I was online looking for a customer service job when I came across an ad advertising customer service-entry level-$350-550 per week. So of course I was interested in finding out what it was. I emailed them my resume and they contacted me back saying they wanted me to come in for an interview. When I showed up for my interview there were about 10 other people there applying for the same job. When I walked up to the receptionist she asked me what company I was applying for. I thought that was sort of strange to start off with. I filled out a half *&* application that only asked for my name, address, email, phone number, and interest I like to do in my spare time. No previous employment, SSN, or education.
The manager that interview me seemed to be very nice. She asked me about my experiences and told me about the growth that I could have with the company. She said she could garantee me $350-550 a week starting off and that the better I showed the more I could make. She said nothing about what they "really did". I was applying for the office job but she asked me how I felt about sales. My dad works in sales and I thought 'well if they train me I'm sure I could learn really quick' she talked me into it and I agreed to go along with one of the sales people the next day.
When I got home they called me saying to be there at 9:15 and "dress to impress". I'm a very stylish person so I dressed the next day in a dress suit and my strappy high heels. When I got to the office the manager asked me if I was going to ok all day in those shoes. I said "yes I live in high heels it shouldn't bother me" I thought we were going to be driving to businesses and talking with them like usual sales people do. Before I left for my day of observing I had to sign an agreement saying I would not be getting paid for my work today that it was just 'obervation'. Me being dumb I signed it even though I was having mixed feelings. Cause the day before I was told I had the job.
I met the girls that I was going to be riding with for the day and she told me that I might want to get better shoes because my feet were going to be hurting. I went to my car and found (thank God) a pair of black flip flops and asked her if they would be ok. She said yes because we were going to be doing a lot of walking. I though "HUH? How much walking could we be doing?" So here I am in an ann taylor black business suit with black flip flops on. I felt like an idiot. We drove til we got to an area of town I would NEVER think about walking around in.
The main girl that was showing us around said that we were going to park and then walk business to business. Looking around I though "what are we going to do? We are going into those?" The only thing I could think right then was "my parents are going to see me on the 6 oclock news about their daughter being raped and killed walking around trying to sell cheap knock off products to little hole in the wall businesses." If I had my own car I would have left and gone home and told my fiance what the hell they wanted me to do. But I was stuck til 6:30 at night walking around in one of the worse neighborhoods. I can't believe a company would send 3 attractive, young girls into a neighborhood like that to try and sell kitchen knives.
The whole day I went around and just prayed that nothing was going to happen to me. I had guys hitting on me, saying nasty things, whistling while we walked, and tried to pick us up. I wanted to cry. When lunch came at 2 I thought "thank god the day is almost over" The manager had told me not to bring anymore because lunch was on them. Then the poor girl that was driving us around had to pay for my lunch because that was a lie. I felt terrible. I wanted to pay her back but I didn't bring anything with me. She told me that they wouldn't pay her back either. I thought "what kind of company is this, they don't reemburse you for lunch and they don't pay for your gas? This is not a real sales job like my dad does"
The rest of the day went on just like the morning. Then when our last hour came we drove up to a bar. I thought I was going to die. Here is me 19 yrs old, an 18yr old girl, and a 21 yr old girl going into a bar trying to sell stuff. I don't drink and I don't believe in people that hang out in bars so I was extrememly uncomfortable about being in a bar where guys keep eyeballing me and talking about how they wanted to take pictures of me on their cell phones.
When it was time to leave I was sweaty, tired, my feet hurt, and I felt so low having guys being nasty to me all day. I knew I did not need the job that bad even if I needed one. We went back to office and I waited with the other 'observers' to see the manager. When I finally saw her she said she wanted me aboard and she would try a 2 week paid period with me. I was quiet and she asked me what I thought. I told her how I felt about my day and she told me that I wasn't "tough skinned" and I was "too judgemental".
I told her I was not judgemental I was brought up with morals and I wasn't not going to lower myself to march into bars and smoke shops trying to sell cheap items. And I got pissed when she said I was not a determined person. I told her " i have done ballet for 13 yrs of my life, i was apart of the houston ballet I am a very determined person and I am tough skinned" She said "well i guess this isn't the right job for you" i fought back and said "i guess not, I guess i need to be stuck in a cubical were guys aren't staring at my boobs all day long" She said she would see what she could do about an office job and I left.
My drive home was the worse. I called my parents to tell them what i had to do. My dad was furious when he found out i had to go in a bar and sell stuff. He said "thats not a real sales job, and i hope you told them no" Thank God I did. I probably never would have got paid and would have probably ended up on the nightly news.
I just want young girls to know you don't need a job that bad to walk around the streets like a hooker and walk up to random people to ask if they would like cheap knock off crap. Believe me it's not worth it. They make it seem like a dream job on the outside but when you really look at it, I would rather work at mcdonalds and keep my dignity.
Emily
Pearland, Texas
U.S.A.
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