The absolute BEST. I was super frustrated prior to finding Mack and Associates with my job search. So thankful I found them. Working with Kayla was truly a pleasure- she made everything so smooth- went out of her way to find interesting opportunities in different fields that fit my experience- and took all my calls no matter the time of day. She made the whole process such a breeze! Found a new position in less than a month. When we hit a few road bumps with the offer- she was an absolute professional and dealt with them in a really kind and prompt manner. Don't know where she finds the energy!! Can't say enough good things about this company and Kayla!!! A+ read more

I was referred by a friend and had an in person interview with Lindsay and Rachael in November 2019. Mid January, they contacted me with my first assignment. They were great to work with. They call with the assignment details to see if you're interested. If you are, they confirm with an email. Work and then log the hours online. Paidly weekly. Work hard and make a good impression. It's true that good workers get more work. read more

Had the pleasure of speaking with Anna today. She was prompt and friendly. Looking forward to working with Mack & Associates

I understand that times are tough right now due to COVID, and we are all just trying to get through this. That being said, the purpose of this firm is to assist those seeking employment. Yet everyone I have interacted with has treated me as though I'm bothering them. They have multiple job listings on their site as well as on LinkedIn but never get back to anyone who might reach out regarding the status. The one time someone called me she flat out laughed at and mocked me. I have since called to try to talk to another recruiter who has never called me back despite the fact I have left two messages. I have now given up on Mack, stopped applying to their posts and have been working with another firm in town. That firms recruiter calls me, answers my emails and even worked with me to make some minor edits to my resume. read more

I've spoken to many Mack employees and they have all been extremely kind, upbeat, professional and helpful. Specifically Kayla, Jackie, and Lana have been quick repliers and genuinely great to communicate with. read more

I am very grateful for finding Mack & Associates. I specifically worked with Rachel H to help find me a new job outside of the field I was currently in. We initially met to discuss why I was interested in a job change. I could tell she really listened to what I was saying and was interested in placing me in a role that fit for ME not just any role. We spoke a long time and I left the meeting feeling really good about my decision to contact Mack. Now I just had to wait. Well just a few days later she let me know of an amazing opportunity that she thought I could be a good fit for. The process went so smoothly and quickly. Rachel walked me through the entire process giving me great tips to prep for the interview and even would call me after my interview to ask me how it went. She felt more like a good friend rooting me on! The whole process took less than 2 weeks from when I contacted Mack to getting a new job offer. I've been with my new company now for a month and I am SO happy. Rachel has even followed up to check in on me. I know I would not have gotten the job without the help of Rachel at Mack. I'm very appreciative and had an amazing experience! read more

I found Mack & Associates in the Summer/Fall of 2019 via LinkedIn. The position I initially connected with them about ended up not being a great fit but their team found me an excellent permanent position at a company that I still work for (and love)! Jackie took my calls and answered my emails at all hours of the day, helped negotiate my offer and gave awesome guidance throughout the entire job search process. My experience working with a staffing agency/recruiter was super limited but everyone at Mack was very patient and accommodating. I tell everyone looking for new work to connect with a recruiter - they prep you for interviews, provide feedback, advocate on your behalf and genuinely want to make sure you're placed somewhere that you love. I fully recommend Mack & Associates. read more

This was my first experience meeting with a head hunting firm and it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth. I am appalled at the lack of professionalism and inefficiency of Mack & Associates. I applied for a position on LinkedIn and was contacted by Kathleen to come into the office to have an interview/consultation type appointment where I would discuss what I'm looking for with a consultant. I will say Kathleen was extremely friendly and professional - I have nothing bad to say against her which is why I agreed to come into the office. My meeting was supposed to be with Lindsey but when I arrived, the receptionist told me I would be meeting with Courtney because something came up and Lindsey wasn't in the office. This was kind of annoying but not the end of the world. On a side note, the receptionist was robot-friendly. You could tell she gave the exact same speech to everyone. 15 minutes after my scheduled appointment, I was finally greeted by Jasmine. So no Lindsey and no Courtney. This was becoming quite confusing. Jasmine took me to a TINY office and with no introduction or small talk began with, "So I know you talked about a few positions with Lindsey..." Um, what?! At this point I was extremely annoyed by being shuffled around, the late start to our appointment, and now this lady didn't even know who I was or who I had/hadn't spoken to yet. The next great thing to happen was the phone rang and Jasmine took the call. After listening for a few seconds she said, "I'll take this at my regular desk" and proceeded to leave me for another 10 minutes after we had just sat down. Awesome - I could tell I was a real priority. During my wait, I honestly considered just getting up and leaving but I told myself I had already put up with this much, I might as well see what she has to say. Oh and did I mention that the walls were paper thin and I could hear the consultation going on next door? Great confidentiality! Overall, this appointment was a complete waste of time and I would not recommend Mack & Associates to a single person. read more

I have never had a more humiliating and insulting interview experience. I have over 12 years of administrative office experience and they treated me like a 5 year old. I brought references, a skills test and my well-written resume and all of it was treated like garbage. The recruiters just glanced at my resume for 2 seconds and started a barrage of questions that had only a little to do with my experience. It was obvious they had literally just looked at my resume for the first time right that second. I am extremely disappointed in the way I was handled. It felt like a cattle-call situation and while I know the economy is not the best right now, I don't think anyone needs to be treated so poorly. The staff seemed condescending at best and I can't vouch for their clients, but I can assure you I won't be using their services. read more

Apparenly, you can't give 0 stars, because I would in this case. I was looking to leave my current job, so I contacted the firm and left a voicemail for Caitlin. She did return my call, however, it took days. I know recruiters get slammed with calls, but still. When I did finally speak to her, she informed me she only does temporary placement and I was looking for a permanent position, (which I clearly told the receptionist) so she sent me to some other woman in her office (don't recall her name) I left a message and again waited days for a response. When I finally set up an interview, it was at 4:30 pm (I went after work). I got all gussied up and headed over there. I waited. I waited. I waited. This was after I had filled out a ridiculous information sheet that the receptionist hands you when you walk in. I waited until 5:15 and then told the receptionist that I was leaving. I find it terribly rude when you have an appointment and need to wait that long. I really think that firms take advantage of the fact that you're looking for work and feel they can keep you out there forever. The receptionist looked surprised and asked if I wanted to reschedule. No, I do not. (I need to also mention that the receptionist had the worst, sickingly sweet/fake voice I've ever heard. Just hearing her answer calls for 45 minutes while waiting was almost enough to stab myself in the eye with my ballpoint pen). Almost two hours later, I get a call from the woman I was supposed to meet with. She noticed I left. Yes, two hours later. Don't waste your time going here, they obviously don't respect yours. read more

I used this place two years ago while job-hunting. They found my resume online and called me. I didn't know what "head hunting" was back then and figured I'd give them a try. The place is pretty fancy, but the recruiter I met with wasn't so great. She would call and say she found an amazing position that I would love. She would ask if it was ok to send my resume. I would give her the ok and never hear back from her. WHen I would call for a follow-up, she would have no idea what i was talking about! Then she would pull a "Oh that place! I am still waiting to hear back from them. I will keep you posted!" This happened quite a few times! She also tried to push a few jobs on me that I was not interested in. I wanted to work specific hours (8:30/9am-5pm) and she would push jobs that were way out of that time frame. I would NOT use this company again or recommend them to anyone. read more

I found Mack & Associates to be a terrible waste of time. I constantly had to go back in and re-interview with someone who mysteriously wasn't there the time before, and every position fell through. After two experiences like this where I was summoned for the "perfect position," I politely told them to shove it by the third. read more

Behold the power of the people! I feel that through social media outlets, the voices of individuals can be heard loud in a way that has previously been impossible. For this I salute you yelp. I always do research when I am going to meet employees of a company I am not familiar with, and I decided to study their reviews on Yelp before my visit. I took into account what the reviews said, but refused to let anyone Else's experiences influence mine. [Read: Defective Judgment] [Note the irony that their door lacks a Yelp sticker. I wonder why that could be?] Upon my arrival the receptionists were friendly, the waiting room is impeccable, and the women owned business impressed me. I love being in an environment where women are succeeding. It typically inspires and promotes other women to do the very same. When I sat down with one of their placement managers we began to talk my resume, which is fitting. However I immediately felt she wasn't truly listening to my answers to her questions. She seemed to minimize my previous employment experiences and talked pretentiously. Now I come from a long line of "everyone is equal" and the best way to practice that belief system is to actively engage others in conversation where they are respected and feel they have an advocate. Apparently this woman seems to come from a long line of "I am better than you, and I know this because I tell myself that in the mirror every day, repeatedly" or some other mundane pep talk that realistically aids no one in the long run. She would try to correct my proper understandings of many different business terms and equated my shorter employment experiences as seen to be "inexperienced" all together, even after I told her the tedious tasks that job required from me. To really explain what upset me so much is the factor that I was not talked to, I was talked down to. It was patronizing, and I felt the meeting lacked esteem. I have always interviewed wonderfully with companies, yet this woman was dissecting and minimizing my previous positions. I have a bachelors degree, previous corporate work experience, ample volunteer experience, and active roles in volunteer organizations and felt this wasn't enough. When it comes down to it I felt their was a serious lack of regard. As humans, our sincerest need from one another is to feel respected. Otherwise a healthy and harmonized relationship can not be conducive. I ended the interview before it was over, because I truly couldn't take it anymore. She asked what I didn't like and I told her I couldn't build a relationship with someone who seemed to patronize my experiences and not really listen. She did agree trust is necessary for a healthy relationship and if I didn't feel I could trust her, there was really not anything more to talk about. She escorted me out and we shook hands. Her CEO called me to apologize for my very upsetting experience. I told her that I felt like I was treated with a lack of respect and that it was a terrible experience for me. She asked if she could do anything to make me feel better, which I do appreciate. She mentioned she heard I'd read other yelp reviews on their website. I hope the call wasn't simply damage control, so another negative review wouldn't be written. We will never know. I truly don't know if this situation could be rectified because I would have zero interest in working with this company after that woman's lack of manners, and professionalism. It left a bad taste in my mouth and it still hasn't left. So where did I go after a stressful and upsetting day, that I truly hoped I wouldn't encounter? Yelp! Even after the other reviews for this corporation, I hoped I'd be coming home to write a good one, this was unfortunately negated. If you would like a bruised ego, terrible etiquette, and the feeling of leaving empty handed, this place is for you. If you'd prefer a happy cherry feeling upon leaving a career services agency, look elsewhere. W.W.E.P.D? What would Emily Post do? read more

Mack & Associates helped me find a job - FAST. One day I got a call from them. I thought it was an employer looking for a last second interview, like, "Can you be here in an hour and a half?". So I quickly put on my nice skirt suit, tights, appropriate shoes, pinned my hair to the side and hopped on the blue line to make it for my 'interview'. I figured out what was going on shortly after walking through the door. However, because I was in interview mode I was nervous. I first spoke with Lindsey M. She went over my resume with me and asked me what I was looking for exactly. What kind of job I was looking for, industry, pay, benefits, etc. Then I spoke with Konvalia G. Both were great. I quickly got comfortable as time went on. Before I left they had me test my typing, word, excel and power point skills. All in all I was there for about 2 hours. Even though I walked out feeling like it might have been a total waste of my time I figured if nothing else it was good practice. And what else did I have going on? I mean, I was unemployed at the time, so... The time line went like this: Oct 24, 2013, entire office was laid off - I lost my job. Oct 30, 2013, meet with Lindsey & Konvalia at Mack & Associates. Nov 8, 2013, get a call from Mack & Associates with a possible lead - set up interview. Nov 11, 2013, go to interview and feel prepared and ready (thanks to Lindsey & Konvalia prepping me). Nov 15, 2013, get a call from Mack & Associates letting me know the company wants me in for a 2nd interview! Nov 19, 2013, 2nd interview with prospective company. Nov 21, 2013, get a call from Mack & Associates telling me the company is offering me the position. Start date of new job: Dec 2, 2013. The whole way through both Lindsey and Konvalia called me and kept in touch. During the interview process they seemed to be just as excited as I was. I really felt like they were enthusiastic and helpful the whole way through. I highly recommend Mack for helping you in the job search process. They exceeded my expectations and now I have a great position at a very good company. read more

I have had nothing but fabulous experience with Mack & Associates professional employees. Their office is very modern and nice which automatically started my experience off on the right foot. I first met with Nikki to talk about temporary positions. She got to know my background and what positions I was interested in. I also met with the President of Mack & Associates, Konvalla, who spoke with me about the opportunity to be placed in full time position. Like most temp agency's they can not work miracles and I have to admit I was getting frustrated that I was not getting any positions. I followed their directions and checked in every week and my email was always promptly returned with a thank you. After a few months latter I got a call from Nikki to be part of their jumpstart program which is kind of like being on call. You have to be ready to leave your house by 8am at which point you call Mack & Associates to check in and see if they need anyone. If they do you go into work and if they don't you call back again at 9 and once more at 10. If at 10am they still don't need anyone then you get paid $20 for your time and you are free for the day. How can you turn down the potential of free money! They needed me at 8am and I worked a one day secretary assignment which was great. Like many other reviewers have pointed out Mack is run by an all female staff and the women who work here go out of their way to make sure you are prepared for your interviews. Before you head to an interview you stop by their office and they go over the company's expectations and job description with you to make sure you are prepared. No job agency is perfect because they unfortunately don't have an unlimited number of opportunities. Though when Mack and Associates does have an opportunity for you I think they go out of their way to make sure you are successful. read more

Although I have yet to be called back with a position or placed at an assignment, I really have make sure that my initial experience with Mack & Associates is documented because they are that great. Since 2008 I've done the job hunt thing three times (this being my third). I've been to COUNTLESS recruitment agencies and interviewed with dozens upon dozens of rude, incompetent, and careless recruiters. After my last experience at another downtown recruiter (which was recommended to me for the administrative positions I'm seeking) I walked away knowing it was a complete waste of time and $10 in parking meter fees. I had an interview set up with Lana for the following week so I immediately e-mailed her to make sure that she was clear about my expectations and job criteria - if she could not offer me what I was looking for I was not about to waste her time or mine. She immediately reassured me that she was in charge of direct hires (I'm not looking for temp jobs) and that they did offer the sort of opportunities I am seeking. Lana was very understanding when I had to cancel once and reschedule my time for the second meeting we set up. When I arrived she didn't keep me waiting and was VERY friendly and caring. She allowed me to truly open up about my past experiences and listened carefully about what I am specifically looking for. While she did not have an assignment to give me initially, I do believe she will keep me at top of mind when something does come along. And if I do end up being placed with Mack & Associates I will certainly up this to 5 stars. read more

The other reviews are right. This place is a waste of time. I reached out to Mack some time ago regarding a position they posted. When I finally spoke to someone, a couple days later. they didn't know what position I was talking about. After I had to explain to them that the posting was on their web site, the Recruiter then stated that the position was on hold by the client. So position fell through???? As an FYI, this was my third time reaching out to them. So this is not the first time I heard that statement. Buuuuut I decided to give them another try and of course, they did the same thing as before. Very disappointed in them. Anyway, after some phone tag. I was asked to send along my Resume. I did. I followed up with two phone calls, Lana was on vacation but this would get passed along to her. Well, over a month later and not even a courtesy call from anyone in their office. Nothing! This is not how a Professional outfit should carry on. I have since moved on to another Agency who actually COMMUNICATES with it's potential Candidates. They keep me posted, they keep a Tickler file, let's you know about open postitions. I am currently employed but I am happy that I am on the radar by another agency. I will not refer this agency again. Good Luck read more

Methings not is right on! After being referred to these folks by a staffing coordinator I knew, I tried calling and emailing several times and got NO RESPONSE. Nothing. Not even an, 'I'm sorry, we have nothing at this time', they just straight up ignored me. read more

Mack & Associates teeters between 1 and 2 stars for me. First of all, I think that they kind of run their business like a cattle call. I have NO idea how they keep track of all the people that come in and "interview" with them...and I'm suspicious that they don't at all since I actually received 2-3 calls from them asking me to come in BEFORE I ever came in (these were all through different job postings, too). When I finally did go in, I felt ridiculously under dressed. Totally my fault, of course, but I had been to several different employment agencies and I had always felt really overdressed wearing businessy clothing. Except everyone who works in this office seemed to be wearing a suit... My personal bad experience with this company stems from when I went in to meet with them. I was scheduled to meet with a temp person and then a temp-to-hire person (why they need two different people for this I don't know). I met with the temp person and had a pleasant enough experience -- with the exception that she never, ever followed up with me. However! Once it came time to meet with the temp-to-hire person she was no where to be found!! She had apparently left the office for a meeting somewhere else and NO ONE could get her on the phone! And of course, I never heard anything from her either. read more

I had been looking for a job for a few months and was directed to Mack & Associates. I first spoke with Nikki. She was so great! She was friendly, warm and welcoming. I was looking for a permanent, full time position, so Nikki had me contact Jasmine. Jasmine was also very friendly and we had a great conversation! She asked me questions that surrounded my needs and wants. After I described what I was looking for, she instantly had a few positions in mind. Within the first week, she was able to set up an interview for me. During the time leading up to the actual in-person interview, she was there every step of the way. She emailed and called me with updates and information that was needed. She also had me speak with Lana, who was so nice and helpful! Jasmine wanted me to keep her updated before and after the interview. Soon after that first interview, she was able to set up another interview with a different company! I was very excited about this job and really wanted to know more about the company and what they had to offer. Again, with the support and preparation of Jasmine and Lana, the interview process went very well. After my third interview, I was able to land the job!! I am super excited and owe it all to Mack & Associates! So, in a nutshell, I highly recommend Mack. They are professional, friendly and supportive! I am already sending referrals!! read more

From my first phone call to the moment I stepped foot into the office, I have experienced nothing but complete professionalism and courtesy from the staff at Mack & Associates. Working with Courtney has been an absolute pleasure. She not only went above and beyond in finding a position for me, but one that is also a great fit; I can tell she genuinely cares about me and the work environment I'm in. Her communication skills are excellent, and she has followed-up with me frequently. I cannot praise this individual enough. My positive experience working with Courtney has given me utmost confidence in that when my current position ends, I know she, and the company in general, will be looking out for me. I'm truly surprised that some people have given low ratings, which is very inaccurate. I have nothing but positive remarks for Mack & Associates, and I highly recommend them for anyone who's looking for a position in the Chicagoland area. Best Regards, David Jarosz read more

Wow, I'm honestly shocked that Mack has such low ratings here! I've only been working with the company for a couple weeks now, but the friendly and helpful attitude of the recruiters alone merits no less than 3 stars in my book. I haven't been sent on any temp assignments yet, but I have been sent on one temp-to-hire interview. I've also been called about two direct hire jobs. I wasn't interested in either of them, but I was still glad that they thought of me. Overall, I've found Mack to be well organized, with good follow-up time. We'll see how things go! read more

Last Friday, I met Jasmine and Konvalia. This Friday, I have given my two weeks and am now employed by an elite, executive, search firm in the Loop. In one week, they did what most recruiters do in six weeks. They were my advocates every step of the way and provided me specific insight into the position. I knew exactly what to say in the interview because of their coaching. That gave me an edge over the other candidates. I appreciate the time they took to give me full disclosure and advice about the process and the players in it. Specifically, I think Jasmine did an amazing job. She even called me after working hours to share the exciting news that they wanted to give me an offer. I will recommend them to anyone I know who needs their services. If you're wondering about the bad reviews, I would simply refer to the style of writing of the people making the claims. That should give you a better idea of how to properly judge Mack & Associates. read more

I worked with Mack & Associates as a temporary employee for six months before I was placed in a permanent position. Having been in constant contact with the recruiters, I have to say that I'm surprised by some of the other reviews on this page. I never felt that the recruiters I met with were anything but professional, attentive, but also realistic. I never felt I was being talked down to, but they really did look at my limited experience (I was pretty much right out of school) and found me a position that was appropriate for where I was at. Working with Mack has been an incredibly positive experience for me. If you're just starting out in your career, like I am, Mack is a great resource and I can't recommend them enough. read more

I'm surprised at all these low ratings, but I'm hoping this is just past experiences and Mack has learned from them. I have to think that is the case, because I have had nothing but positive experiences with the many people there I have met with. I was contacted initially by Jessica (who has since left the company, she was great!) for permanent opportunities. I was looking to make a change and set up time with Jessica. The office is very well run, all of the reception staff are professional and friendly and the appearance of the office is modern and clean. So far so good! Jessica found me some opportunities over the next few months, went on interviews, but nothing really panned out (as a result of fit or heck, maybe it was me, but all of the interviews were set up with consideration for what I was really looking for). Jessica thought that it would be a good idea to talk with Laura Jean for some temp opportunities while I was looking for permanent positions, which has been a great way to keep busy, learn new industries, and build my resume. All of the positions I get contacted about are relevant and based on conversations I have had with Laura Jean. I have also worked with Courtney, Konvalia, and several other people once getting into some interviews and considering temp positions, and they are all GREAT! They do a great job of listening to what you want, what hasn't worked in the past, and what is a good fit. Follow up is great, and its nice to know what is going on after an interview instead of dealing with the quiet dread of not knowing! This is also a great place to temp with because they offer some very basic health coverage, great in a bind when you just need something to cover the basics! They also have incentives for being a rockstar performer in your temp gigs, which is very nice. Overall, I've seen nothing but good, and would recommend Mack. They are very connected with Commercial Real Estate and trading firms in the loop, just to name a few that I know of. I don't think its limited to this, just my experience. Call Mack! read more

I had a great experience with Mack & Associates. After reading the other negative reviews here at this site, I can't help but wonder if any of these individuals were able to get "better" service from any other agencies they've worked with or if their unhappiness is simply derived from the fact they were not matched with an employment opportunity. Mack's representatives were more than communicative, even if there were no opportunities, I did receive periodic calls letting me know that I was still a priority and also to ask if anything had changed on my end with my own employment search. I am now currently working with my new employer (which I would not have ever been connected with had it not been for Mack & Associates) and am loving my new role. Thank you, to everyone I've met and worked with at Mack & Associates, for such a great experience! read more

Oh man, this place is just awful. Not only do they seem to rotate recruiters every couple of months (my original recruiter Kristen's replacement was...just replaced?), but they are not very helpful in a job search. *Rarely* will you get these guys to give you the time of day. I have been playing phone tag with Kim and Kelly for the past several weeks, as they are NEVER available. The receptionists will simply send you to their voicemail after stating you are just a candidate(as if they have them screen calls once you tell them your name so they don't have to talk to candidates directly), which they NEVER get back to you. Once I actually met a recruiter, she seemed as if she had better things to do than to find me a job. It seemed very affected and rehearsed, almost like a Best Buy commercial. After all her pie-in-sky talk and tossing her empty promises at me, I go home and never hear from these people again. Whenever I called to follow up, it was the dreaded *send-to-voicemail* speech, even early in the morning. They simply don't converse with candidates unless absolutely necessary. I truly felt like a number and someone they could condescend to. I also felt ignored. More than likely, they pick and choose which recruits they work hard for...probably those in a higher *bracket.* In any case, I have found a much better agency since this experience. Out of the agencies I have worked for in the past, I must say this place stands as the worst and cannot in good conscience recommend them to anyone. read more

Bad news, all around..... You would think that recruiters would be a bit more sympathetic to people who were laid off, especially considering the economic climate is so stinky right now. Well, don't ask Mack or any of their associates for any favors. I met with 3 recruiters yesterday. Two of the three were... pretty welcoming, in that 'recruiter' type of way. The second recruiter I met with greeted me with an incredible amount of condescending attitude, sprinkled with some general assy-ness. After the first couple minutes I wanted to ask her if I was wasting her time. After another 5 minutes, I was tempted to take a swing at her. Seriously, I'm not looking for any handouts or any special handling. I am, however, looking for what everyone else looks for when going through a placement agency; A) A good connection with a recruiter B) A decent job ps - I should have read these other reviews prior to wasting Mack's precious time. pss - I hear Larko Group is fantastic! read more

This is how I got my current awesome job! Taylor was so great and helpful! I got my first interview with them and then my job the next week. Thank you guys!! read more

This review is 2 1/2 years overdue. During my lengthy stint of unemployment in 2016, I worked with Mack and cannot say one bad thing about them. I work in the legal field and while Mack does not specialize in that area, they did a lot to help me out. Everyone I interacted with was informative, caring and professional. I took on a variety of temporary tasks through them and several temp-perm interviews, the very last resulting in an offer at the same time as I received another offer more suited to my expertise. read more

As a frequent hirer of temps from Mack, I continue rely on them to send competent, presentable, quick-learning individuals. They have never disappointed. I work for a small company that can't afford to have that one screw-up person. Now, in a market flooded by workers, they do an exemplary job evaluating recruits and balancing qualifications. Nikki is a complete dream to work with. She calls to check in with me, calls to go over each person she has available for a job, calls to confirm, and calls to check in after they left. I feel that when I tell her what I'm looking for she really "gets it." She knows how to place people based on their strengths. My bosses feel confident that when I'm away the person Mack has placed can represent our company with professionalism and a great attitude. The examples I could give of positive experiences are too long for this forum. As an employer, I appreciate their diligence and commitment to giving me the best out there. THANKS MACK! read more

Seeking a job? Avoid Mack & Associates. Worse than useless, the woman who interviewed me, and might pass for a 14 year old, was polite during the interview, but has never -- not once -- contacted me for any job. Neither have the other two women she introduced me to. After the typically fake-as-hell interview, I was made to take a laughably unfair test to check my Excel and Word skills. I have a professional degree and these dingbats think that I would jeopardize a job opportunity so that I could brag about my stellar Word skills? Months later, when I called the recruiter for a copy of my test, she refused to send me one without explanation. Rather, I had to physically come to the office to pick one up. Thank you, jerk. Atleast twice I have wrote to them regarding my availability and none of these three professionals bothered to reply. Don't be swayed by the nice lobby. These are not professional people (beginning with the arrogant receptionist). Mack & A$$ociates interviews the unemployed just to stack their filing cabinets and collect a check. They care nothing for the public. read more

I have had a long history with Mack & Associates. In 2007, I registered with the firm and took on several temp assignments while I worked to secure permanent employment. Mack was able to find short-term and long-term temp assignments for me. They also helped me with skills training and resume review that improved my viability in the field. I appreciated their flexibility and excellent communication. In 2010, I temporarily moved out of Chicago and returned, two months later. Within two weeks, Mack found a temp assignment that lead to the most fulfilling permanent position of my adult life. I've been at my current position for five years. I appreciate that Mack helped me find a rewarding, well-paying position. This job has shown me the direction that I want to pursue in my career. In all this time, I have maintained contact with Mack and Associates. They have been constantly proactive about staying connected while I've been at this position. I have also referred colleagues to them who have nearly all found temp assignments or full-time opportunities. Their organization is impeccable. Their communication is consistent, clear and reliable. They customize their opportunities to you and your skills and do an excellent job of preparing you for interviews and placement. Their staff genuinely cares about me as a staffing partner and as a human being. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Contact them today. read more

I am, like many other reviewers here, shocked at the low ratings and negative experiences. My experience with Mack & Associates was completely the opposite. They found me a great permanent job quickly and impressed me totally. I worked with Lauryn most of all - fantastic professional, but also Lindsey and Konvalia. All of them were terrific. I'd been temping for a few years and was now looking for a permanent fit. I began working with as many Chicago staffing agencies as I could, so I was talking to a lot of recruiters and meeting with many of them. While I encountered some well-run staffing agencies with some great people, they didn't seem to have quality jobs available. I also encountered my share of unprofessional, lackluster agencies and recruiters (promising me opportunities, but never following up, etc.). I walked into the offices of Mack & Associates and it was as if I stepped into another realm. Not only were their interview questions for me smart and perceptive, they had me meet a number of their recruiters while I was there - just to get to know me and consider me for openings they were each working on. I love that they truly work in teams. Everything was fast-paced, but courteous, utterly professional but unfailingly personal. They had two opportunities for me right away that sounded perfect. But one brought me in for interviews quickly and that is where I was (direct) hired. And another impressive factor: throughout my interview process with the employer (three interviews), Lauryn and Lindsey were coaching me and in regular contact. Very helpful! And now that I am in my new role, I am seeing the other end of things. Our office has been working with Mack & Associates to fill a temp staffing need. We are working with Nikki and, true to form, she is great, they are ensuring they send us the right person for the job, and they are professional in every way. I am recommending them to everyone I know who is looking for temp or permanent roles. I am grateful that I found them. They are a top-notch organization. read more

So I'll start off by saying the two ladies I met with were nice and friendly. I was wary about signing up with a recruiter but I thought I'd give it another try. I felt confident after leaving they'd find something, I mean they even made it sound like some opportunities could happen soon. Well I met with them on a Friday and did not hear from anyone the following week once! Then the next week came and I was so close to not hearing from them again and then one of the ladies reached out to me. She told me about this opportunity and to call her back. When I did, I found it was a temp job with maybe a possibility of going to full time (I had said in the interview I needed a secure thing, so no temp Jobs) and then it was wayyy below what I said my minimum an hour would be. I just felt like they ignored some of the key things I was looking for and gave me an offer with two big things I was not going to accept. After I said no, I never heard from them again. Which is fine now because I found a job on my own. But should I ever need to search again, I will never use this place again. read more

This staffing agency over promises and under performs. Very fake and unfriendly recruiters. They look down on candidates who don't fit that specific look. Don't waste your valuable time . . . avoid signing-up with them. There are much better agencies in the area who are more professional and will give you the respect you deserve. read more

I had a positive experience working with Mack & Associates! I contacted them in response to a posting on LinkedIn, and was in their office the next week. I met with several employees, though I worked primarily with Courtney Cheatham and Lauryn Roberts. Both women were very friendly and professional. Lauryn arranged an interview for me at a financial firm almost immediately, and coached me through all stages of the interview process. Though I did not receive an offer from this company, I feel that I gained some new knowledge to help me with the job hunt overall, including interview and resume tips. I would absolutely recommend Mack to others looking for a position--they work quickly, and you can tell they truly want to help you find a job! A lot of recruiting firms seem to focus only on filling positions for their clients, rather than finding work for their candidates. Not the case with Mack! read more

Where do I begin? So, after working for months with this company and telling them exactly what I wanted. They (sales) pushed a position on me. After 1 day I realized this is NOT what they told me it would be. I called them and told them my concern. For the next 1.5 hours I was on the phone being harassed by them saying that I couldn't quit and that would look bad, threading me telling me if I stopped working then they wouldn't work with me. All while never admitting that they placed me in the wrong position. They twisted it back on me saying that I would have a poor work ethic if I didn't go back! I was already very upset by the day and being excited for a position and then feeling completely disappointed because it not what had been described to me. I am a very hard worker and to be threatened and talked down to by FOUR MAC employees. Mind you , when I would t back down they would transfer me to someone else who would harass me -ALL to try and keep in the position. The lack of professionalism, being passed to different employees, no-one having their story straight, and the harassment was enough to make me write this review. read more

This place used to be good about 8 years ago. I got some temp work through them back in 2000 that turned out to be a good assignment. About a month ago, however, when looking for permanent work, I met with a recruiter named Kelli Robertson at their office. After speaking to her briefly, she exuded an attitude of "I'm basically not going to bust my a$$ getting you a job when you already have one." So, if I was unemployed she would assist me, but the fact that I have a job I HATE somehow makes me ineligible for her to extend any effort in helping me. It was a total waste of time and, not surprisingly, she doesn't return my phone calls either. A bunch of snooty nonsense everyone can do without. Alas, Mack has gone completely downhill. Shame. read more

I have to admit that I was terribly naive when I first moved to Chicago. It's a big city, so it shouldn't be too hard to find a job. I have a Master's degree, several years in administrative work, and very good legal skills. After a few months of finding nothing on my own, I decided that maybe I should call Mack back. They had gotten my resume when I applied for a legal secretary position. Set up an appointment, sent them my resume again, and waited until the following Monday. Appointment time rolls around, and I interview with Kim. She seemed confused why I was there. She had no idea what kinds of jobs I could do for their clients, and didn't really seem to have anything open anyway. A few days later, they called me about a temp position with a national law firm to do legal assisting. Sounded fine to me (really and truly, I was desperate for work). Interviewed with said law firm, and was offered the position. Then I was warned that the paralegal I'd be working with was very difficult and had gone through a lot of assistants. Lovely. My first day was horrendous. My desk was covered with files and I was told to "do" them. No training, no office procedures, nothing. The paralegal was absolutely cold and treated me like I was stupid right off the bat. I lasted two weeks. I called out on a Monday for the flu and was told to never come back. Never found out why. Kim said she'd find out and never did. I was set up for an interview with a software company as a receptionist two days later. I was told I would have to take a Wonderlic test to be eligible for the position (by the office manager at this place). The owner wasn't even around to meet. Regardless, I was offered the position. The office was just..odd. The owner was absolutely one of the meanest people I've ever met in my life. (Yes, Anne, I am talking about you. I know you check this stuff out.) She never really came to like me (but initiated a conversation about how I was one of the smartest people she's ever met - um, weird) and about two months later after one of the other workers was assaulted and arrested, I was let go. Without notice. Except, Kim knew for over a week. It was the strangest situation I've ever encountered in my life. Kim promised to keep her eye out for me and assured me that as their employee, they wanted me to be in a stable environment. I never heard from her again, even after leaving messages and e-mails. Mack still contracts with that software company, and it just seems irresponsible to me to keep sending people into that situation. I gave up on Mack, and consequently, Kim Abhold, and found new recruiters at different firms. Just hearing "Mack & Associates" makes me angry now. They really don't deserve to be recruiting new professionals for their awful jobs. I'd recommend Smart Resources before any other, and follow that up with LaSalle Network. North Bridge Staffing wasn't bad, either. Good luck, y'all. Just avoid Mack. read more