I started working for the Garysson Group in August of but interviewed at Eastern Marketing Solutions, Inc. I received a 5 minute interview and was told it was a prescreening. "If, " I received a call, it would be for a more formal second interview.
When that call came, I was told that I would be shadowing someone for the day to see what the job was about. I needed to dress business professional and bring another copy of my resume.
I showed up for the second interview and was taken out with someone who gave me a synopsis of what the day was going to be like. We were taking his car to an area of the city that was given to him for his sales territory. This seemed fine to me since this was a sales position that I was applying for. The gentleman took me into a business and asked to speak to the person that handled the phone accounts. Once identified, he asked to see his Verizon phone bill due to some updates that have taken place. Upon receiving his bill, it was analyzed to see what types of new services could be "updated, " (sold), to this customer. If they weren't Verizon customers, he would then sell them on changing over. This particular business was already a Verizon customer, so he just updated the contract on his phone account.
I asked, so what did you do there? He said, I updated their account and got paid for just filling out an application. Little did I know at the time that he only got paid $4.00 for that particular sale. Since this interviewer was from out of town, he had to leave early and that only business was all I seen for the shadowing. I thought, that was really easy. I can do this. I was taken back for a final interview at the office. Basically, if you're not an idiot, and you can burn some bridges by quitting your other job with little to no notice, you're in.
When conducting the interview during the day, they do a breakdown. Here's what someone just starting is expected to make... $400 to $500 per week at entry level. After approximately 4 weeks you should be between $400 and $600 per week for the next 6 months in the leadership level. When promoted from there to Assistant Manager you will be making between $600 to $1000 or more per week for the next 4 months. Half of your time will be spent in the field selling, and the other half will be spent in the office learning how to recruit and run your own business. How do you make that much more when only in the field half of the time? Well, you get double commission on the things you sell, and a percentage of what the rest of the office sells.
Once you save enough money as an assistant manager, you ask some of the other sales professionals in the office to join you in starting your own Company. They will be your sales force conducting the second round interviews, and you get paid money off of what they sell.
It all sounds great. All you need to do to progress through the four stages is recruit 10 people under you and produce a certain dollar amount of sales for a consecutive number of weeks. Assistant Manager here you come.
I just wish they would tell you the whole story right up front. Here's the truth. This is door to door sales. You go from business to business, or residential home, to residential home, knocking on doors trying to sell whatever product the company signed up to sell. The Garysson Group, Inc. And Eastern Marketing Solutions, Inc. Both were selling Verizon phone service. They both changed now. Garysson Group is selling credit card processing, and Eastern is selling home security systems. The pay is 100% commission with the use of your own car, cell phone, and supplies. The turnover rate is tremendous and it is really tough to build a team. While it does happen, it doesn't happen often.
During the several months I was there, I learned how to sell using various proven techniques, and recruited people. Every recruit, except for one, quit. I'd make assistant manager in about 5 years at that rate. Cydcor, Inc. Is the parent company of the whole thing. They teach ethical business practices, but when I went home some days after selling, I didn't feel very ethical. Tell the customers this, they don't have to know all the information, etc... This is the only way the phone services come, meanwhile they could go for something cheaper. This was all in the name of making a sale.
There is more and more that I can go on about, but to summarize: I took a chance. Door to door sales in the rain, snow, cold, and sometimes nice weather just wasn't for me. I would have to hit 50 - 60 doors or more just to make one sale. That was the average for everyone. We were lucky to make $300 to $500 per week, driving hundreds of miles. That barely paid for the gas. The opportunity to own your own sales business is there, but you have to work hard, and at the same time be lucky. I met 20 - 30 different people from accross the country doing this, and some of them had been doing it for 2 years with no luck yet. I've also seen some of these businesses fail after a short time. No more sales for me!
Disguised Door to Door Sales
Washington, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
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