Chessmen Career Movers

When I decided to make an industry change I was at a loss as to exactly how to accomplish my goal. My goal was to move from the tech industry back into the manufacturing industry. What i realized was that my career reputation was all in tech and not in manufacturing. Although a major portion of my 29 years experience was in manufacturing. So I call Chessmen to see if they could help. It was the best decision that I could have made. The entire staff at Chessman took time to get to know me and understand what my strengths were and exactly how to package my career in a way that would be interesting to my target industry. They created a complete game plan for me to get introduced to potential employers and they help facilitate the process. With there standard methods I was in the market and receiving calls from companies almost immediately. They told me their goal was to get me the job that I wanted not a job I needed, and they did exactly what they promised. I would recommend anyone that is looking to really move from a job to a career to give them a call. You will not be sorry.

Firstly, I find all of the negative reviews on here really ignorant and annoying. I don’t think that you should be able to post a review on here if you haven’t actually hired someone (and isn’t this supposedly against the rules here on Unilocal??). I can tell you that they are definitely not a scam (and I didn’t pay them $ 7000 either — it’s called negotiating, people, and it is how you do business if you are an intelligent and successful person!).
I hadn’t looked for a job in almost 15 years. I was an intern then and am a principal/​director level now, had worked for myself for almost that long and I literally had NO idea what to do to find a position in today’s job market and at my career level. I was depressed and felt completely hopeless and didn’t know where to turn or what to do except for posting my resume and applying to jobs posted online, which was a complete and utter waste of time. I found the recruiters and employment agencies to be utterly useless as well, because the companies hiring people in my profession are sitting there low-​balling people right now, not paying recruiters to find them! These job-​search methods simply don’t work for many people, which is exactly why you should hire Chessmen. Chessmen is an independent career consultancy whom you pay for their expertise and time, much as you would pay your architect or attorney.
Richard showed me a number of other job search methods that DO work and helped me with organizing and strategizing my job search, even down to the level of how to sell myself at the job interview and get an offer. I worked with him for 6 months, he wrote me an incredible resume that got me tons of attention and he was there every step of the way, always available by phone if needed and meeting with me every week to strategize and figure out what to do next. Just as importantly, he was also a big help emotionally — it really makes a big difference to have someone by your side in today’s horrendous job market. While he is perhaps a bit «old-​fashioned», he has decades of wisdom to share, he understands that one method does not fit all people and all professions, and he also exudes that aura of professionalism that I find to be missing in so many so-​called «professionals» these days. Even though I still doubted the value of their services even after I had hired them, in the end I really felt that he and his assistant, Lesley, put in an awful lot of time for what I paid them, and the fact is that they helped me score an awesome senior-​level position in the absolute #1 worst-​ranked profession and in a very solid company in the second worst-​ranked industry to find a job in right now!
I did knock a star off because I really didn’t appreciate the initial snake-​oil sales tactics from Mason or the fact that he insinuated that he could connect with some of the «right people» in San Diego when in reality neither he nor Richard really could. I understand it’s a tough sell getting someone to fork over several thousand dollars when they are already unemployed, but a little more honesty up front definitely would have been appreciated…

Spent time getting dressed in my business attire, and drove 1 hour to meet with Mason at Chessman. He said THEY would find me a job that would trump any prior job I’ve held to date. He asked for $ 6,700, but would not provide me with any statistics in written form, or references on the company’s placement rate, types of jobs placed, length of time to place a candidate. After reading these reviews, Chessman is not a headhunter or employment agency, but meant for people who have half a brain and do not know how to market themselves. I would think their services would be in par with what Georggin Law did with their promise of credit repair. Georggin Law owner just went to jail per the San Diego News last night, so I would think that Chessman is not far behind them.

SUPER SCAM!!!
$ 7,500 to get counseling…
I went to Robert Half and didn’t pay and they helped me land a job!!!
And the office!!! I felt like I was in my grandmothers house back in the 1970’s
Don’t fall for their trick!!!

I have to say I am very pleased with Chessmen Career Movers, the bad reviews are all about how has not used their service. It is very frustrating when you do a job in this economy, going through all the process with Cheesmen was stress less, Richard and Lesley were there for me to guide me how to do a job search, and find the best solution for me.
More importantly, Richard knows the know how, they do have data base that we could access to open up more opportunities. I had very small network even I was a sale person, but not knowing where else could change my career. I spent 4 months finally landed the best job I wanted. Richard always listened and gave me the best advise.
Thanks Ricard, Lesley, I hope you guys could help more and more people to change their career.

Update per the reply to my review from a year ago…
I like ‘old’, so don’t get me wrong, was more of a review observation than an insult. My apologies. I am still in the position of «getting kicked around by the job market», but still would feel quite the sting of ponying up $ 7000 to get the job of my dreams. However, I’ll do you one better. I will write up, and have notarized, a contract stating that if a job is found as has already been described, I will pay 40% of my pre-​tax salary for 5 years as payment. The six-​figure options discussed would surely be tenfold in the first year alone. I’m open for this at any time. Let me know. Thank you.

As a former Recruiter in the Florida market, I can tell you Chessman is the most out of date and out of touch firm I have ever seen. Headhunters work on commission (30% of the candidates yearly salary is customary) and 9 out of 10 times the fee is covered by the employer. Additionally it is illegal in most states to charge a candidate for a job. I met with Mason last summer and endured his long and ridiculous sales pitch. He offered his services for the outrageous price of $ 7,800 and I quipped «nice try… with my qualifications i don’t need to pay for my next gig. in any case your multi-​billion dollar client companies shouldn’t have no problem picking up the tab. call me when you decide to act like a serious business person…» and i stormed out of the 1970s time capsule of an office they have. «if the grass seems greener on the other side it is likely fertilized with bullsh*t!»

Very conflicted about this place. Has A+ BBB rating, and a 25 year history. I discovered that they are not a job placement company, despite their misleading advertising. They are recruiting professionals with degrees so they can do career coaching… not placement. They DO charge you an exhorbitant sum up front, even telling me that other people took out second mortgages on their homes to work with them. That scared me a bit. I would understand if they charged you after a placement, but they require up-​front, over $ 5,000 -$ 6000. Then there is the office. It has not seen a dust rag in years… Mason’s desk was always full of dust. I have seen more current computers in antique stores. And he never used the computer, come to think of it. He talked a lot about hot industries, mostly pharmaceutical and medical companies. They teach you how to write your resume, look up companies to see who has an opening, how to handle yourself in an interview, and how to dress for the interview… it’s all about how to sell yourself… and all very dated material, circa 1980s. There were no current articles or reference books to be seen. I decided not to hire them. Just get a clear picture of what they are really offering and how much they are charging. I think you’re better off registering with a headhunter or temp agency than working with these guys. Oh, and they offer a 3-​year re-​training guarantee but I am not sure they’ll be around that much longer! Mason is still the sales guy and then hands you off to his partner. It’s just the two of them. And I was at the office a couple of times and was the only person there. SO all said, I can’t say it’s a scam… I just felt like there was something really «off» about the whole set-​up.

Let me start by saying that i have 2 master’s. an MBA and PhD and, due to my career advancement and travel, i have had 5 jobs in the past 6 years alone. In short I am a pro at looking and landing high power positions. Or at least I thought so until I lost my job last year after an accident and a long medical leave, then lost my house, then lost my partner as he could not take my severe depression. 9 months into a search that had only resulted into a handful of interviews I sought help thinking i may have to transition from academia to corporate again. I reviewed chessmen and decided to go see them in spite of the negative reviews. I tend to want to form my opinion myself. I am glad I did. People write total crap in these reviews especially if they are not happy for some reason. I met with Mason then RIchard took over the consulting. I found everything I needed and then some. These guys are old fashioned the good way, competent, classy, organized and extremely savvy at what they do. Richard was able to reduce my 10 page acad CV in 3 sharp pages of clear and effective bullet points literally under my eyes. A skill I do not have. Same for cover and follow up letters. His training for cold calling, interviews, networking is top, his advice sensible and to the point. Behind them is a very discrete but equally sharp and effective admin, Lesley, who will print your resumes and letters of interest for you along with tracking documents that faciitate your search tremendously. They have the resources to point you to different directions and a proven solid common sensical strategy to get you to ‘goya’ and regain control. In my case, their kindness and patience and understanding were also invaluable as I needed as much moral support as professional structuring. I got it all and am very gratful to this team of bright and decent human beings. The service is costly apparently but it’s what quality costs and in this case it is worth every penny. I did get a job finally recently and could not have done it without Chessmen. If you are in need of an organization to get you over the trauma and give you the tools to start a new phase in your professional life, go check them out, forget the décor which is from the fifties — then again I found the lack of glitter and the subtle charm reassuring — set these uneducated reviews aside, keep an open mind and you will find the magic.

I had to chime in after reading many of the reviews here. First off let me square a couple things away. I believe most of the reviews here are from people who have not used their services.
What Chessmen is NOT:
1. Headhunters
2. Recruiters
3. Staffing company
What the are is a consulting company. They consult you in your job search.
They teach you interview skills, how to market yourself, how to utilize networks you have and don’t have. They also help with your resume.
All of these things add up to skills and tools you will use for the rest of your life. They are invaluable. They walk you though all of this and support you all the way through landing the job you want.
I feel they are worth every cent I paid and more. Not only did they teach me new skills and tools, they really helped me go for jobs that matched my potential, not just what I had done. I landed just such a job making more money and a much higher title then I have held before.
So anyone coming here to see reviews about them, please look all over and find the ones from people who have used their services, because I have yet to find a negative review from anyone who actually used them.

I recently landed a dream job with an advertising agency in Huntington Beach thanks to Chessmen. I am happier than I have ever been and I would not be here today had I not gone to them for help! Thanks Chessmen!
I was 12 years into my career with a great deal of experience, and could even put together a pretty decent resume for having to write one myself, but I still wasn’t getting any response to any of the hundreds of jobs for which I was applying. I was doing everything I could on my own: networking with everyone I could in my industry, hitting the job boards religiously every night after work for hours, contacting headhunters, recruiters, etc, to no avail. I knew it was a bad economy, and the holidays were approaching, but still nothing — not one qualified job lead! I went to Chessmen for help. Upon meeting with them I was nervous, I had never enlisted an Executive Search Firm for help, and had heard stories about scams, but I knew I needed something more so with uncertainty I took a leap of faith and made the investment — and that is exactly what it is — a tax-​deductible investment in your future for an education in job search that they do NOT teach you in school, but should. They said they could take me to the next level and help me land a position that would be the next major step in my career and they did just that in just under 2 months. Thanks to their diligent coaching and the countless number of resources they have at their disposal I was able to find a position that I actually WANTED working for a company that takes EXCELLENT care of their employees.
One last thing, for anyone who might be confused, a job search is hard work, just like anything else. There are so many people today that think it should be easy, but the truth is, the only way you find a job is by making your search your second or part-​time job. They don’t have secret jobs waiting for you at Chessmen — you work together to improve your skills and provide you with contacts in the industry in which you are looking that you don’t have access to on your own. I had the same discipline and dedication searching for a job on my own as I did when I began my search with the help of Chessmen, but it produced nothing. Once I signed up with them I went to every meeting they requested of me (they graciously worked with my hectic work schedule), listened intently, completed all of the assignments they gave me with great effort and as quickly as possible, took their advice and worked their program because IT WORKS. In addition to the services that are provided with their package, Richard and Lesley were always there to coach me, listen to me speculate about every single possible job opportunity that came my way, hold my hand through the interview and negotiation processes, answer all of my phone calls and emails immediately when I needed something and provided me with a constant coaching and support that I needed until I found what I was looking for. I will always be grateful for that because it was a career and life changer for me — thank you to everyone at Chessmen — I highly recommend them if you are serious about making a change — it is worth it and I am better prepared should I ever be in the unfortunate position of searching for a new job again!

Firstly, let me explain how Chessmen works. They are not a professional recruiter, they don’t get commissions after placing you, they are also not hired or paid by anybody but you. They are a career counseling service for you, with only your interests in mind, assured by the fact that they don’t make any money from a company where you find a job. This is the reason for the up front fee that is charged, that everyone is complaining about.
I was a recent graduate straight out of college and then moved to SoCal, and my network was very small and after trying unsuccessfully to get a job for months I went to them. I worked with them in the fall of 2011 and I found a job using one of the strategies they teach you in 2 months.
Working with Chessmen was overall a great experience where I learned how to manage the job search, all the resources they have (a couple of which are inaccessible on your own due to subscriptions they have) and how to market myself in a variety of ways to potential employers. Working with Richard (the guy who teaches you everything) was awesome, and after each meeting I always felt better about the next steps and more positive in general which kept my attitude and outlook positive, a must throughout the process. In the end my job came from my 2^nd direct mail campaign, a strategy I would never have done on my own.
This is NOT a scam.

FAKERS & Mis-​Leading is what I found w/​CHESSMEN. I received an email acknowledgment they received my application for the position, and the Sr. VP would like to meet with me. THERE WAS NO JOB, just a fishing net. So I burned my gas, time and effort! They will suggest if needed a person could sell belongs to pay their FEE $ 5700. there was a tattered out of place sticker on a wooden box on his desk, Master Card accepted. HAHAHAHA
As I walked out of the 1972-​era wood paneling and décor I saw the other 100 yr old partner, 75 yo receptionist and MANY empty rooms, desks, and meeting rooms. They could have done all this over the phone like they w/​Brent M.
I DO NOT NEED TO FINANCE THEIR BUSINESS.
THEY SHOULD GO HIT THE PAVEMENT AND GETTA J. O. B. !

Stay clear. If it’s not a scam it’s close enough. Chessmen couldn’t help place you in a job anymore than me getting my cat a job at the dog pound.
I spoke with Mason on the phone for over an hour listening to him ramble on about the San Diego job market, specifically the bio-​tech and pharmaceutical industry. He asked me about my background and agreed I’d be a perfect fit for his company. I said, «so how does it work, you get paid by the employer once I get placed, right?» He laughed and said, «I’m going to offer you something I never have in the 25 years I’ve been doing this… all you have to pay is $ 3500.» I told him I didn’t have $ 3500 and is there a way to set it up so I can pay once I get placed. He was totally rude and said, «Well, call me when you can afford it,» and then proceeded to all but hang up on me.
You know what I was thinking and hence why I’m writing this review. I wasn’t surprised to see the same story from everyone else. Stay clear of this place and if you’re looking for a job, post your resume everywhere (Craigslist, Dice, CareerBuilder, LinkedIn, etc.) so employers can find you if they’re looking (even if they haven’t posted a job). If you’re looking for a job Indeed, Craigslist, Dice, LinkedIn, etc. are all great places to find newly posted positions. Be sure to follow up with employers when you do find a position that you apply for. There are tons of professionals on Craigslist that will redo your resume for you as well. Good luck in your search and don’t spend a dime or a minute of your time on this place.

I had roughly the same experience as Stephanie W. above. I also met with Mason and was blown away by the upfront costs. In my opinion, this is not the service for you unless you happen to have $ 7k burning a hole in your pocket.
Like the other posters here, I did not use Chessmen (costs, website, etc.) and based on my experience, I wouldn’t recommend them.

I’m not sure how accurately I can rate them because I didn’t use their services. Like others, I was mainly turned off by the $ 5700 upfront price you pay.
So I went in and met with Mason, SVP. He asked me a few standard questions about me and then gave me his pitch on who they are and what they do. I understood and liked what he had to say in terms of where I would best fit in and what markets I should look at now and for my skillset. He said they typically place people in 2 weeks to 90 days. You can come back if you’re not happy at the company where you placed. They help you with your resume, cover letters, marketing you to companies, contacting companies to sell yourself on your behalf and you can come back for a 3 year period. But I was turned off by the price and having to pay it upfront. It should be like a real estate agent — you don’t get paid unless you find me a job and I accept it. And it shouldn’t be $ 5700, especially when they’ll get a commission from the company in which you were placed. I would pay $ 1000 or maybe 10% of my first paycheck. They’re trying to tell me that they do that much more than free executive recruiters. If that’s really the case, then why have I never heard of them nor had any of my other friends?
Just my point of view. I’d love to hear success stories and people who tell me it’s worth it… Preferably the people who aren’t top executives who can afford to pay the big bucks because they make $ 200k-​$ 300k per year.

I did not use their services. They charge around 6 or $ 7k up front to market you for a new career. They say that they have established contacts with businesses and posted job openings are relatively low value compared to their word of mouth system. I agree with other reviewer that they should charge a commission, maybe half your monthly paycheck for 6 months with a 10k cap? That would be a more reassuring offering.

I did not use Chessman Career Movers.
Here’s why:
— They ask for money up front as opposed to working on commission. This seems odd to me having worked with and knowing other professional recruiters.
— I believe they are out of sync with technology and this hurt my confidence in them. Their website
doesn’t sit on its own domain name. Go there, click on any of the links to the left, and notice it changes to something like
. That is not professional in my opinion.
— And as a second point to this the recruiter that contacted me used an
email account as opposed to at @chessmen.biz. What is that about?
Anyhow, they may provide great services, I don’t know, and never will for the above mentioned reasons.