Comms People
Consultant Orientation Package
< Draft Review -- Print Version >

Note: Brackets within text indicates need for item confirmation.
Last Update: 01.28.08 00:33

Elements of Package

Welcome
--Introduction and tone-setter for business relationship.
About Comms People and Glotel
--History,  founders, cities of operation and Contact info.
Placement Process
--Benefits of careful selection, placement and QWIZtek^® screening.
Quality Control
--Benefits of quality assurance systems -- respective to both consultant and client.
Consultant Care Program
--Current benefits package with probationary timeline and limitations.
Consultant FAQ
--General questions (input from managers, staff, desired).
How to Get Paid FAQ's
--Nuts and bolts, rules and regs for individual payroll processing.

To our new and returning consultants, welcome.

In joining Comms People you become part of a global family of IT professionals.  Fundamental to our growth, your success, is a simple pact: You put forth your expertise, dedication and a solid work ethic; we deliver projects which match your expertise and your goals.

Founded in 1989, Comms People is today an international leader in information technology staffing.  At the start of a new millennium, our project consultants are on active assignment across the globe, at all levels of industry.  Client firms include those most prominent in telecommunications, software design, engineering, aerospace, the Internet and e-commerce.

In our IT world, borders mean little, global reach means everything.   Comms People has developed a network of highly-skilled consultants spanning the continents, advancing technology worldwide.  A growing volume of opportunities now route through 22 offices linking America, Europe, Australia and the Pacific Rim.

Whether it’s San Francisco, Silicon Valley, New York, Rio de Janeiro, London, Amsterdam, Sydney or the trading centers of Asia, our good name continues because we expertly serve our corporate clients and our employees.

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To learn more about your company, Comms People, Inc., and her parent, Glotel Plc, please read through this packet.  For up to the minute company data and job info, visit our Web site: www.comms.com.

About Comms People and Glotel

In November of 1989, in London’s West End district, the doors to a modest office were opened and a small but dedicated team of IT recruiters went to work. Their job was to meet a growing demand for technology professionals within the UK’s capital. Today, on five continents, more than 250 on-staff employees and an expanding network of project consultants serve the clients of Comms People.

It was in the mid-1980’s that Les Clark and Andy Baker first collaborated as executive members of a London-based staffing firm. Foreseeing explosive growth in the business of technology, and a parallel need for ever-more specialized consultants, the two formally partnered and founded Comms People.

Building on a corporate philosophy which emphasizes integrity and equal allegiance to consultant and client, growth was to prove steady and rapid.

The company achieved market-leader status in the UK within a few years of founding.  In late-1992, the firm crossed borders for the first time to open Comms People Europe, stationing headquarters in the Netherlands.  The years 1993 through 1997 saw further UK expansion with offices opening in Manchester,  Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol and Newcastle.  Also in the mid-Nineties, to serve Australia and ancillary Pacific Rim markets, Comms People Australasia launched with offices first in Sydney, then Melbourne.

In 1993, the allure of a dynamic, technology-rich United States prompted a North American push with the founding of Comms People, Inc. In rapid succession offices opened and thrived; first in Atlanta, then Dallas, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles, Reston, VA, Silicon Valley, Philadelphia, New York and Phoenix.

Today, Chief Executive Andy Baker and Chairman Les Clark head-up Glotel Plc, the corporate umbrella under which the Comms People and its related subsidiaries are held. On May 19, 1999, the parent company underwent a highly-successful IPO on the London Stock Exchange.

The company today operates in more than 40 countries.   Of those 20 original employees in the West End offices, 17 have remained a part of, and grown with, Comms People and the Glotel family of companies.

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For more about the history of Comms People, Inc. and Glotel, and a compete listing of current locations, see www.comms.com and www.glotel.co.uk.

Humanizing Information & Technology

In the business of IT consulting, the match of skill to task is the simpler fit in a jigsaw puzzle made trickier by the other piece, human nature; the personal dynamics of project consultant, client and team.

Some IT staffing firms are willing to overlook those extra pieces. They may disregard the personal element to force a match and collect a fee. Not us.

Comms People became an international leader in technical staffing by delivering long-term solutions to our clients, not short-term profits to our bottom line. Client and consultant are equally served by a placement process built on careful personal attention and an exacting assessment of skills.

The Personal Evaluation

The better we know you, the better we’ll serve you, the better you will serve the client.

By the time you sit down with your Comms People [associate], that person will have already reviewed your resume and have an understanding of your qualifications. During the interview process, you’ll further describe your technology skills and define your areas of expertise. Together, with your resume as an outline, we will discuss the nature and specifics of past projects and establish a plan for the future.

Then, after talking with you, the IT consultant; we listen to you, the person.

Your [associate] will seek a better understanding of you as an individual. This insight is largely gained by answering some essential questions. What were the good, and not so good, aspects of those positions listed on your resume? What are your professional and personal likes and dislikes? What sort of IT team do you wish to join? What is it about your work that motivates you? Those answers will enable you and your [associate] to lay out a career track that will get you where want to be today, and tomorrow.

After the initial interview you’ll be scheduled for a QWIZtek skills evaluation. Designed by technology experts, this highly-refined, Web-based evaluation system is built around more than 35 online tests which you can access seven days a week, 24-hours a day. You can run through the exam at your home, in our office, wherever you have Web access.

QWIZtek will provide an accurate, nearly instant gauge of your skills whether your specialty is in programming, developing, networking, telecommunications or another IT field. (You can learn more about QWIZtek at: www.qwiz.com)

The one-on-one consultation helps us understand you as an individual. QWIZtek is the instrument by which we, and potential clients, measure your capabilities and match your potential. Together, these soft and hard elements of evaluation enable us to select projects which best fit your professional objectives, your areas of expertise and your individualism.

Placement Procedures

After your personal profile becomes a part of our active consultant database, you’ll know what to expect. Your resume will never be presented to a client without your knowledge and approval. And you’ll know which organization is looking over your profile, and for what position.

Depending upon the demand for your particular skills, Comms People [associate]s will call to advise you of potential opportunities. You’ll be informed of the fundamentals, including position requirements, project specs, length of assignment and rate of pay.

Beyond those basics, the [associate] will brief you on the personalities involved. You’ll know what we know about your prospective supervisor, IT team and the work environment.

Professional growth means more than logging time and paydays. It means finding and accepting the sort of projects that present challenge and open new opportunities for learning.

Comms People will not force a fit just to earn a fee. And you should not pursue a job only for short-term financial gain.

Taking the Job

If the position as described sounds right for you, if you decide to interview, then it’s up to you and the client.

Your meeting with the client may include all the procedures and rigors of a formal employment screening process. Or it may not.

Many of our established clients consider us an extension of their human resources function. They trust our judgment. In these cases, you are coming in their door as a pre-qualified candidate. The meeting may only be a formality prior to hiring. But don’t take anything for granted. In all cases, in every interview, conduct yourself as a professional consultant, to be hired or not based on your own merits.

After the interview process is complete, if you’re ready to take on the assignment, you should be prepared and on-call for the next two business days while the client makes a decision. If the pieces match, and you’re offered the job, you’ll visit our office to complete the necessary paperwork.

Then, your job begins... and our job continues.

Follow-Up

You will be on-assignment with a client, but you remain our employee. To us, your job satisfaction is just as important as your job performance.

You can expect your personal [associate] to be in touch via phone, e-mail and, when schedules and locations permit, the occasional luncheon meeting. And we expect and welcome your calls. We want to know how you feel things are going on the job. And we expect you to be honest. If the situation doesn’t seem quite right, it is your obligation to let us know, immediately.

After a project duration of at least six weeks, you and the client are each provided with quality assurance (Q/A) cards for submittal to Comms People. This is a convenient device to monitor performance and job satisfaction. A similar online form can be accessed and electronically submitted via our Web site, www.comms.com. The client report provides a rating of your performance from the customer perspective. The report you submit rates your job satisfaction within the client environment. Both records become part of your file. Respectively, each evaluation enables us to better serve you, as well as the client.

Expectations and Obligations

For the benefit off all parties, there are rules to abide by and responsibilities to fulfill.

Be punctual. All meetings and interviews with Comms People and clients must be attended on schedule. Everybody’s time is valuable and their workday must be respected. If you need to cancel an interview, do so no less than 24-hours in advance.

Be honest. You must truthfully represent yourself, your employment history, skills, past salaries and level of commitment to a prospective client. Any misrepresentation will be regarded seriously and may result in your termination as a consultant.

Maintain confidentiality. Do not discuss any Comms People proprietary issue with clients or co-workers. This would include, but not be limited to, salary or other compensation issues. If you are in doubt about a particular subject, ask your personal [associate].

Honor your contractual commitment. Before taking on a assignment, you will sign the Comms People consultant employment agreement. Contractual terms and provisions include obligations such as confidentiality and non-competition. You must understand and abide by these terms with no exceptions.   You can find more detailed explanations of Contact provisions in the Q & A pages of the Comms People Web site.

Communicate. Immediately notify your Comms People [associate] of any negative on-the-job issues. Be forthright in advising us of offers from other companies. Let us know if you are continuing your job search while on a project.

Adapt to your environment. Recognize that all companies operate differently and have particular corporate idiosyncrasies. Make yourself immediately aware of the client’s mode of business and interpersonal operations. Under no circumstances involve yourself in inter-office politics. You are considered a professional. Your conduct should be in keeping with the highest standards of business performance, personal communications and ethics.

Keep us informed. You will likely be learning new skills and systems while on the job. Update us on this additional marketability. We may have an even more challenging, more rewarding project at the ready when you complete your current project.

A Pledge

The creative synergy generated by the meeting of a skilled IT consultant and the right client-employer is rarely achieved through luck or guesswork.  It's achieved by a process reliant not only on systems and tools, but also on careful consideration of you as an individual.

At Comms People, we won’t forget that you were a human before becoming a resource.

[Client Quality Control]
&
The Consultant Q/A Card

The foundation of our good name was built by the consultant, the skilled IT professional - individuals like you. We strive to retain and reward top-quality talent because that’s how we develop solid results for our clients. That’s why the corporate philosophy of Comms People is grounded in the concept of equal service to consultant and client. On both counts, the foundation of that service is communication.

To encourage feedback, clients and consultants are provided with quality assurance cards, which can also be accessed as an online form via our Web site, www.comms.com. Your form, the Consultant Q/A Card, is a tool which helps us monitor your satisfaction within the client environment.

To provide additional insight into the way we do business and care for our employees, we’ve elaborated on the questions you’ll find on the Q/A Card.

How would you rate your orientation to the client’s environment?
What we’re interested in is your comfort level. We want to know if you feel you’re a good fit within the client’s structure, systems and within their IT team. Do you feel in sync, or do you feel like you’re missing a step in the project process? If things seem a little out of kilter, don’t assume the fault is yours. It may be that an adjustment needs to be made on the client side.

How would you rate the clarity of your job responsibilities?
We want to know if you fully grasp what the client expects.  Are you being given clear and defined parameters?  You should be flexible and willing to work through issues on the job, but, sometimes, through no fault of your own, a project may falter. A Comms People [associate] or manager may be able to clear up the issues or concerns with a single phone call. If not, the issue may need to be further addressed and a decision made. Comms People has no interest in leaving you with a losing proposition.

How would you rate the overall organization of the client environment?
No matter how well you do your job within a project or team, if the client’s format is ill-conceived or counterproductive, your work may not be well-received.  If you feel that's the case, we need to know.  We’ll want to know if the issue is correctable, or if it seems permanent.

How would you characterize your relationship with your supervisor?
In the measurable, tangible world of technology, human interaction is a more intangible element. Personalities don’t always mesh. If you experience any sort of communication problem with your supervisor, we need to know. Personality issues rarely go away if not addressed, and can be a serious detriment to a project. Usually, it’s a minor, correctable misunderstanding. Occasionally, on the client side there may be a supervisor or manager with a difficult disposition.  In this case, you should not only include the input on your Q/A Card; you should also immediately call your Comms People [associate].

Would you recommend this environment to other consultants?
Are you interested in having your contract extended?
Would you consider a permanent offer from this client?
These questions provide feedback on different aspects of a fundamental question - Are you happy? Overall, beyond supplying a paycheck, we want to know if the project provides a sense of professional accomplishment. We want to know if you feel appreciated, and if you feel a sense of well-being within the work environment.

The better you feel in and about your work, the more productive you’ll be, and the better the client will be served. These simple Q/A questions enable us to gauge your status and overall situation in the client environment.

Submitting the card is a convenient way to communicate your workplace conditions. But, remember, you don’t have to wait for your feedback to be received. You should always feel free to call your Comms People [associate]. We want to hear from you.

Consultant Care Program

Comms People takes great pride in providing a Consultant Care Program exceptional in the IT staffing industry. Upon acceptance of an assignment duration of at least 90 days, you can opt for 401(k), health, dental, & life Insurance, paid time off, paid holidays and career enhancement training.

For questions or issues related to any aspect of your benefits package, Contact benefits administration. This department has a single dedicated role: facilitating your full satisfaction respective to 401(k) plans, health benefits, paid time off and paid holidays.

Before you accept employment, you may choose any or all of the benefits described below. Please note, however, once documented, the plan chosen cannot be altered until your assignment renews, or a extension is negotiated.

401(k)

The 401(k) plan is available to consultants upon completion of 90 days of qualifying service. If you decide to join, you'll be sent an info packet and enrollment form for completion and return to the benefits administrator.

The plan is administered and investment choices offered by ADP payroll services in coordination with the trustee, State Street Bank.   You may contribute up to 15% of your gross pre-tax annual earnings.

[Comms People will soon offer individually directed brokerage accounts with account access via the secure Consultant Care pages of the company Web site.]

Health, Dental & Life Insurance

After 30 days of service, Comms People consultants can opt for health, dental and life insurance based on a three-tiered plan: single at $[       ] per month; single + one at $[       ] per month; and family at $[       ] per month. (Premiums are subject to increase every December.)

You can elect for coverage at project commencement, or after 30 days [???]. Upon qualifying, you will be sent an info packet and enrollment form. Coverage will commence on the first of the month following the eligibility period with monthly premiums deducted from payroll using pre-tax dollars (Section 125 plan).  In some instances, plans can be negotiated and customized to suit specific needs.

Should you elect this coverage on acceptance of project, Comms People, Inc. will reimburse your previous carrier’s COBRA payment up to the sum of the monthly premium specified above. (On completion of expense form and proof of payment.)

Paid Time Off

After each standard 6-month project, you will be eligible to accrue 5 days of paid time off. Unique in the industry, the Comms People plan bases this accumulation at .040417 hours for every hour worked. Your time off accumulation is noted on each pay stub, so you'll always know the number of hours you have accrued.

After six months, any available time off will be credited and added to your normal paycheck.

Paid days off are available after the first 90 days of your employment, and requests for time off must be approved by your Comms People account manager and your client supervisor. The minimum paid time off request is 4 hours.

Paid Holidays

After [continuous] employment of at least [         ], you will be entitled to paid holidays. Those days include:

New Year’s Day Monday, January, 3, 2000
President’s Day Monday, February 21, 2000
Memorial Day Monday, May 29, 2000
Independence Day (observed) Monday, July 3, 2000
Labor Day Monday, September 4, 2000
Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 23, 2000
Christmas Day (observed) Monday, December 25, 2000

Career Enhancement

Comms People has negotiated discounted personal training and development programs with some of the world's leading technical training centers.  Courses include classroom as well as Web based programs, which you can access at 24-hours a day, seven days a week.  The list of available certifications is always expanding.  For a rundown on current programs and discounted fees, see the Consultant Benefits page of the Web site or Contact your benefits administrator.

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For the latest info on your Comms People benefits, call your benefits administrator, or see the Consultant Care pages on the Web site.

Questions Frequently Asked by The Consultant

Q: What if Comms People calls me about a project in which I'm not interested?
A: You make the decision.  You can always decline to be considered for any position.  Your resume will never be submitted to a client without your knowledge and consent.

Q: If I turn down a potential assignment, will that negatively impact my future prospects?
A: Absolutely not.  We know that an assignment may seem a good fit to us, but you know best your capabilities and objectives.  We would rather you decline than take on a project about which you don't feel one-hundred percent.

Q: If I interview with a potential client and think I want the position, when do I have to make up my mind?
A: Commitment to client is a business principle Comms People takes very seriously.  It is the foundation of our business relationships.   After the client interview, if you further pursue the position and are offered the job, we will expect you to sign a contract and get started.

Q: How often will I be paid?
A: Provided you correctly complete and submit your time sheets on schedule, you will be paid every two weeks.

Q: Do I have to register exclusively with Comms People, or can I work with other staffing agencies?
A: Naturally, we would like to develop a long term, exclusive, mutually beneficial relationship with all our consultants; but no.  Until you execute an employment contract as prelude to commencing a project, you are not bound by any exclusivity agreement.

Q: What if negative issues arise while on the job with the client?
A: If you experience what you consider a serious negative issue within the client workplace, call us.  We are committed to you as well as the client.

Q: If after registering I haven't heard from Comms People for a while, can I call?
A: Absolutely.  The business landscape of IT consulting is extremely fluid.  The demand for specific skills is always changing.  You are welcome and encouraged to check-in on a regular basis.

Q: Will the client provide training?
A: Unlikely.  You are presented to the client as a skilled IT professional.  Occasionally, incidental to a project, there may be an opportunity to acquire more skills, but you should not expect training.

Q: What if I am offered another job while I'm on assignment?
A: You are under contract and should honor your professional obligation to the project.  Again, commitment to performance and completion is the foundation of both our reputation and yours.  To transition out of an ongoing project, at the very least, a two-week notice is expected so we can find a replacement consultant.

Q: What if the client offers me a job?
A: The permanent hiring of a consultant by a client is always a welcome development.  Our contract with the client and you, respectively, includes a conversion provision.

How to Get Paid FAQ's

Q: How often do I get paid?
A: Every other Friday you will receive a check for the two-week period which ended on the prior Friday.  (For schedules, see the payroll calendar in the orientation package, or visit the payroll info page on the Web site.)

Q: When is my timesheet due?
A: Timesheets are due in the payroll department by 9:00 a.m. on the Monday following the week worked. Note: Timesheets must be signed not only by you, but also by your supervisor/manager, or by an authorized client employee.   Unsigned timesheets cannot be processed or paid.

Q: If I cannot locate my supervisor or an authorized client representative to sign my timesheet, what should I do?
A: Contact the respective Comms People payroll department for assistance.

Q: How do I submit my timesheet?
A: Fax the completed, signed timesheet to the number printed on it and [remit the specified number of copies to the payroll department on the stamped self-addressed postcard on the back of your timesheet.] (WRITER NOTE: Verify logistics.)

Q: How do I submit a request for authorized reimbursable client expenses?
A: To receive timely reimbursement, approved and signed expense reports should be faxed weekly to the payroll department with attached receipts. Original receipts are to be mailed to the address printed on the expense report.  Note: If you delay sending this info, your reimbursement cycle will also be delayed.

Q: When are client reimbursable expenses paid?
A: In accordance with your timesheets; on Friday, every two weeks.

Q: Can I direct deposit my pay and to how many accounts?
A: Yes. You can elect three direct deposits in different banks, or the same bank. Your earnings statement is then mailed from the payroll department to your mailing address.

Q: What if I choose not to effect direct deposit?
A: Your check will be mailed from the payroll department to your mailing address. Note: If the check is not received by Friday, we will not reissue a new check until it is outstanding for at least one week.  Delays can be avoided by signing up for direct deposit.

Q: Who do I Contact if I have questions about my paycheck, or to check status of timesheets and expense reports?
A: The Payroll Department. On the West Coast, paywest@comms.com; on the East Coast, payeast@comms.coms. (Please double-check your payroll timetables and the date you submitted your paperwork before you call.)

Q: What happens if my timesheet is not received by 9:00 a.m., Monday?
A: The timesheet will be processed in the next pay cycle.

Q: How do I know which pay cycle applies to which dates?
A: See the payroll calendar pages in your orientation package or on the Web site, www.comms.com.

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