The Creative Group

The Creative Group has been an invaluable resource in my career growth. From beginning to end, I was in contact with my recruiter who did a fantastic job keeping me in the loop and continuously checking in on me after placing me at my dream job! I began in a contract-​to-​hire position and this week I began my conversion process (so exciting!). Sara Naveed, thank you for everything! You were attentive, responsive and listened to my concerns and adjusted accordingly. You found me some pretty great opportunities and I cannot thank you enough! I highly recommend speaking with a recruiter from The Creative Group if you are currently in the job market or interested in new opportunities.

TCG has been very helpful with searching freelancing gigs, temp to hire positions. Some may have had bad experiences, but i highly recommend this agency for any career search in terms of Marketing and Design. Gloria Cordova was my representative helping me out since the beginning, and she’d landed me 2 pretty great companies: Too Faced Cosmetics (contracted freelance) and Avery Products (hired me as a FT Packaging Graphic Designer), straight out of college. All staff members that I came across with were all very professional and reliable.
I have recommended this agency to my friends who are in need of help as well. So far TCG took on one of them and as of right now she is working well and happy at the company she’s contracted to.

As you can see, a representative wrote to apologize for my experience. Just for that, I added 2 stars.
I’m not so deluded as to think everyone would want to hire my services. It’s possible that my recruiter made a significant effort to match me with a client.
However, I am upset at my recruiter’s complete silence after the interview. If she had told me she tried unsuccessfully to match me with at least one company — like the one I originally applied for — I would have accepted that without complaint.
Though I have moved on, I would just advise applicants not to get too excited if the Creative Group invites you to interview.

I highly refommend this agency for your career search, they are quick and knowledgeable. Particularly, I interacted with Gloria Cordova who demonstrated high class professionalism in matching my skills to the job opportunities she had.

After moving from San Francisco to Long Beach, I was looking for work so I contacted The Creative Group. Gloria was a pleasure to work with, she really cares and I was never out of work for more than three day. This is definitely the most positive experience I have had with a placement agency.

I was contact by Gloria and she was very helpful and really works hard to find a position for whomever she is working with. She found me a position quite quickly and she keeps in contact with you. I have been contacted and interviewed with other agencies and after the initial interview they dropped out of touch, Gloria was the opposite and it was really appreciated. I was placed permanently after being in a contract position and Gloria still would check in and be very personable :)

After 3 long months of unemployment and ~70 resumes submitted, The Creative Group was the only company that gave me a breath of fresh air to getting back on my feet.
When I met with Gloria Cordova, she was just as personable as professional. She genuinely showed interest in myself, my aspirations, and placing me in a position that best suited me. Gloria got me a contract position at a company 5 minutes from my house (can’t argue with that) in the marketing department that was willing to teach me while on the job. This rarely happens these days.
Once I was suited at my new position, Gloria remained in contact with me over the weeks to see how I was doing. Just awesome!
Since this time, I have found a full-​time position at a great company and a position that I love.
Thank you Gloria and Thank you to The Creative Group!

It was the most racist experience
I ever had im just not gonna waste anymore of my time & energy on this comment racist not only on my Ethics but because im a house wife that is trying to get to work now after so much time been dedicated at my house… they dont even deserve 1 star I GIVING THEM –100 THE RECRUITERS ARE EITHER INCOMPETENT & RACIST

I am an Art Director /​Graphic Designer
I first contacted The Creative Group through Laura Volpe. She came recommended from a couple of friends.
Like all creative staffing agencies The Creative Group really only works with people willing to take a chance on «temp to hire».
«Temp to hire» means you temp for three months while the employer decides if they want to keep you. Because you’re a temporary employee they can drop you instantly for any reason at all. There is no commitment from the employers for anything at all. As a potential employee you risk everything.
So, if you are already employed you will need to quit your job and risk unemployment to get «tried out» at a potential job.
The staffing agencies say they will consider «direct hire» candidates. I have not found this to be true.
«Direct hire» is when you apply for a job and the employer hires you. You are normally on a 90 probationary period. That’s a lot different than a temporary employee. It’s the way people normally look for work.
When I told Laura is wanted to try for «direct hire» rather than «temp to hire» I was immediately passed down the line — twice. I never met anyone in person and the only time they’ve seen my work is through an online portfolio. My impression is that «direct to hire» people are ignored.
I haven’t heard a peep from them since — except to answer my email checking in with them.
Since my present job will disappear in a few months I’ll have to try the «temp to hire».
Sio just be aware that you don’t use these agencies to be hired in the traditional way. At best you will be tried out by a potential employer. At worst you’ll be stuck working freelance jobs. That means you’ll actually be working for The Creative Group — sporadically.

My experience with TCG and specifically with Gloria Cordova has been great. She did everything she said she would do for me. She didn’t just find me a job, but she found me the right job that was equally beneficial for both the company and myself. I would definitely and have already recommended TCG to other designers I know looking for both full-​time and freelance work.

The Creative Group, above all other hiring agencies, genuinely have their contractors in mind. They go out of their way to find top quality contracts, as well as direct hiring opportunities, and their recruiters are professional and positive.
Working with Gloria Cordova and Laura Volpe has been such a fantastic experience! Their feedback, encouragement, and willingness to do whatever it takes to find me consistent and quality contracts has exceeded my expectations. I have recently been hired in a full-​time position, but I will be forever grateful for the help they have provided and know that, should I ever need, I can always count on them!
I highly recommend The Creative Group to anyone looking for employment opportunites or for company’s seeking to hire. You will always be met with respect, professionalism and a positive solution.

My experience with The Creative Group has been less than satisfactory. It was my first time working with an agency so perhaps my expectations were too high.
The problem I have with the agency is that I feel they don’t have my best interest in mind. They cater a lot more towards the company/​organization that’s doing the hiring. Which I understand that’s where the money is coming from. However I feel a lot like a number rather than an important piece of the equation. They didn’t go over my skills much at all when they «interviewed» me and for that reason I don’t think they do the best job at placing people.
Not the worst experience in the world, but certainly not the best. I’ll probably try a different agency next time I’m looking for work.

After posting this review, I was contacted by a very nice person from Robert Half which owns The Creative Group. I was told my dissatisfaction would be passed along to senior management who, I was told, would contact me directly. That was one week ago and I have not been contacted by anyone.
I still see jobs posted by TCG that I’m well-​suited for, but won’t waste any more time attempting to contact them. I’d recommend you don’t either. They may received kudos from companies, but they do nothing for job seekers.

If you are wondering if TCG is what you are looking for in a hiring agency, TCG is one of the few thats got your back.
Brie Tomaszewski has been an awesome recruiter! A go getter! She has helped me find work at the top agencies all over Orange County and LA. Very professional and is willing to go out of her way to help you out and do almost anything to see you happy. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have had the experience i’d have now.
TCG has been a great asset for networking and experience. If you haven’t discovered Brie or TCG yet, you have been missing out!

I’ve never written a Unilocal review, but I created an account today in order to do so because my experience with this branch of The Creative Group was so good. The application and interview process was concise and efficient, allowing me the opportunity to be placed at jobs within 48 hours of initiating contact with TCG. I had several people working hard to fit me into new opportunities and each one of them was articulate, friendly, and accountable every time we interacted.
To Gloria, Kim, Brie, Mckenzie, and Elaine, I’d like to say thanks again for the work you all put in to connect me with great job opportunities. I feel very fortunate to have had your help.

Gretel,
I did! And was surprised that there was no follow through at all, except for a LinkedIn request for connection. Really, that’s all I get? I think that helps you more than it helps me. I’ve given you guys several chances to make it right. Unfortunately TCG blew it!

Over the last year I have been looking to create a catalog for one of the major brands we represent. Between implementing a new system, training new hires, and countless other daily activities this task never seemed to make the top of the to do list. That is until I spoke with McKenzie at TCG. After answering a few questions we identified the goal of what we wanted to accomplish. Within a few hours we had a list of talented artists to choose from. We couldn’t be happier with our selection and the outcome of his work. The service provided from start to finish far exceeded my expectations and you can be sure that as the need arises in the future McKenzie will be my first call.
Josh Strosser
Clark & Associates/​Comquip Communications

My experience working with McKenzie Jo Blake was outstanding. The communication from McKenzie and her team was all we could ever ask for. By Filtering the applicants and pulling from a great pool of people, we were able to not waste our time. As a small company this was very beneficial!
The fact that it only took one interview to hire someone was amazing. Typically I would have multiple people come in for a position and spend multiple hours conducting interviews.
If I have any more needs we would love to work with McKenzie and TCG again.
David Fisher

I recently moved from Wisconsin to Los Angeles. The Creative Group, Laura and Elaine and Yvette gave me helpful advice before I moved, and then made me feel right at home in my new town. Within a few weeks (right after new year so it was a slow time) I started a contact-​to-​hire position.
What makes The Creative Group so successful is their cacophony of business contacts. They will match your specific skills with a company who is looking for the same. Whether it’s a major corporation or a smaller design shop, TCG knows them.
HONESTLY THEY ARE THE ONLY WAY TO FIND A GOOD POSITION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Would I use them again? Definitely, although I don’t think I will have to for many years.

Over the years I have gone through a number of placement agencies, with varying degrees of success. It seems that some agencies tend to latch on to a pet designer for any given amount of time, making it tough for others to get a foot in the door.
When freelancing, I usually find the most success with personal referrals, and networking among people I know. But when it comes to agencies, I have had the most success with The Creative Group. Kim Alexander has been very helpful within the last year I’ve dealt with them. And when she wasn’t available, Brie Tomaszewski
and Elaine Buhler made great efforts to keep me in the loop for possible freelancing gigs.
Your mileage may vary depending on your particular skill set and personality. But of all the agencies I’ve dealt with, The Creative Group has done the most for me.