The interview for LiveWorld was easy and very engaging. I had a phone interview for LiveWorld back in the Fall of 2012. I spoke with the Senior Manager who left a wonderful impression with me. Best interview I ever had. I really don’t know how to express such an amazing interview experience with this woman. The interview was initially to last only 20 minutes, but concluded after about 60 minutes. Time flew by since the Senior Manager had an unique interview technique. Instead of asking stock questions, she chose to have a conversation with the applicant to really get to know who they were on a personal level and learn about their previous employment experience. This was a great way to gauge whether or not I was a good fit for the company. I was offered the position on the spot and gladly accepted. I remained at the company for 2 and half years before submitting my resignation in January of 2015. Unfortunately, the senior manager that hired me is no longer with us, but she left a lasting impression on me.
So here's the scoop -
I was told how employment worked at LiveWorld since the position of a Moderator is unique. While you're an employee of LiveWorld, Moderators provide service for LiveWorld's various clients. Once hired, Moderators will need to apply (write a letter of interest) for the specific client(s) they wish to work for. The pay is hourly and is set in stone, there are no raises in pay ever no matter what client you work for. This is a serious con if you plan on working long-term for LiveWorld. I also want to note that the pay is very low. I only made 25 cents above the average minimum wage in my state. Note: Pay varies by the cost of living per state, so you may not earn the same as your co-workers. I was told this information during my interview, so I knew what to expect. I used the experience as a stepping stone into the world of Social Media Moderation and Online Customer Service. There is limited room for career path growth with LiveWorld, but chances to take on more responsibility do arise. The work is strictly part-time, but opportunities to work full-time hours are possible during busy times for the client(s) you're partnered with. While you're an employee at LiveWorld and not a contractor, there are no benefits offered with this company - so that means there is no insurance, 401K, etc. The only perk I received was a wireless plan discount.
Pros - Easy work. Flexible schedule. Pay is always correct and on time. Thorough on-boarding training. Very organized work flow. Friendly co-workers. Strictly work from home position. Winter pay bonus each year to every moderator (though small). Great supplemental income. Great stepping stone into moderation and online customer service.
Cons - Low pay, you will not earn a living on the wages they pay. No raises ever. Few hours most of the time. Subpar on-going training once hired on. Work can be redundant. Out of touch Managers. Little room from growth in company. Very hard to explain or prove what you do for the company due to a NDA and limited knowledge of LiveWorld as a company beyond the social media sector. No benefits offered.
Reasons why I left -
Managers wanted much more out of employees with out giving high quality training and resources. Zero increase in pay or job title was given to reflect the higher demand in production and quality that Managers wanted. Almost zero recognition was given. There were pet favorites of course, but the majority of the employees that put in hard work were not publicly or privately thanked for their dedication or service. I only heard from a manager when I did something wrong. I honestly don't know who most of my superiors were. Of course there were general emails sent out that collectively thanked employee efforts. Out of touch Management that didn't seem to know the daily workflow with unrealistic goals that needed to be met was a huge problem as well. Outdated communication technology - Management should be eager to hop on a webcam to speak with employees individually and as a team to get to know each other personally and get honest feedback.
I did enjoy my time with LiveWorld for the most part, but in the end there were just too many cons to continue putting in work for a company that gave so little. I reached a dead end and it was time to move on.