Working on Commission? No
I was recently lured into a "job interview." I walked up to the building and about three people greeted me at the door. "Are you hear for (censored business name)?" they asked. "Why, yes I am." I replied. Now my paranoid nature beginning to wonder if this was some sort of trap. Maybe the college cops set up a sting and were going to make me pay that blasted parking fine. But one lady said that she would take me up. Of course, the naive part of me said to myself, "Wow, this is a nice company. They must really want me." We go up the elevator and I'm led around the corner to a group of people. They all greet me and we exchange handshakes and names. I feel so wanted. Then Bam! I see the little room filled with chairs and a power point presentation raring to go. "Nooooooooo!" I screamed to myself. But it was too late.
I saw a girl I knew from high school working there, which led the naive part of my brain to act up again. "Surely she wouldn't be part of a business that lures unsuspecting people and tries to turn them into salesmen? Maybe it is just a mass orientation before personal interviews." So instead of listening to the smart part of my brain and saying I needed to use the restroom then running out the building, I listen to Mr. Stupid and walk through the double doors.
So I was seated by I suppose is the person they called a recruiter, she sat right next to me and tried to chat me up before the presenation. But it began shortly (thank god). I recognized all the sales pitches. They weren't trying to convince us to work for them, they were trying to sell us into working for them. There was the quiet intro that tried to reassure you this wasn't just a commission sales job. Then there was the part that was designed to make you go "Wow, I didn't know that." Then came the hook, they wanted YOU to help them on this "crusade" to help people become debt free by buying cheaper term life insurance and investing the rest of the money that you would be spending on Whole Life Insurance otherwise. And that this was "Your BIG chance (the one you've been waiting for but nobody will give you) to make upwards of 100,000 dollars a year." Flashy pictures went by of the million dollar club, "Look, they are just ordinary people from all walks of life who took up this crusade." And all through the presnetation the recruiters, each holding the hand (metaphorically) of their unsuspecting dupes were shouting out like they were giving a lecture in a roaring church. "Amen brother!" "Oh Wow!" "Uh-huh!" "You know it!" "hahahahahahaaha".
As soon as the lights came back on I got out of there, only pausing long enough to assure my recruiter that I would think about it and grab her card. Now, I'm sure there are people out in JoeUser who sell insurance. Thats fine, I'm not a salesman, never will be. I'm not good enough at small talk to get people to really feel at ease. What amazed me about the whole thing was the demonstration. They didn't want us working for them, they wanted us to help in their crusade to end debt and assure people an income when they are older. It was an unforgettable experience, I loved just sitting back and watching all the parts of their presentation. You could see it coming... heres the assuring, then the bait, and the hook! It was just like an infomercial. Now if it didn't waste 5 hours of my night making it sound like a job interview when I talked to them on the phone, I might not have been so mad and embarassed at the end.
Working on commission, based on my salesman skills... I don't think so.