PSA: Avoid joining FDM Group at all costs

[Summer_Problem_28]

Joined their graduate program, placed out at Client site for 2 years, returned to the company and got laid off in a blink of an eye.

Hope this HWZ post will help out fresh graduates who are looking to apply to FDM's graduate program -- Long story short: DON'T.

What are the PROS of FDM Group?

• A good stepping stone to break into IT & Finance sectors
• Training is provided at the start of program, and the training coaches seemed quite knowledgeable
• Annual Leave is 18 days once you are successfully placed
• Medical benefits are still acceptable, but lacks other benefits like dental and health screening

What are the CONS of FDM Group?

• Although training is provided, they use it to justify a two-year bond that keeps you stuck with FDM
• Whatever stream you are trained in does not matter, you will get interviews for unrelated roles and you cannot reject the placement if you are offered
• First year pay is 3.6k, and second year pay is 3.9k. However, FDM charges their clients almost 9k for our services (NO LIE).
• No bonuses, no thirteen month bonus, nothing at all. The low pay is all you get. Other agencies give performance bonus to their consultants once their contract is done with the client.
• Client opportunities are little and you have to wait for your placement for up to 6 months, while waiting you can only upskill yourself
• Shady account managers who will force you into renewing your contract with the current client, even if you want to pursue a different role. If you refuse, they will threaten to terminate you upon return to the bench.
• The account managers do not care about your career progression, only their commission, so please protect your interests
• Recent layoffs happening due to joint effort between Sales Team and HR Team in order to reduce costs and bench size
• There are stories of FDM setting up returning consultants to the bench in order to find reason for termination, likely because consultants after the two-year mark have no more value to them as bond is completed
• Potential conflict of interest as one AM is working in sales but their spouse is leading the HR Team
• No performance feedback sessions, better to ask your client site manager directly to know how you are faring in the job

Trust the bad reviews that you see on Glassdoor and other review sites, and may you avoid FDM Group like the plague.