Acadium is a unique and growing platform to connect businesses with free digital marketing apprentices.
The company’s stated mission is to “to enable anyone, anywhere to acquire the skills, experience and relationships they need to succeed in the job market.” How they accomplish that is by providing online training courses and matching students with businesses who need their help.
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About Acadium
Acadium began as GenM began in 2017, with a team of 3 co-founders: Richard Shaw, Marco Tundo, and Moe Abbas. Since then, they’ve attracted more than 20,000 student members and over 5000 businesses.
Why would these students choose to work for free? They’re looking for real-world digital marketing experience to boost their resume and attractiveness on the job market.
In exchange for their help, you’re expected to provide mentorship, guidance, and feedback on their work.
How Acadium Works
As an employer, you can create a free Acadium account here. The site will ask for some information about you and your company, which will be shown to prospective apprentices.
I answered questions about my proudest business accomplishments and the areas I could use the most help with.
You’ll find you’ll begin to get messages from proactive students right away, but you can also reach out to individuals yourself. Inside the platform, you can filter the student database by country, industry, the type of work, software tools, and language.
From there, you can check out the profiles of each student and start a conversation. You’ll want to sell your company a bit as to why it’s a cool / beneficial place to work, and figure out what the candidate is most excited to learn and work on.
Once you find a candidate you like, that’s when you pay your membership fee (see below) and start the apprenticeship.
Each apprenticeship lasts 3 months. At the end of the term, you can either hire your apprentice into your team or go back to the pool and get a new one. There is no obligation or expectation to hire, though the platform says 1 in 5 apprenticeships do end in a job offer.
Acadium provides the labor contract that protects your business.
Acadium Services
Acadium specializes in placing remote digital marketing apprentices, which encompasses a variety of skills, including:
- SEO
- Graphic design
- Social media
- Content marketing
- Marketing analytics
- E-commerce
- Paid advertising
- and more
The platform is upfront that most of their candidates don’t have a ton of experience. Instead, “We screen for motivation,” they explain.
My Experience with Acadium
A member of my community first told my about Acadium (back when it was GenM) and I was curious to see what it was all about.
I was specifically looking for help with SEO and content marketing, and found several candidates that were interested in or experienced in those areas.
My apprentice helped build out a detailed database of my existing blog content. The goal was to help plug some holes in keyword and social optimization, and through her efforts we found several key opportunities for improvement.
Hopefully the experience was interesting and helpful for her going forward with her own projects!
Because she was balancing school and another job, she didn’t have a ton of time to dedicate to my work, which was totally fine by me. I think as long as you’re upfront about expectations, you won’t run into any issues there.
Acadium Plans and Pricing
Acadium membership costs $299 per “credit”, paid quarterly, and your apprentice can work up to 10 hours a week. Each credit can be redeemed for a 3-month term with an Acadium apprentice.
(There is a limited free plan, but if you want to contact candidates, you’ve got to pay.)
There are no hidden fees or other costs, though you can potentially save money by buying multiple credits:
While the price is obviously a huge advantage of the Acadium service, the biggest downside I see is the constant turnover.
If you’re looking for a long-term solution to a need in your business, bringing on and training a new apprentice every 3 months might be counter-productive.
Acadium Alternatives
Aside from the various virtual assistant companies, the closest competitor I could find to Acadium is Internships.com. On that platform you can post your internships for free, but in most cases you’ll probably need to pay your internship.
Your Turn
Have you worked with an Acadium apprentice? What did you think? Please leave a review below to help others with their decision.
What an amazing platform this is!
I was able to launch my digital marketing career thanks to them and I’m now freelancing successfully as a result.
Paul
Acadium helped my business grow while not breaking the bank. I mentored some students who’ve gone on to even get hired by me. Other got hired from some great companies.
I grew my email subscribers list by 368% in 2 months working with one apprentice. The first month was spent doing research into the various tools available to leverage.
I can’t recommend Acadium enough. Life changer!!
Since rebranding, you can tell that the quality of their apprentice vetting has really improved. I wasn’t sold back when they were GenM but since getting on Acadium I can say that the whole process of finding, selecting, and working with an apprentice has been really smooth.
Would recommend!
This platform is great.
Huge win-win for both students and businesses.
My apprentice was awesome and I’m really happy I joined.
Amazing platform best value in terms of quality and student pool. Also love giving back to so many students while they help my business
Love this service!
My apprentice was so helpful and I ended up hiring them part-time.
This is a huge win-win for everyone involved and I’ll be a client for life 🙂
I wish I’d researched and read reviews such as those on trust pilot before I lost my $147. My experience had been much like others here – I’m left out of pocket, having lost many many hours from an already stretched schedule and feeling frustrated and robbed of precious time and money.
After having a few candidates just disappear from the platform (after doing the initial interview process and narrowing down some to interview), I contracted one. She let me down five minutes before our first meeting. We rescheduled for the following Monday – I literally reorganized my diary for both. Five minutes before the call, she emailed to say she realized she couldn’t do Gen m as she’d taken on too much. I am about to go on an overseas business trip and do not have more time to waste so asked for a refund. To be honest, the candidates disappearing and quality of those that contacted me was quite alarming – I got more messages from candidates in Bangladesh this morning who don’t have the skills I’ve specified I need.
Gen M refuse as I just went outside their two-week cancellation window. I’m disgusted by their customer service and, frankly, the lack of commitment the candidates I have interacted with leaves me thinking I’ll just cut my losses now and move on. I can’t get my time and money back, but I also don’t want to waste more time! I’m so disappointed with my experience with Gen M.
However, I’m anxious about reviews on Trust Pilot that say they’ve charged more money as I’ve read this elsewhere on other forums too. Take my advice, go to Fiverr and pay somebody there for your digital tasks if you can’t afford a local intern. The frustration and loss of money just isn’t worth it.
https://www.quora.com/Is-GenM-co-non-legit-and-a-scam?
https://www.failory.com/blog/genm-review
From previous link, How Much does GenM Cost?
#1
“GenM costs $149 for a three month apprentice and this is for 10 hours a week for three months = 120 work hours. You also need to be willing to invest some time for the development of the young person. But considering it’s working out at less than $2 an hour, this is something that I am more than happy to do.”
#2
“GenM works with a credit system. One credit costs $147 and allows you to hire an apprentice that will work for your business for 3 months. The price per month, therefore, is $49.
Each week, the apprentice can work for 5-10 hours, and in some cases (if they are really enthusiastic), they will work even longer. Each month, they will work an average of 30 hours, so you would be getting marketing work done for $1.66/hour.”
#2
“One credit costs $147 and allows you to hire an apprentice that will work for your business for 3 months. The price per month, therefore, is $49.
Each week, the apprentice can work for 5-10 hours, and in some cases (if they are really enthusiastic), they will work even longer. Each month, they will work an average of 30 hours, so you would be getting marketing work done for $1.66/hour.”
Look at the profitable calculations!! No similarities, all are profits mongers?!
Thoughtful of own benefit- are students salves? Why don’t you TEACH them in lieu of?
Out of 30K Business owner 20K doesn’t know about what are Tech apps and Digital Marketing? And out of 60K students doesn’t have know how too. Training is very simple and easy. So, they doesn’t dig down anything thing. Only Apprenticeships are the matters if the business and mentor are right one. Otherwise completely a Scam of exploiting Students as slave!! And a game plan between business and GenM.co. Reasons why students are disappearing and business owners’ calculation hourly cost $ 2 to $1.66 per hour…..ridiculous!! They don’t have any social responsibility? Is there any authority in the USA to look at?
Let me pointed and quotes some points as under:
“GenM is a platform designed to match apprentices who want to learn and progress in Digital Marketing with business owners and mentors who want help in their business and are willing to coach them. As everything is done remotely, you don’t have to meet face to face with your apprentice. A Skype or video conference once a week plus management of workload over a platform such as Asana will be enough to manage and train them.”
Point 01- “Digital Marketing with business owners and mentors who want help in their business and are willing to coach them”- If mentors don’t have knowledge of DM, how they teach the student?
“GenM costs $149 for a three month apprentice and this is for 10 hours a week for three months = 120 work hours. You also need to be willing to invest some time for the development of the young person. But considering it’s working out at less than $2 an hour, this is something that I am more than happy to do.”
Points #2- “But considering it’s working out at less than $2 an hour, this is something that I am more than happy to do.”- Considering almost FREE less than $2 an hour is the matter. So that you are happy!?
“Apprentices MIA (Missing in Action!)
I’ve spoke to a few business owners in the online community and one of them who have had an apprentice completely disappear on them. Signed the contract to start, and then…nothing…..for weeks! The great thing is that GenM staff are on hand through the chat facility, and when this happens, they will refund your fee so that you can go ahead and find another apprentice.”
Points #3- GenM is a nprofessionally Manged company. How students disappear after signing a contract? I think something not right between GenM, Business owners and Students. Isn’t it?
My response:
Students striving to build a resume and carrier must have the right to know what is GenM? Otherwise, growth hacked by such scam platform… not a legit site but a scam!
“Get job ready With free courses and digital marketing apprenticeships.” For students who are striving for RESUME Building and carrier development in Digital Marketing. Reviews on GenM.co to have better know-how all about company. https://www.glassdoor.co.nz/Reviews/Employee-Review-GenM-RVW29588170.htm?utm_source=contentStatus&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=content-approved-review&utm_content=content-approved-review-review-cta&utm_term=
Pros:
1- Easy, fast, and convenient. Best topics, Tutorial text, Videos, expertise.
2- Anyone can easily sign up to start as a freelancer through GenM
3- Job ready through doing micro-works apprenticeship is the best feature ever.
4- Chat with 10-20 plus contacts at a time
Cons:
1. The basis is “HELP ME HELP YOU” the mentors teach the students and in lieu of the student’s works for free for resume building and carrier development. They are not slaved to provide free services without LEANING anything from mentors. But the company has no eyes on… this is also an unprofessional one…reasons why enlisted business tries to take advantage of…
2. Support TEAM members are not professional and well versed.
3. Once my account suspended without giving me any reasons why?
4. I guess- most the business owners don’t have tech-savvy know-how. They are using the plat to get the advantage out of free apprenticeships!
5. Students can’t ask for money. But the mentors ask for apprenticeship works that are not covered by the 5-10 hours of free works. Students don’t have any choice to enter into an agreement by mutually agreed upon…
6. If the student has the right to choose the minimum 5 hours weekly and for the 3 months free 5 hours x 12 weeks = 60 hours. But for the rest time, they have the right to ask compensation for additional hours. Mentors may have the option to flag students (maybe), which is alike giving a gun to the unprofessional for abuse.
7. I have lost more than 6 months corresponding support issues to recoverable my account to a business one.
8. Again recently- my account auto flagged!? Reasons mentioned in cons #5.
9. I have contacted several times with SEO and Co-founder… but they didn’t respond on time. But the usual online norms are not more than 24 hours to respond…! So I think they are also unprofessional too.
Have to be cautious of some businesses trying to take advantage of you by not signing the contract/ leaving you on reading. Not GenM’s fault, more of the other unprofessional business owners.
Fraud and Scam Site!!
Pros:
1- Easy, fast, and convenient. Best topics, Tutorial text, Videos, expertise.
2- Anyone can easily sign up to start as a freelancer through GenM
3- Job ready through doing micro-works apprenticeship is the best feature ever.
4- Chat with 10-20 plus contacts at a time
Cons:
1. The basis is “HELP ME HELP YOU” the mentors teach the students and in lieu of the student’s works for free for resume building and carrier development. They are not slaved to provide free services without LEANING anything from mentors. But the company has no eyes on… this is also an unprofessional one…reasons why enlisted business tries to take advantage of…
2. Support TEAM members are not professional and well versed.
3. Once my account suspended without giving me any reasons why?
4. I guess- most the business owners don’t have tech-savvy know-how. They are using the plat to get the advantage out of free apprenticeships!
5. Students can’t ask for money. But the mentors ask for apprenticeship works that are not covered by the 5-10 hours of free works. Students don’t have any choice to enter into an agreement by mutually agreed upon…
6. If the student has the right to choose the minimum 5 hours weekly and for the 3 months free 5 hours x 12 weeks = 60 hours. But for the rest time, they have the right to ask compensation for additional hours. Mentors may have the option to flag students (maybe), which is alike giving a gun to the unprofessional for abuse.
7. I have lost more than 6 months corresponding support issues to recoverable my account to a business one.
8. Again recently- my account auto flagged!? Reasons mentioned in cons #5.
9. I have contacted several times with SEO and Co-founder… but they didn’t respond on time. But the usual online norms are not more than 24 hours to respond…! So I think they are also unprofessional too.