Good Grief!

[xt1me]

 

Blue Steel Acquisitions, the company named after a pose from Zoolander, is a door-to-door sales company. Not that they call themselves that. They had a whole thing about how they’re not sales people but I forget the justifications.

The second interview was a work shadow thing. I went into the place, filled in a quick questionnaire and was then given to the person I would be observing. We piled in with three other people in someone’s car and drove to our areas. We were somewhere in Douglas and we were shilling Airtricity. You’d think the fact that you were guaranteed savings if you switch from Bord Gás or ESB, it’s better for the environment and the fact that you do nothing but let them take two photos of your meters and sign would mean it would be an easy sell.

Nope.

I did a lot of walking today. My feet are killing me. They have this formula; you visit 110 houses, talk to 70 people, get in 10 doors and make 7 sells. Needless to say that’s not actuate. Apparently getting 7 sells is called ringing the bell and you get a prize for it. I’ll say one thing, they're good at keeping people motivated if you thrive on that sort of thing. Prizes for high rollers, tons of parties and travel to any other offices if you want it. Promotional offers are also easy. If you work hard you can be a full manager in 10 months.

 

The thing is, it’s not the walking I mind, I can get used to it, it the long hours and no food! Seriously, we stopped off at Centra for a quick bite before hand, but from 2 to 8 it was straight though. No food breaks and no bathrooms. You lap the circuit you’re given three times. Lap one is 2 to 4, lap two is 4 to 6 and lap three is 6 to 8 with five minutes rest in between. I can understand why, it’s all commission based so you have to move, but I need my food! I eat little and often. I was feeling kind of faint by the end of the day. I could maybe handle this kind of pace two or three days a week but not five.

The last interview was at half 8 (of course by the time we got back it was 9) and I said I was having a hard time keeping positive as it was the end of the day and I was exhausted and they told me to call them tomorrow. Unless I’m feeling a better in the morning or someone talks me into it I’m probably going to have to give up on this job. I hate quitting something but I don’t think I can hack it.

 

 

I’ll tell you this though. To work for them you have to be aggressively positive.