I applied for a job in Bala Cynwyd, they said they were looking for an entry level account manager. Management experience a plus. The first interview, I was being interviewed along side 6 other people. That alone made me start questioning the operation. I thought maybe it was because the way the economy is and many business people are looking for jobs. I thought I was in some tough competition. I wasn't sure, but it didn't seem like many people were there because the office was not very big. Of course I found out later that there was about 30 sales people who get put in a room every morning and night and brainwashed badly. But I'm jumping ahead.
I was offered a second interview and told to bring my jacket cause I'll be going outside. Again I wasn't sure what they were taking me out to do, although the manager said that they do whatever it takes to get Fios out to people, even if it's going door to door. I didn't realize that was what I was going to be doing, especially since I was wearing a suit and tie like they asked. I later found out that that's just what they wear in the office and as soon as they leave to do sales they put on sneaks and hoody's. Then when they get back in the office they have to put it back on, the reason being is because they want to look like professional business people in front of the interviewees (nice strategy, I bought it).
This whole operation is a bad nightmare. You get lied to right off the bat.
Let me tell you how these people run things (and I only worked there for 2 days). They first tell you this is an account management job, which is of course a lie. It's a sales job, worse, it's a door to door sales job. I mean even when its going to pour they still expect you to sell. The reason they say "manager" is because they ram that down your throat.
During the interview they tell you they have too many sales people, and they need someone like you to teach them, and guide them. The truth is they have more "managers" working there than sales people. They say they need someone like you, because they see something in you. They want you to move your way up quickly and to basically take over the company (haha). They tell you that you need to strive for a pyramid scheme in which you'll eventually work your way to your own office.
They try to make it sound as though being a "team leader" and managing people is a good thing. When in reality it's way worse then just doing sales (by the way, "team leaders" are also sales people, they go out door to door just like entry levels, for the same amount of time, nothing changes as far as that goes).
But here's what does change. For one you have more responsibilities. You now have to train people and get them to believe the lies you were fed. You also have driving responsibilities, pay for your trainee's lunch every day, Pay your own gas (they tell you you get it back in taxes), tolls, traveling expenses if they want you to go to Pittsburgh or MD, work longer hours, (average for entry level is 9 1/2, for team leaders it's 10 to 11hrs a day, six days a week) and staying later.
All this and you don't make a dime more commission then you would if you were entry level. Think about that. If your making the same as an entry level, then why in the world would you want more responsibilities when you can be just focusing on sales. For the company, it's absolutely crucial that you do this. That's because the reason people who are just starting out with the company buy into this crap, is because the people working there really believe it.
So you think to yourself, this can't be a scam if all these people are working here loving their job. Wrong, they were told when they became "managers" how important they are and how responsible they are to the company. They're basically told that the entry levels aren't that special and they need guidiance. So they ram sets of guidelines and sales strategies down these "Team Leaders" throats so that they can teach others.
And the better they are at keeping entry levels on board, the more consideration they get for going to the next level, which i believe is assistant manager which is still sales door to door, but now you get more responsibilities in the office. Like payroll and stuff. And it most likely wont happen to you since there are people who have been there a year (which is shocking I know) and are still team leaders.
Every morning they do this ridiculous prepping where people clap weird and chant and talk about the short and long term goals, and at night you ring bells.
Those of you who are considering this job. They want 6 days out of you, 11:30am to 8:30pm if your lucky to get out of there by then, work winters of course, and be outside for 6 straight hours. Your selling a decent product, but know that soliciting people can be bothersome to most, even if they like what you have to offer. And they mostly want you to be extremely excited all the time, you know., to drink they're kool aid. I'll lastly say that they don't even have chairs in the office for people to sit down when they go over their prep speaches. Which is an hour of people clapping and chanting and prepping.
I'm really writing this for the people who already work there. I feel sorry for some of them, really. They are just being so brainwashed it's borderline abusive. Don't get me wrong, there are some people who are cut out for this line of work and might enjoy what they do, but for most, they are just being fed lies, and are exhausting themselves and putting this cult type job ahead of anything else in their life, including their family. Just think about what your doing with this company, and ask yourself, is it really worth it? Even if you do make it to where you get your own office and are making 70 thousand a year, are you really happy? Don't let your life go by you and miss out on what it's really about.
Anonymous
Glenolden, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
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