My experience with CareerExcuse.com aka WorkReferences.com,

Book a free 15min introductory Zoom call. Get notified/reminder of meeting. Start up Zoom with the meeting link provided 2mins early and wait. At 12mins after the meeting is supposed to begin, call them and are given an excuse that Zoom isn't working, but would be happy to have the meeting over the phone. Red Flag #1.

Ask them why half their web site is using stock photos and written in Latin. Reason given is "it's only temporary. They are working on rebuilding it". I don't mention that I looked at them 5 months earlier and it looked exactly the same. Red Flag #2.

Being In real need for their service (desperate really), ignore my gut and continue the process by opening a profile on their site. Fill out my info, then contact them to let them know I've completed my part. We review my information and discuss what sort of companies will be used for my profile. Next step is they are supposed to then fill in their part with company info, contact phone and web site address. They tell me they will be invoicing me and that I had 24hours to pay or the portal would close. At this point I make it clear that I did not want phones turned on until the profile was complete and I had a chance to review and approve it. So far they have provided nothing of value. Why are they insisting I pay within 24 hours? Huge Red Flag #3

Next morning they do their part somewhat, but nothing close to a usable script. They copy/paste generic resume and job listing excerpts in to my profile. Some word salads that are so vague, they convey nothing. Some of it directly contradicts other portions of the profile. Suspect they just copy/paste this garbage in to every profile to make it look like they did something. Upon checking the two company web sites they provided, I'm shocked how bad and amateur the sites look. It's as if someone was learning web design and was using web tools/methods from 20 years ago. Misspelled words, spacing and font issues. One site has pictures of company key personnel, in casual, unprofessional poses and clothing. Titles like CEO/Head of product, for a company that sells no products. Best part, the same people are shown on another page titled "meet the team", where they all now have different names and titles. The CFO is now the Head of Products. Expect them to repurpose their web sites over and over, but at least edit them for each clients needs and make a bit of sense. Both company sites show that they have offices in the UK, CN and like 8+ throughout the US. All in the same cites! In 2023, no company of the size these are meant to look like, would have a zero social media footprint. After reviewing all this, text them that there are issues that need to be discussed before going forward and to call me at their earliest availability. Writing this review 25 hours after that text had gone unanswered. Good thing I didn't send them any funds, but the real issue is the time wasted with these scammers. Had they actually ran a business that provided the service they advertise, would have paid 2-3x the 399 they asked for.

TLDR: They sell you on what they will do for you, rush you to make payment, then deliver nothing remotely usable.

I was panicked when unable to locate a former boss and an offer depended on it and I couldn't provide a phone number. I had little to hope but filled out the online form, explained my problem and the urgency, Almost immediately Amey Lytle texted me asking if I'd like to make the appt sooner. She worked around my work schedule, called as soon as I could talk and I explained in total panic that I couldn't locate my boss and my duties and the company were very detailed and I didn't even have a phone number to. Provide to the interviewer. Amey was remarkable! While I was talking about the problem, she listened intently, asked a few questions and compiled detailed notes. She was professional, calm and so understanding. I paid a reasonable amount and within minutes she sent me a profile she created from what I said and a phone number. I was able to send the interviewer the phone number, and Amey arranged for William Schmidt, another incredible person to call the interviewer back the next day. William called me and reviewed details, listened patiently as I kept adding more info, gave an excellent reference and called me back to let me know. I had another issue with the person listed from my current company (former coworker) not calling back so Amey gave me a discounted rate and gave a reference herself after quickly absorbing even more detailed info about my company and job duties. The interviewer had detailed questions and Amey somehow answered all of them, gave a very professional and thorough reference, and I got an offer. I cannot say enough about her service; I know she was busy but both my situations were very urgent and she respected that, was fast and very thorough in getting the details, and was in constant communication with me. She made me feel like I was important and I can't remember ever getting such amazing customer service. And as I said, she picked up all the key points I made, typed them up and remembered everything when talking to this very detailed interviewer. It is so rare to get the privilege of such competent, fast, accurate service and have someone like Amey who also showed genuine compassion and kindness for my situation. I want to give Amey Lytle the absolute highest possible recommendation! This is an amazing company and I am so grateful to Amey! She went so above and beyond and could not have been more pleasant!

I wasn't exactly happy to use this site but I got an illness in 2015 and had to quit a very successful technical career. My health issue was very difficult but I finally was done with my treatment in late 2018. I tried to get a similar job but I couldn't even get a call back. I had 15 years experience with highly sought after skills. I just couldn't believe I was getting nothing in this economy. I started to think I needed to go back to school or take a far less paying job but an HR friend told me it was because of my 4 year gap. She said it would be very hard for a company that doesn't know you to take a chance on someone with such a big gap in work history. Resumes are picked by automated programs and they overlook resumes with large work gaps. This really upset me since it wasn't my fault I got sick and now that I fought to get well my illness was still effecting my life. One day I googled "fake job reference" and careerexcuse came up. I saw a few others but this one seemed the best and was in lots of main stream articles. I didn't want to lie on my resume but I have a family and my wife has been the sole bread winner for 4 years on top of taking care of me. I wanted my teen kids to know their dad used to be successful before his illness. I decided to use them just to see if it made a difference. I created a very similar job as I had done in the past and was very qualified to do. I didn't create a job that I had no experience in. I was blown away. I had calls the same day. I literally had 15 voice mails after I muted my phone during a movie. I interviewed and it went great but now the worry really set in. I knew now the company would contact careerexcuse so I hoped they would come through. I had sent them a ton of emails to make sure they were dependable. There is no room for errors. If they messed up not only would I lose my new job but I'd be very embarrassed. I tested their phone numbers they had created and wrote a very detailed script for them to follow. I figured what I was doing wasn't really wrong because I still need to pass the interview and do the job well. The only thing that was preventing me from getting that chance was an illness. The companies didn't know I was sick and i wasn't going to plaster it all over my resume. I figured this was the only way to give me a fair chance. They wouldn't be in the interview answering the questions for me. I'd need to have the skills to pass and my interview was extremely technical but I was floored when I got the call that everything went well and I got the job! I actually got emotional. My wife and kids were so happy. I have been working a month now and I am very satisfied with career excuse. I'm writing such a long review because when i started I wanted to hear from real users how their experience was. I recommend you explain to your rep exactly what you need. Write details on what you need them to say. Do not create a new job that you have no experience in since you need the basic skills the job demands. Ask them a lot of questions. It was worth every penny and I hope I never have to use them again but if I had another big issue where I couldn't work for a while I would use them in a heartbeat. I have been very successful in my new role because I knew I was very qualified for it but I had to get my foot in the door. I knew there was no other way and I proved it since the responses I got went from almost zero to well over 200 by the time I was finished. I kept my account active with career excuse just in case. Its a tiny price to pay just in case. It was probably the best money I've ever spent. I spent $195 to get a very well paying job that I am certain I wouldn't have even had the chance for otherwise. Call me a cheater, call me a liar. I don't care. I know I'm a good person. In life we sometimes have to do things we would rather not but I literally had no other choice. If you have a gap longer then a couple months in work experience I don't know any other way unless you want to wait a long time since they will take less qualified canidates over you just because work gaps are regarded as a huge negative for recruiters and HR. It is safe and effective. I wish you the best in finding the job you deserve. Thank you