concern dat u can apply to and get noticed.Keep trying!

tot it was just me,and i was thinking of sending it again ?anywways am glad to know that someone spoke about it before i spend my money again wow!

oh thanks you all, to think yesterday i was so upset over this, well like you guys nicely put it there are more companies out there who probarbly have a lot more to offer so no point getting upset over alder, i really appreciate all your comments, and i will definately not give up!

Cheers

Hello everyone,
I have read some posts on Alder consulting; poor customer service, and people wondering whether they have called anyone for interviews.

I wrote the essay (which was fun to write), and sent off my application on October 9, 2007.

I got a call last week Tuesday for an interview on Thursday. In my opinion the interview went well but I have not heard from them yet. (They said they would make contact in 48 hours which would be an indication that the candidate had succeeded to the next level of interview).

I am sorry to hear about the poor customer service and the fact that some people had a hard time sending their applications in. I think it could be due to the fact that they were inundated with applications. My contact with the front desk lady was pleasant, she wasn't rude to me for a minute.

I wish you all well.

If anyone has been called for the next round of interviews put word out.

@kemit

WHat time was your interview at Alder?was it by 3pm on Saturday? R u the kemi that is an IT specialist?That developed a software?

My interview was on Thursday at 3pm. My name is nit Kemi and I ma definitely not an IT person.

How did the interview go for you?

Please forgive the typos

all the best kermit,
good to know your experience wasnt as bad as mine, lol
so how was your interview?

Consulting is very interesting if you've tasted it, you'd never want to go into something else especially at this youthful level. Alder consulting is a disciplined firm and i know them for trying to make their vision (thought leadership) possible. In there they are encouraged to think on every situation, including that lady at the front desk.

I was wowed by my first experience at their office almost 2yrs ago. The lady told me "say why you are here in a sentence", that shocked me terribly. I actually received it with mix feelings. First i felt that was rude, you should have heard me out first! Second, i thought to myself - Simplicity taught. In consulting there is one thing i'v always learnt, make things simple for your client after all thats why you're there. Simple solutions applied in innovative ways. I decided to look at her gesture and response in that light and did not dwell much about the other funny part. Am not in anyways taking sides, but am saying that the kind of training she received may have had her responding in certain ways strange to us. Besides, think of the stress of answering too many people almost at the same time.

Whatever, if  you know about consulting and so passionate with it (problem solving for businesses) try other firms or keep trying Alder who knows they might just call you up someday. But i'll never hide the truth, they are good!!! I'v tried working there before, didnt work, but who knows. Am not about the money am about joining the winning team, learn a bit of tricks and win more.
Sorry all you pained at heart.

well. read all the posts with rather mixed feelings. wrote and threw in my essay like was advertised and promptly forgot about it untill i was surprisingly called last week tuesday and told to come in thursday for an interview. got there, we were 8 in all, and the interview went the way a board meeting goes,all of us seated on a round table with three delectable and highly intimidating ladies carrying out the interview.we were all asked to talk about ourselves and my saving grace was that i was the last to be interrogated- pardon my word usage. by this time, i had already gathered that these ladies had no patience for abstracts or slow people or things that were mere words. I guess i tried to do the best i could, leading the conversation in a direction i knew i would not falter, but that would equally interest them. like was previously posted, we were told if we were successful, we would know in 48hrs. i didnt sleep, but alas, my call came the next day, 2:55pm precisely, i guess i am good for the next stage like i was told. well. am kind of apprehensive cos these guys seem to mean business, expecting u to think up ideas, stuff on the spurr of the moment, and if its not something u are good at doing, better not go, cos its the roof for u. i can only wonder what next.
but for those who are going in for the first stage, all i am going to advise is, just have an absolute belief in yourself and in your abilities, never get intimidated no matter what is being thrown at ur face, u will never come out on the losing side.

@ relentless

Phew! Thanks for the post on your call back on Friday and Congratulations!! At least now I know not to expect a call from them. Oh well,

@ vindoheney My interview went well thanks (but as noted above probably not enough for the company)

Have a great week everyone!

That's good relentless. Was interesting when I also got their call. Should be attending tomorrow. Iv been in consulting for 2yrs but Alder has been my dream. I hope for my dream to be actualised.

Aww Tayog yes i do know consulting is very very very intersting, i have always been keen on developing a career in strategy, but these days i think God is leading me to a different place,

if you recall my post you'll see i did not say for a fact that Alder was not a good company or was not good at what they do, i just said that their front desk lady was not all that and to me first impressions count a lot, in my job hunt, i have met alot of people in HR and alot of front desk ladies, people who have answered millions of calls (which helloooo we all know is their job) and even sometimes when i can detect traces of tiredness impatience and sometimes even sarcasm in their voices, they have never been down right rude to me, maybe its the multinational/ Nigerian factor, i don't really know jare but no matter how much under pressure they may be, i always see professionalism and i admire that,

i recently went for a very tough grilling job interview, and one thing that made me realise i wanted to work there was the level of professionalism the interviewers displayed, the respect they had for everybody that attended, they made us feel we were doing them a favour by attending, that they needed us, and for me that is key

company policy matters alot to me and the way people are treated in the company, for me its a priority maybe it doesn't bother people as much but it definitely bothers me, period! i have standards and i don't think i am willing to drop in my standards.

For all you Alder hopefuls, Kudos, i know that Alder's reputation precedes them and its great that relentless and Tayog are being giving a chance to show them what they have to offer, and hey who knows maybe you guys would help fix that one loophole, you know as they say a stitch in time,

All the best and do keep us posted, irrespective of the damage done to my heart, i still wish you all the best.

@kemit

Unfortunately i wont be gong for the second stage cos i did not make it. I made a call to them and recieved the shocking news that i did not do well so i wont be going for the next stage.

Its really painful and disappointing cos though i did not do much but i expected tha what i did will qualify me for 2nd stage.

So i wish u guys all the best. i still expect to continue my search for a bettter consulting firm. cos its my dream too. I have had a taste in a small level. I will like to go into it big time.

Hope and pray that Something happens soon.

God bless u all and keep faith .We are all praying for u guys. U will surely succeed. And KEmit, All things worketh out for ur own good.This is not our job. Our job is coming. So keep faith

Hi, vindoheney, do not despair aite, greater things await u out there, and pls do not be discouraged. Take care aite

awww vindoheney the Lord is your strength, don't worry it is well, God has better things lined up for you just hold on to him jare and resume your job hunt, your search will never be in vain and someday you will look back at this point in your life and smile, all the best

Hi Guys,
Went through your post and i believe God has a wonderful plan for each and everyone of us. I got a call from Alder yesterday informing me of the interview but i had to reschedule because i couldnt make it at the time they slated. Please kindly furnish me with things to expect at the interview. Thanks

Consulting interviews have not changed. There is a personality part and a business scenario section. Its all about who you are! The best

@ snazzyuzo

Don't bother at all, just be yourself, market your competencies as a leader and you should be fine. Show that you are business savvy etc. I am sure that for you to get a call back it must be that you possess something they like.

Break a leg! (that means good luck)

Hi all. We would like to apologise to Robbie Lex and the others who tried to call or submit applications. We do not wish to excuse the issues.  We would simply like to sincerely apologise. We have taken very definite steps to ensure the issues are dealt with (the email box issue and our customer service response).

We were glad to read the other responses from those who made it to the interview stage. It's gratifying to see we're not all bad 

Kindly spread the word to those who weren't able to send the email the first time. They can do so now. And Robbie Lex, if your essay is as good as you say it is, am sure you won't let a temporary speed bump stand in your way.  Mmn? 

Subomi Plumptre
ALDER CONSULTING

Hi Subomi,

It is very nice of you to actually address the issues being discussed about your company in this form. Talk about managing a company's image! Very impressive.

As I had indicated in earlier postings, I didn't get a call back for further interviews (I had an interview at your firm last week Thursday) which is fine by me. But what I would like to know is, could you kindly tell me what it is that your firm is looking for or what I may have done wrong? I would like to learn from he experience.

Thank you.

Nice one Subomi! Good to give many talented Nigerians a chance.

Dear Kermit, like we mentioned at the interview, because our company doesn't recruit on the basis of CVs, experience, type of degree etc, we tend to focus more on personalities and whether or not a person may fit the opening we're recruiting for.

We prefer roundtable interviews as it presents an opportunity to view group dynamics, speed of response, boldness etc

If you weren't called, trust me it wasn't on the basis of your competence.

@ realshosho

Thank you for responding Subomi.

Have a great day and weekend ahead.

@Realshosho,

It might sound funny but i still believe that i was not given a fair hearing considering that i was continously jump till my time came.

Even the guy that was second to last got the opportunity to talk about himself before i did. Not minding that i was the first person that came for the interview.

I believe that i was not given the chance to express myself because i was suddenly cut short with questions even before i could have any chance to express my personality, not minding(funny) that i was shivering and almost dying of cold.

I have cracked my head, and asked myself the question, why was i rejected and i still dont understand.

My personality is right for the job. I have never been in an interview where i was rejected unless i get to reject the company. I am very sure of my Personality but what i am not sure of is why i was not called for stage 2.

Please i wil be grateful if i can be given the yardstick in measuring the type of personality you want for your company. I am a psychologist and if there is anything i learnt in school is to make my personality to be in accord with what the person or the organisation wants.

I know i can do well in your company but i still believe that i was not given a fair hearing.

I would like you to take a long hard look at the following statements that you made: "I have never been in an interview where i was rejected unless i get to reject the company"

AND

"Even the guy that was second to last got the opportunity to talk about himself before i did. Not minding that i was the first person that came for the interview".

If anyone else can point out the obvious alarming signals in these two statements, please help out. Am serious. Lesson: In interviews there are things we say without saying them expressly.

Now, i really have to sign out. Work beckons! Best wishes.

you know the most painful thing about the interview was that i was not feeling well and i dont really like cold.

But because i am a team player i decided t lick it for the team. I was shivering and shaking and  i remember telling one of the interviewer that the A.c was disturbing me and for that reason i decided to stay at the reception.

Its not as if i am finding excuse for my failure but i am pained that i was licking one for my team and i lost doing it. I dont like loosing like that.

I want a situation whereby if i loose, let it be that i did not do well not because some variables were working against me.

Well, i cant cry over spilt milk but i am really hurt that i could not scale through even when i was being a team player and could not ask the interviewers to turn off the Ac.

BE as it may, it was an interesting time with them. Atleast i got the personality of our interviewers and i know the kind of ladies they are.

So it was not all bad. I thank Alder for given me an opportunity to look at the things i would love to be doing few years from now.

Thanks alot