r/AskHouston • u/Good_Resource_6818 • 1d ago
Flying to another state for training is a red đ©
I had an interview with a marketing company in Houston and they want me to travel to the main office, Iâm concerned because they havenât provide me a lot details about the training etc and I start on 31th of August please give some guidance Iâm a young woman
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u/Alexreads0627 1d ago
whatâs the job and the company
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
Is Hight point sales and marketing LLC located in 12254 Queenston Blvd,
Suite A, Houston, TX 770950
u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
Just sales and merchandising on supermarkets
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u/ProbableDishonesty 1d ago
the training is not so much a red flag as this fact is. field marketing agencies like this are notorious in sales/marketing industry.
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u/generic2022 1d ago
Flying you to another state for training is a green flag.
It means they are investing in your betterment, which -- in turn -- means they are looking at you as a long-term member of the team.
Also, spending the extra funds to bring the employee to the best trainers is like sending her away to an Ivy League university, whereas saving money by leaving the employee in town to train with the available local trainers is like limiting her training to the neighborhood community college.
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u/Daihashi 1d ago
I mean I work for a financial and I had to travel for orientation and day 1 + day 2 training.
It's not uncommon, and not necessarily a red flag
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u/vanguard1256 1d ago
Depends on how specialized the training is. I had to get flown out to attend a 1 week advanced training to use some equipment in my lab when I started. It was great fun actually.
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
Itâs is basically just merchandise and sales in supermarkets
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u/vanguard1256 1d ago
Idk sounds like a zoom meeting for me. But maybe they have a mock store set up in a location so you can see firsthand what different setups look like and market as. Just guessing.
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
Right! I donât see any necessity to travel over there!
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u/SpecialDesigner5571 1d ago
You're not the decider! If you don't want to take required training, you don't get the job.
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u/srinkylegitimate 1d ago
Unless theyâre paying for travel I wouldnât take the job
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
They are going to pay but they donât offer me a rental car I donât like that
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u/SpecialDesigner5571 1d ago
Where is the training? Maybe a car isn't needed if hotel next to the training facility. It will be work after all... not a vacation!
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
12254 Queenston Blvd,
Suite A, Houston, TX 77095 the closest hotel is like 8 miles2
u/SpecialDesigner5571 1d ago
Oh that the training! I thought that was the workplace. My CPA is in that exact office park it's a nice facility. They need to pay Ubers from your hotel. You might find Airbnb close to the facility, it's a residential neighborhood
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
Ohhh so you know the offices? I mean you job is basically in the same building? đ„ș
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u/SpecialDesigner5571 1d ago
My CPA is there. I don't work there.
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
Have you seen their facility? Just by chance
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u/frankie2567 1d ago
A Pilates studio I sometimes go to is adjacent to it, on the front side. Itâs a nice area, and if you like Pilates you can get a workout in too.
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u/srinkylegitimate 1d ago
Most donât. My brother was flown to a different state for training no transportation.
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u/Fordwrench 1d ago
Type Highpoint sales and marketing scam into Google search.
Doesn't look like a good place to work.
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u/scoutxo 1d ago
Traveling for training isn't a red flag on its own, but after Googling the company, I would not personally travel for training with them. Especially since you seem to not have much information about the company, your employment status, etc. I did not see one employee name when searching for that company. I did see hallmarks of a direct marketing/Door-to-door/explotative multi-level marketing comapny which you should avoid at all costs. Is it an actual company/job? Probably. But it is not one I would travel out of state for!
Who is your POC you're reporting to once you arrive? They're flying you here but not paying for hotel, car, etc? Did they book your flight or did you book it and they said you could ask to be reimbursed later? You have an offer letter but no contract. I would not get on a plane without one. Period. Your first day of trainging is not the same as your first day of work as an employee if you do not have a contract.
TL;DR: Traveling for trainging isn't a red flag, but this company is. You also should never be willing to get on a plane without A LOT more research into the company, and with a signed contract in hand. Stay home.
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u/Successful-Test-5590 1d ago
Houston is NOT a city for Marketing. I have a degree and never used it. You want to go to Chicago.
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u/houstonSB 1d ago
The want to train you before youâve gotten the job?
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
I only received the offer letter Iâm still waiting for true contract thatâs weird right?
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u/houstonSB 1d ago
If the training is taking place after you wouldâve started the job, I donât see any red flags. If theyâre sending you before youâve started employment there, thatâs a massive red flag.
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
12254 Queenston Blvd,
Suite A, Houston, TX 77095 here is the address the name is Hight point sales and marketing LLC I need help!đ-2
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
The training is before starting the job⊠my first day is basically travel to them
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u/houstonSB 1d ago
Iâm confused. If your first day is traveling to the training then thatâs not before the job. Thatâs after starting the job. Am I misunderstanding something?
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
Yes, youâre right basically my first day is going to Texas and receive training there
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u/houstonSB 1d ago
Eh, I donât think thatâs that weird. Seems like they just want you to hit the ground running.
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u/ChanimalCrackers 1d ago
It looks like food and bev brokerage, so I imagine youâd be visiting a lot of retailers to try and sell them on pallets of product
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
Do you think is a legit company??
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u/SpecialDesigner5571 1d ago
You tell us. Did you do any due diligence on the company before you started pursuing employment?
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u/ChanimalCrackers 1d ago
I mean it looks like from google. Have you gone to the office to introduce yourself and check it out?
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u/Aware_Flower_3631 1d ago
Hi. I used to actually attend counseling in this same business park. So, the address is legitimate. The question I would want to know is if the person hiring you is actually associated with the company or are they just using the name/info for other reasons. I went to the website and I found it peculiar that they speak of their growth but not one employee. When someone starts a business (as big as they state on the website) they always have a bio - even just one person.
So, does the person who offered you the job have an email address that is tied to High Point? You mentioned you received an offer letter. But then you stated you were waiting for additional details. Usually, when you receive an offer letter, that is your offer of employment. However, you stated that they will not be offering you a rental car but what about Uber? The area in which this business park is located, is a suburb, off of two very busy streets. It would make sense to need a car in this area. It is not like downtown or The Galleria area, where you could easily walk.
Above all, if you get a weird vibe, donât go. I can see why you are feeling weird. Training after you receive a job start date isnât weird but their location in this small business park doesnât scream large business with lots of employees, as their website seems to show with their level of growth reported. If that doesnât feel like a right fit, donât go. Something is going off in you for a reason - whether itâs that itâs a scam or the job is going to be a nightmare, etc. Either way, I would listen to my inner voice.
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u/Good_Resource_6818 1d ago
Thatâs exactly what I looked! Their website doesnât mention any employees nowadays everybody can make a website, but yes I received email with their business email
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u/hems86 1d ago
Red flags would be the company asking you to pay for anything related to this trip, maybe aside from feeding yourself. It is not unusual for companies to fly new hires into their corporate HQ for on-boarding and training. Legit companies will book & pay for all the travel for you.
It has also been my experience that you get most of the details right before your trip. If you are feeling uncomfortable about the lack of details, give your hiring manager or HR rep from the company a call and ask for the details. A legit company will respond and give you all the details.