I'm sending this out as a public service announcement.
I've been in the program for a little under a year now. I want to provide a transparent lens on how this program actually works.
Last year, I decided I wanted to try out accounting and generally learn about general accounting practices. My first job in accounting was a bit of a joke; I was a processing monkey. Robert Half came to me with an opportunity to join their “consulting” arm. I use this term lightly, and I'll explain why in a bit. Essentially, you are full-time employed with Robert Half and they give you general benefits like medical/dental/vision/401k (no match). It's bare bones, but the opportunities to work in different orgs, industries, and roles was very appealing.
Now, for anyone who's worked in consulting, you understand that it's a business partnership with the client. You are advising them on solutions to their problems. The Robert Half “consulting” program is not consulting. You are a contractor/temp through and through. The client does not care about you or your thoughts and ideas; you are there to accomplish a specific task for them…like a temp.
Here are some additional issues with this program and why you should avoid it.
Robert Half's “Talent Managers” are the people you would work with internally to get you placed. They pretend to care that your preferences on assignments matter. Let me be very clear, they don't. They don't care if they place you in a role that is a skills mismatch. They don't care if they place you in an org that is a cultural mismatch. They don't care if they put you in a role that is well above or below your skill level. They only care about getting you placed so they can get their commission and collect your bill rate. I've been placed in hostile work environments with crummy clients and Robert Half did nothing. I've been placed in roles that were far above my experience level, and Robert Half was shocked when the client asked me not to come back. I've been placed in roles that were far below my experience and skill level, and Robert Half did nothing. In fact, they will flip it around on you by pressuring you to keep working or face consequences such as not being invited to work with Robert Half again if you quit.
While this may not come as a big shock, they vastly underpay you for a lot of the assignments they put you into. When I started out, I was making the equivalent of an accounting clerk salary but doing forecasting and modeling for clients. I've also been placed in roles where I'm doing technical data analysis and working with complex systems. Equivalent roles in the private sector would be paying people like me 2x as much or more.
Please, please please avoid this program at all costs and do not believe the lies they will tell you up front. Once they get you locked in, the abusive relationship will begin. They will gaslight you, threaten you if you allude to leaving, and essentially not care less about your needs or wants. The talent managers are akin to used car sales people. Most of them are not specialists in the accounting field by any means. They don't care about you, they only care about placing you despite whether any of it is a good fit for you.
Feel free to DM me if you would like any additional information.