443-910-7436

Well, I got the same email, and got suspicious so I started "googling", and that's how I wound up here.  My take on it is that while it's not a scam per se  - Marc/Amanda is mass mailing from Career Builder to get people to sell insurance... not whatever position they were looking for.

So Marc/Amanda if you're still monitoring this thread - don't contact me unless it's for an IT (systems engineering, etc...)  job!

Marc

I'm glad you responded to the naysayers, I have been with AFLAC for almost 2 years now and I have to say, It was the best move I made. And yes as this is your own business it is completely up to you how successfull you will be. Whether it is monetary or knowing you and AFLAC were there when a policyholder received their check when an accident or sickness disrupted the family income.

Now really, what's it like to have a job where you have to go on boards like this and LIE LIE LIE? Sick sick scammer, stop trying to fool people on here.

Glad I ran across these posts.  My resume is posted on a local job board and thus included my phone number.  My call came this evening from (443) 857-9193, John Iheoma, Corporate Recruiter/Producer. The 443 area code is for the Baltimore area and north.  John was calling on behalf of the "Eric Silverman Employment Agency," which is actually AFLAC.

I told John absolutely no sales or marketing jobs, since I've seen AFLAC aggressively advertising these positions all over the country.  He said that there were also "claims representative" positions available.  During the call, the background noise was that of a call center--many operators talking to many people.  I expressed my concern that this was not a "real" job opportunity but a scam.  He laughed and said that he would not have given me his phone number if it were a scam.

About an hour later, I received a call from a different "recruiter" from the same "Eric Silverman Employment Agency."  The agenda is to view a 30-minute video.  If you don't like what you see, then just walk away.  If you are interested, then you can move to the next step for a "personal" interview.

I agree with the earlier posts in saying that it wasn't exactly a scam but a way to cull desperate job seekers and convince them they can make money selling AFLAC products.

I thought AFLAC was a reputable company; and in fact carried their supplemental plans for years.  This kind of bait and switch is extremely tacky, but it is all about the bottom line.  Not about real people who want real, honest jobs and who are struggling to make the electric payment, or even put food on the table.  AFLAC should be shamed.  Perhaps this would make a great news story about the unemployed and the big insurance company.

In any event, I won't be attending the "event" tomorrow evening.

Aflac is a very reputable company and Most of their sales force are reputable independent agents.
However don't judge a complete sales force because a few are sleazey and have a low moral standard. Research your offices carefully, not everyone is the same.  There are a Lot of good Aflac agents out there and the product is good. I know from experience.

I got the call too-late in the evening, same number-Eric Silverman Employment Agency after posting my resume on Career Builder. I was insistant that I did not want a sale position.  No there are no sales involved, yes they pay salary for the positions they are interested in for YOU (I'm a sr.software tester). So I went to the group information session. It was 90 minutes on why selling insurance for Aflac is great and even the worst salesman will make $60,000 to $80,000 with hard workers getting over $100,000 the first year. The next step is that you go for training-9 half days at your expense (they provide some sort of breakfast if you get there early) . After you complete the training then you get an interview to see if they want to hire you. So you could waste 9 days and still not end up with a job. I asked about salary and benefits at the group meeting  but was told that is covered in the one on one interview (if you are selected) after the training is completed. I wish they were honest-I am not going to give them anymore free time.

The funny thing about the Internet is that people can post whatever they want - a lot of the time the information is not accurate. Some spend to much time focusing on the negative and what they 'heard' and who 'didn't like' something, versus who was successful and who's making money. I've been with Aflac now for about 3 years. I had no sales experience and had a successful 20+ career before-hand but did not want to continue in my profession. I wanted something new. A few clarifications -  pyramid scheme is when people get paid in the 'up-line' and 'down-line'. Aflac is driven by sales, as is every other company. The structure is a traditional structure. Too bad most of you don't understand what a pyramid scheme is as you tend to throw it around easily and often. There's no 30 minute video either. If I had made my decision to come in for an interview based on other people's opinions, as many of you seem to be doing, I wouldn't have the successful career I have now. If someone else decides what you eat for breakfast and what kind of car you should drive, then maybe you should ask them what kind of career you should have. If not, then be an adult and decide for yourself. If it's for you, great. If it's not, great. At least you made up your own mind. This career IS about good, honest, hardworking people. Fortune 125, 50 million customers and growing....think that says it all.

Nice, so now they're calling themselves Silverman Benefits Group. I can't help but feel a bit leery about a company that changes names so often and doesn't even have a website. I would like to add something that everyone seems to miss whenever I look at anything involving this AFLAC sales rep position. I keep hearing 'you can succeed if you work hard'...yada yada...yeah, yeah, whatever. What people are failing to see is that even the hardest worker won't succeed if they are of that personality type that just isn't cut out for sales, ie someone that isn't comfortable with bs'ing people (I'll refrain from using the word lie, though it's darn close) to get them to buy something they may not want or need. And on another note, the hard sell they give you for the position? OK...I was always under the impression that it was my job to sell myself to the company I'm applying with. Red flags all over the place there.

How dare this company! How dare they reach out to you as an employer when your resume is online! The nerve! Ugh.. Its shocking that you guys are on the job market, really... Afterall, I'm sure you, as an unemployed professional, have much more important things to do with your precious time, than go find out about a career opportunity with a Fortune 500 company... Yes clearly that would waste an hour of your time and you just can't afford that. Afterall, today is your day to.... To do what again?... Right... Nothing.... Winner.
Have any of you ever googled your favorite restaurant? There's probably plenty of bad reviews written by some salty whinners that you've never met about their bad experience there. Well, you need to find a new fav place to eat asap I guess! Ugh, yeah, its just shocking that y'all are unemployed, what with how you have such an open mind and are putting your best foot forward. Why don't you just look for the exact same job that you just left? Cuz maybe this time you won't get laid off again? Definition of insanity? Anyone? ....Genius. Continue making stellar decisions about your future, again, shocking you're on the job market.
Aflac is a Fortune 125 company. Its continually ranked as the most ethical insurance company. Google 'the 10 worst insurance companies in america' and you won't see Aflac there. Aflac's stock has remained amazingly resilient and strong in spite of the recession that I'm sure all of you are victims of. They're consistently voted as one of the '100 best companies in America to work for' in Money magazine, Forbes, Fortune, Essence and Working Mother Magazines.... But yeah, clearly, YOU guys are the experts. Wow, I guess Aflac is really the one with egg on their face, cuz yeah, you guys clearly have it all figured out. Why not just sit in your house and read blogs about what other people like so you can figure out what you like, then you'll never actually have to make a decision on your own, so nothing can ever be your fault. Sadly, we all know that will not put an end to your lamentations. You guys can make excuses, and I'll just go make money. And the next time I hand-deliver a claim check to one of my clients, when they're thanking me that without Aflac their house would be on the market, I'll let them know that a bunch of unemployed people kvetching on a blogspot think she got duped. You know not of what you speak. And THAT, unfortunatly, is the point that none of you will ever take your blinders off to see. Enjoy collecting that unemployment check that I'm actually working to pay for.

Sounds like somebody is have a real bad day in the boiler room ... GLAD TO HEAR IT!

Thanks for sharing. Now you can go back to scamming on the phone!

Your grammar is impeccable.  Magna Cum Laude I would guess???
*shocker* *again*

What does it say for you to come on here attacking people when you are supposedly happy with your job.  You are acting like a child for no reason.  If you like your job, then great.  Others are entitled to their opinion, however.  It sounds as if you are trying to defend your company, but by being angry about it, it makes it sound a lot more shady than it did to begin with.  It is strange that as a "free gift" for signing up on careerbuilder, everyone receives a call or email from this company regarding a job.  It makes it seem like anyone can do it if they are willing to waste time and effort in multiple interviews and trainings for no guaranteed money.

The point is this, most people research companies they may take a job with.  Unfortunately, searching for this company brings this site up.  People are going to express their opinions and others will listen.  You come on here and act like an ass, defending Aflac when it may just be this particular company, Silverman Benefits Group, that people are talking about.  I find it hard to believe that you are good at sales because you are doing a wonderful job of selling a career with Aflac by being completely rude to people searching for jobs.

By the way, you have a job, so get a life.  Why are you on here replying to people anyway.  Quit being bitter.

This is what I have gotten from them:
Hello-
My name is Barbara and I'm a manager with a benefits company based in Bel Air, MD and also to include satellite locations in Baltimore,  Laurel and Wilmington, DE.

We have reviewed your resume on Career Builder and would like to discuss with you some of the career opportunities in management, sales, marketing and customer service that we have available right now.  We have quite a few positions available that we are looking to fill immediately and I think you'd be the perfect candidate.

We have an award winning mentor-driven training program and are eager to schedule you for a first interview.


Even in this economy, our business is growing and I think you would be an asset to our expanding organization.

Please contact me ASAP at the number listed below or by email.
I really look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks,
Barbara Bushman
An Independent Associate

(410) 459-8069





--

Barbara J. Bushman
Executive Vice President
Silverman Benefits Group
PH:    410 459-8069
FAX:  410 741-3209
bushman.sbg@gmail.com

Hi All,
I just wanted to hopefully clear some things up about this whole Aflac/Silverman thing. The people calling aren't calling from a telemarketing call center. They are calling from a real office, but there ARE many people recruiting for this 'opportunity'. Silverman Benefits isn't a name of Aflac, just as your doctor's name isn't a name of your insurance company. Silverman Benefits is the group name that manages the Aflac benefits for people who need supplemental insurance. I'm not defending their practice of harrassing resume posters, and as a former recruiter for the above company, it is very awkward and uncomfortable calling people who clearly don't want a sales position, but it was a job that made ends meet. There are also multiple benefit administrators within one office, so you may get a call from joe shmo with silverman benefits, and 5 minutes later get a call from jane doe with mark benefits. You would think they would keep  spreadsheet or something. I know I always tried to keep an ear out for names that my co-workers were calling so I didn't call the same person, and I started keeping a list of people who were extremely annoyed and asked to be removed. I could promise I wouldn't call, but I couldn't speak for my co-workers because we were all searching within the same pool of websites. There's really no way to avoid being called because their search parameters include anyone who posted/edited/updated a resume in like the last week and we were instructed to call someone even if their resume said no sales calls/do not want sales position/etc.

With all the above said, I felt very much like this was a pyramid scheme because as a 'new employee', they prosper as you prosper. You work under a senior agent until you reach something like 5 star level, which means you set up your own accounts, can manage everything on your own, and your closing income each month/year is some ridiculous amount. My other problem was also with the manner in which people were spoken to and treated. The recruiters (the people calling at all hours of the night) aren't supposed to indicate that the 'initial' interview will ALWAYS be a group information session, which afterwards, one is graded. A's get invited back to 2nd interviews and are people who show up early, look the part, actually stayed awake during the video (I didn't, haha). B's are interviewed if not enough A's exist, and really anything below a B, they don't want. Nevermind the fact that you could have a solid gold resume, but be  having money problems and can't afford a $500 dollar suit. You're automatically turned away at the door. And, if you make it past all the (what I feel is) bullsh*t, you still have to put some of your own money to jump start your career and cold call companies that may be in need of supplement benefits. It's not a terrible thing to work for Aflac because eventually you would be working for yourself and reaping your own rewards. But just like any job, you have to put up with a little cr@p until you'll be on your own.

The funny thing is, I just got a call from the wife of the administrator of the office that I used to work for and their  script hasn't changed, and I haven't worked there for 5 years.

Marc is now back in Maryland.

Funny how Chicago was such as "success".

Our company had Aflac.  Marc sold it to us.

When we needed assistance, he never called us back.

When we called to cancel, he showed up.

Now he sends fresh faced salesman here at lunch time to avoid the boss.

Marc knows the boss' schedule and conveniently books these drones to come out at lunchtime and it's ridiculous.

We wanted to cancel and this kid showed up telling me he was here for "Open Enrollment" and to hang posters.

Hang posters?

We wanted to cancel.

Marc is a salesman, obviously a decent one or else he would be long gone but he is back in Maryland trying to pitch the same snake oil with a bunch of fresh faced fools who think they will earn 100K by giving our guys a stuffed duck.

I received the same email last night.Thought it was shady so I googled it. I have no interest is sales, no experience in sales and absolutely no desire to work in the insurance industry in what appears to be a pyramid scheme. Thanks for the heads up!!!

I received a phone call last night and a confirmation email this morning from the same company. I was ecstatic at first because I am in the process of transitioning but husband is totally against me going on this interview because he had gotten the same call last year when he was laid off.

I am glad that I googled this company. I dont have alot of time to waste on shady companies. I trust that something legitimate will open up.

It's not a scam!  Corporate America is a scam where you work for a company 20 years only to be fired because now you are making too much money!  If you have a good work ethic and are not lazy, Aflac is a great career.  People can fail in ANY company and ANY job!  

I can only speak from experience.  7 years with Aflac.  Numerous people saved from financial catastrophe had they not had the insurance.  Many happy clients.  Help people and make great money plus incentive vacation trips (22 trips in 7 years for me), awards, prizes (ipads, ipods, cash, etc.).  If it is a scam, I'm glad I have been scammed for the last 7 years.  I doubt I'd be able to say I've experienced the same lifestyle had I stayed in Corporate America.  

It bothers me to read blogs about people who are fearful and make statements about something in which they have NO REAL EXPERIENCE, only thoughts and SPECULATION!  It's silly really!

It's not a scam!  Corporate America is a scam where you work for a company 20 years only to be fired because now you are making too much money!  If you have a good work ethic and are not lazy, Aflac is a great career.  People can fail in ANY company and ANY job!  

I can only speak from experience.  7 years with Aflac.  Numerous people saved from financial catastrophe had they not had the insurance.  Many happy clients.  Help people and make great money plus incentive vacation trips (22 trips in 7 years for me), awards, prizes (ipads, ipods, cash, etc.).  If it is a scam, I'm glad I have been scammed for the last 7 years.  I doubt I'd be able to say I've experienced the same lifestyle had I stayed in Corporate America.  

It bothers me to read blogs about people who are fearful and make statements about something in which they have NO REAL EXPERIENCE, only thoughts and SPECULATION!  It's silly really!

They now have a website at  http://silvermanbenefits.com/.

If you check it out, I imagine one of the reasons why they continuosly contact people how they is because...ready for this...if you go to their Careers wep page, you will see this (at least as of the date of this post):  "Unlimited income potential with multiple ways to earn money:  commission, stock bonuses, recruiting program bonus, and more." Would you look at that! They get a RECRUITMENT PROGRAM BONUS. They make money off of getting you to work for them.

Also, one other number to be on the look out for is 410-322-8566. Gerald Grant I believe the name was.

Also, a quick search of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation revealed something intersting also. Silverman Benefits Group does not have a corporate filing (corporate charter) on file with the State of Maryland. So, is Silverman Benefits Group a legitimate corporate entity? Curious.