I applied for a job with Cyndicate Solutions in Winter Park FL via the Orlando Sentinal's careerbuilder.com website. The description of the position was vague, but I decided to go in for the interview.
I was told this was a great opportunity to train to become a manager of my own CYDCOR company. Everyone has to work their way up to management which was typically achieved in 12-15 months.
I was also told I could expect to earn $750-$1000 a week (100% commission) while marketing business to business for BellSouth. If I worked hard, I could make Assistant Manager in 6-9 months earning $1000 a week salary plus double commission on any BellSouth applications that I got.
It sounded great, so I started the training the next week. I went out with three different reps over the next five days and here is what I found out:
The average rep is making about $70 per day, thats $350 per week with the top reps closer to about $500-$600 per week. (This is all before taxes, gas, vehicle maintainence, cellphone bill, or any other job related expense). Most reps drive at least 120 miles per day and all three I went out with had over 140,000 miles on their vehicles already.
They days are very long, from 7:30am to 6:30pm, beginning and ending with "atmosphere" a cult like session to pump you up and keep you from questioning the company and dispell any negative thoughts you might have. It can also be described as a kind of mild brainwashing.
Most of the reps are living paycheck to paycheck but are sticking it out for the "great opportunity" of becoming the manager of their own branch. Every single rep there honestly believes that if they work hard enough they will make it to management.
I spoke with the manager breifly before I quit and told him that I had read up about Multi Level Marketing (MLM) companies and that they were little more than borderline legal pyramid schemes and that the numbers just dont work to promote all of those reps to management. He denied being an MLM company because the commission schedule was different, but did admit that he was "... One of the lucky ones. Only 2% of the reps will make it to management..."
Anyway I'm glad I quit today. For me a 2% chance after a year of 12 hour days is not worth it. Even if I was one of the lucky ones I would have no interest in running a company such as this and have to lie to my employees everyday telling them they too can make it like me if they just work hard enough to get there.
Be careful with this company or any CYDCOR branch. They play on your hopes and dreams, but the odds are against you. Chances are you will never see management which is the only reason to work for them in the first place.
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