Nataly 38 #1 February 21, 2011 Had a slightly surreal experience today... Got a call on Friday, asking me in for a job interview. I couldn't really work out what the role/company was about, but I reckoned if nothing else it would be useful for me to freshen-up my interview technique... Whoa, it was an unappealing proposition!!!! Basically, it was a company who sells insurance.. They just set up and are looking for people to go through the phone-book to find prospective clients to sell insurance products to... She went through the numbers with me throwing them at me quite fast - had I not known any better, it would have sounded like a big salary.. But being an accountant, I quickly worked out that meeting the minimum targets would only give me a net annual income of something in the region of 15k!! Of course, there is "no limit" to how much you can earn, but I reckon I would be MUCH more likely to work my ass off and not even reach the targets!!! WHEW!! It took everything I had not to laugh out loud!! Don't get me wrong - I admire people who have the drive/determination to work in "sales"... Some people are really good at it, and probably it's possible to make a real success of it... It just sounds like my idea of hell!!! A number of years ago I lasted only 3 months in recruitment, which if you break down the day-to-day tasks is a similar kind of job... Hated it, and *really* sucked at it, too! I politely said no thank you! Then I bought myself an ice-cream and went for a stroll along the beach in the sunshine Life is good "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ryoder 1,590 #2 February 21, 2011 Yes, with an insurance company. Run; RUN LIKE HELL!!! "There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 892 #3 February 21, 2011 I tried to vote no. I like boobies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #4 February 21, 2011 Accounting CHECK Great Ass CHECK Boobies CHECK Heck I was thinking they wanted you to be a Madam, plus work the floor. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airdvr 210 #5 February 21, 2011 Commission only now and I think it's OK. not the first time. They paid me a salary for the first 6 months until I got going. My biggest problem is it takes about 2 months for me to get paid on a sale so I have to keep a backlog . Also, I'll bet I'd have a tough time getting paid on the last few deals if I decided to leave. Run away from the insurance deal. It takes years to build up enough residuals to get a solid cash flow working.Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarrieByTheSea 0 #6 February 21, 2011 Unless you count the pittance I have before-and-now receive as a "salary", then the answer is "yes" and "always" since I graduated college. I love commission-based sales, especially residual. You get out what you put in. Everything is my responsibility and thus nobody (i.e. my managers) fucking bothers me so long as I am producing. Having said that, I would never have gone to an interview without knowing "what the role/company was about", nor would I be willing to "go through the phone book to find prospective clients". A couple of my peers came from a copier-sales background--a hardcore door-to-door-knocking sales position. I never would have applied for that either. Work smarter, not harder. Agree with the stroll on the beach, though. I do that several times a week after hours with the love of my life and our dog. But, it is a five-minute walk to get there from the house we own, so I am spoiled. Life_is_good. "Nature is cruel, but we don't have to be." ~ Temple Grandin Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nataly 38 #7 February 21, 2011 Quote Having said that, I would never have gone to an interview without knowing "what the role/company was about" I wouldn't normally either... I emailed her for more info and she didn't reply. I googled the company and their website is really vague/crap... I knew it would be a total dog of a job/company, so I figured it was a good opportunity to brush up on my interview skills... I'd rather "practice" on a crap role than show up for my first-ever French interview for something I'm *really* keen on... She had to know she was wasting her time... I am not nearly young or hungry or inexperienced enough to fall for that kind of horrible cold-calling stuff... I really don't fit the profile. My guess is she was trying to fill an "interview quota." If I needed to, I would clean toilets for a living... But I worked hard to become a Chartered Accountant, so hopefully that means I will never need to!! Edit: oopsie - spelling!"There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trafficdiver 8 #8 February 21, 2011 I never sold insurance but I used to sell gas fireplaces to builders and I really liked the job. Not everyday was a killer sales day but when you sold a big job it was awesome. It really gave you a high. The cash was good and I was outside 75% of the day, only going to the office to complete the paperwork and schedule the job. You need to be able to handle rejection and having the ability to cold call and the gift pf gab doesn't hurt either. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Croc 0 #9 February 21, 2011 As with many servicemen in the USA (plumbers, HVAC, electricians, auto mechanics) we are all on straight commission. Every particular job pays a particular commission. I was skeptical at first, but, after 16 years, I would never go back to hourly. Well, maybe when I'm feeble I'll be a greeter at Walmart. I made a LOT of money over those years. Now that I'm older I wish I hadn't spent so much on motorcycles and jumping. Oh hell, that's not true. I don't regret a dime I've spent on bikes and rigs, except for a Lightning I bought once..."Here's a good specimen of my own wisdom. Something is so, except when it isn't so." Charles Fort, commenting on the many contradictions of astronomy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ManagingPrime 0 #10 February 22, 2011 Best and worst times in my professional career were commission or production based. Yearn to go back... It's an unforgiving world. Lol Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squirrel 0 #11 February 22, 2011 My wife and I are a real estate broker and general contractor...and would never go back a hourly job. ________________________________ Where is Darwin when you need him? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Channman 2 #12 February 22, 2011 I went on an interview much like you, about 21 years ago. It even seems that we interviewed for the same company, although 20 years ago it went by a different name. I got involved part time, and remained part time for more than 20 years now. It has helped me put my kids through private school, and provided extra money for me to get my pilots lic., skydiving amoung other things. My best year I earned 33K part time. Last year was my worst, just under 12K. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Airman1270 0 #13 February 23, 2011 Ah, timing. Am about to embark on a commission-only job. Returning to a radio station I once worked at. New management. Doing the morning show, and selling advertising. My pay is 50% of whatever we collect. And I don't have to give up the day job. Only wish I was good at sales. Interesting learning curve ahead... Cheers, Jon S. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ZigZagMarquis 9 #14 February 23, 2011 I had to vote OTHER... Because I couldn't vote NO and BOOBIES! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nataly 38 #15 February 23, 2011 Quote Only wish I was good at sales. Interesting learning curve ahead... I imagine you could genuinely have fun with it, but to be really successful, I reckon you either need to be a natural salesperson, or else be really passionate and/or motivated (or just plain lucky!!!). I think the timing for me is not such that I would seek-out a sales job... I'm not naturally good at it, and it kinda sounds like my idea of hell!! That, and PR.. Schmoozing ain't my thing!! The best sales-guy I ever met just *loved* his job. Maybe that was his secret.. Anyhoo, good luck - learning curves can be tough but they can also be rewarding. "There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse." - Chris Hadfield « Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. » - my boss Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
