What would you do? Accepting a job offer (1 Viewer)

[NCCommish]

So I have an offer on the table from a major commercial/residential security company. They want me to work with the commercial side specifically small to medium size business. I am very familiar with that space as that's where I spent several years successfully doing B2B sales. They provide leads but of course want you to prospect as well. They are reworking their office here in Charlotte and looking for people that can hit quotas. Right now they seem to have some slackers they took on after they bought another company. I would be one of two Small Business Consultants covering a relatively large geographic area. For those who know the Carolinas the territory covers  the Charlotte metro, Columbia, Winston Salem, Greenville, and Greensboro. All of those cities are within 90 minutes of Charlotte so not to tough to cover. They offer a 600 a month territory allowance to cover gas and incidental expenses. They have all the normal corporate benefits(insurance, 401k, paid vacation, etc.) and are in the process of merging with another large provider. If I read correctly it will make them the largest in the US. These guys get 4.5 stars on the BBB review site with nearly 600 reviews. They currently have an installed base that includes over 2 million customers and are in every state in the US. The industry itself is expected to grow by about 9 percent annually for at least the next several years. So it is a growth industry.

Here's the hitch. it's 100% commission after the training period. The guy who interviewed me said most guys outsell the training pay. In other words their commission is higher than the training pay would be. The guy running this office started as an appointment setter and worked his way up to branch manager. So they do have room to grow. As he noted the current territory will probably change after the merger and there will be opportunities for producers to make the move to manager. But still the commission only thing is kind of scary. I am good salesman especially in a consultative sales environment which this is. I don't pressure sales well at all. So I think I can be successful at it. But I do have concerns of course about that pay structure. As many of you know my wife has been unable to work for many years. I am the sole breadwinner. So if I accept this I feel like I am taking a bit of a risk but a decent calculated one.

So what would you do? Have you ever worked 100% commission? How did it go? Looking for votes and advice.

 

[eoMMan]

Absolutely no draw that you can pay back after you make some sales?

I wouldn't take the job unless I had a decent amount saved up to cover the potential lack of income.

Good luck.

 

[gianmarco]

How long could you try it and be unsuccessful and still be ok financially? How hard would it be to find new employment if you took this and it didn't work out?

 

[Jayded]

As sole breadwinner, I'd have reservations about something that risky for my own family. I guess it depends on how risk averse you are. I'd prefer a stable paycheck over the opportunity to shoot for the moon but having up and down months to try to budget against.

 

[saintfool]

i've been in sales for almost 15 years with a number of different companies. i'd never do 100% commission but then, like you, i'm not a sales animal. i'm that consultative sales tactician that looks for the "win-win" in sales situations. here's the thing in my experience, when it comes to sales, it comes down to sales culture. i'd be very wary of that kind of sales culture despite the quality of the company, the product/services offered and the like.

 

[Abraham]

Do you get any existing accounts that are about to come up for renewal?

 

[NCCommish]

Do you get any existing accounts that are about to come up for renewal?

Not that I am aware of.

 

[NCCommish]

Absolutely no draw that you can pay back after you make some sales?

I wouldn't take the job unless I had a decent amount saved up to cover the potential lack of income.

Good luck.

Yeah no draw. Which is why I am so hesitant.

 

[NCCommish]

How long could you try it and be unsuccessful and still be ok financially? How hard would it be to find new employment if you took this and it didn't work out?

Well I was thinking if I accept it I'd go part time with what I am doing now until I see how it goes. The first month I get the training pay if I am not making sales but it isn't a lot.

 

[NCCommish]

As sole breadwinner, I'd have reservations about something that risky for my own family. I guess it depends on how risk averse you are. I'd prefer a stable paycheck over the opportunity to shoot for the moon but having up and down months to try to budget against.

Good points.

 

[JNox3]

tldr

 

[NCCommish]

tldr

2 paragraphs is a lot to digest.

 

[JNox3]

2 paragraphs is a lot to digest.

They are big paragraphs partner

 

[NCCommish]

They are big paragraphs partner

True

 

[FUBAR]

So I have an offer on the table from a major commercial/residential security company. They want me to work with the commercial side specifically small to medium size business. I am very familiar with that space as that's where I spent several years successfully doing B2B sales. They provide leads but of course want you to prospect as well. They are reworking their office here in Charlotte and looking for people that can hit quotas. Right now they seem to have some slackers they took on after they bought another company. I would be one of two Small Business Consultants covering a relatively large geographic area. For those who know the Carolinas the territory covers  the Charlotte metro, Columbia, Winston Salem, Greenville, and Greensboro. All of those cities are within 90 minutes of Charlotte so not to tough to cover. They offer a 600 a month territory allowance to cover gas and incidental expenses. They have all the normal corporate benefits(insurance, 401k, paid vacation, etc.) and are in the process of merging with another large provider. If I read correctly it will make them the largest in the US. These guys get 4.5 stars on the BBB review site with nearly 600 reviews. They currently have an installed base that includes over 2 million customers and are in every state in the US. The industry itself is expected to grow by about 9 percent annually for at least the next several years. So it is a growth industry.

Here's the hitch. it's 100% commission after the training period. The guy who interviewed me said most guys outsell the training pay. In other words their commission is higher than the training pay would be. The guy running this office started as an appointment setter and worked his way up to branch manager. So they do have room to grow. As he noted the current territory will probably change after the merger and there will be opportunities for producers to make the move to manager. But still the commission only thing is kind of scary. I am good salesman especially in a consultative sales environment which this is. I don't pressure sales well at all. So I think I can be successful at it. But I do have concerns of course about that pay structure. As many of you know my wife has been unable to work for many years. I am the sole breadwinner. So if I accept this I feel like I am taking a bit of a risk but a decent calculated one.

So what would you do? Have you ever worked 100% commission? How did it go? Looking for votes and advice.

How do you get a paid vacation with 100% commission? 

If it's something I enjoyed doing and thought I'd be good at, I'd probably dive in.  But I have a pension (vested, not drawing yet) to rely on that can cover necessities - house, food, and utilities.  Assuming you have enough saved to cover yourselves for awhile, it's certainly worth considering.  That area is nice, we lived nearby for four years and I wouldn't mind going back if we had to leave our current area. 

What's the best case, worst case and most likely scenarios?

 

[fantasycurse42]

100% commission, it would depend on where I was professionally - first job, possibly I would've entertained it. Not now though.  

 

[msommer]

So, it's a pyramid scheme in the protection racket business?

Seems like they earn those ratings the old fashioned way

 

[NCCommish]

How do you get a paid vacation with 100% commission? 

If it's something I enjoyed doing and thought I'd be good at, I'd probably dive in.  But I have a pension (vested, not drawing yet) to rely on that can cover necessities - house, food, and utilities.  Assuming you have enough saved to cover yourselves for awhile, it's certainly worth considering.  That area is nice, we lived nearby for four years and I wouldn't mind going back if we had to leave our current area. 

What's the best case, worst case and most likely scenarios?

Yeah I am going to have to ask about vacation as it didn't click in the interview but I thought the same thing after I left. 

Worst case I sell nothing and go back to delivering pizza. That seems unlikely as I am a pretty decent salesman. I should be able to at least match what other guys are doing.

Best case I clear 75k a year and end up in management. Seems doable but I would have to really hit big and do some serious grinding for my own leads to add to what they provide.

Most likely I end up around 50k a year and make a nice living but nothing spectacular.

 

[bushdocda]

Selling security systems does not sound that secure. 

 

[Bucky86]

Sounds  

 

[ChiefD]

Yeah I am going to have to ask about vacation as it didn't click in the interview but I thought the same thing after I left. 

Worst case I sell nothing and go back to delivering pizza. That seems unlikely as I am a pretty decent salesman. I should be able to at least match what other guys are doing.

Best case I clear 75k a year and end up in management. Seems doable but I would have to really hit big and do some serious grinding for my own leads to add to what they provide.

Most likely I end up around 50k a year and make a nice living but nothing spectacular.

I would pass on this job.

If the "most likely" number is around 50K, you can find plenty of sales jobs out there with a heck of a lot less risk. 

 

[FUBAR]

Yeah I am going to have to ask about vacation as it didn't click in the interview but I thought the same thing after I left. 

Worst case I sell nothing and go back to delivering pizza. That seems unlikely as I am a pretty decent salesman. I should be able to at least match what other guys are doing.

Best case I clear 75k a year and end up in management. Seems doable but I would have to really hit big and do some serious grinding for my own leads to add to what they provide.

Most likely I end up around 50k a year and make a nice living but nothing spectacular.

with your acumen, you should be able to do better elsewhere.

 

[Phil Elliott]

Any carrots they are hanging out for future management assignments should be taken with a grain of salt, especially if they are in the middle of a merger/acquisition - there is going to be a lot of realignment of resources and people looking for a position.  I would keep looking. 100% commission too risky for your situation.

 

[Chemical X]

for me, the worst part is the pending merger.  to go to a full commission based job for a company involved in the merger process, well............I would prefer the merger be completed.  been on the wrong end of that scenario too many times, so I wouldn't walk into it knowingly.  when you find out your territory is 1/2 what you thought, then what?

pass

 

[NCCommish]

for me, the worst part is the pending merger.  to go to a full commission based job for a company involved in the merger process, well............I would prefer the merger be completed.  been on the wrong end of that scenario too many times, so I wouldn't walk into it knowingly.  when you find out your territory is 1/2 what you thought, then what?

pass

Good point.

 

[NCCommish]

Thanks for all the input. Some very good points brought up. I have been back and forth on it since yesterday. Thinking you guys are right and it's a no.

 

[hxperson]

I'm going to guess the potential employer is ADT/Protection 1.  If that is the case, I like their product suite and I think they have some attractive new avenues for growth, but keep in mind the merged company will be controlled by Apollo, considered to be one more aggressive and cut-throat private equity firms out there, run by the equally notorious Leon Black.

 

[Funkley]

No but I'm not a financial risk taker.......other than getting married.

 

[NCCommish]

I'm going to guess the potential employer is ADT/Protection 1.  If that is the case, I like their product suite and I think they have some attractive new avenues for growth, but keep in mind the merged company will be controlled by Apollo, considered to be one more aggressive and cut-throat private equity firms out there, run by the equally notorious Leon Black.

Good guess. Yeah they mentioned that Black will be running it. Don't know much about him what makes him notorious?

 

[Zow]

Yeah no draw. Which is why I am so hesitant.

I'd have zero issue with a commission, but the no draw definitely sucks.  

 

[Zow]

As sole breadwinner, I'd have reservations about something that risky for my own family. I guess it depends on how risk averse you are. I'd prefer a stable paycheck over the opportunity to shoot for the moon but having up and down months to try to budget against.

Right.  That's why the no draw part sucks so badly.  

 

[Jayrod]

If I'm going 100% commission, six figures better be a realistic possibility.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I was going to PM this NCC but you're way too smart for ADT and forget driving 100 miles around town to meet some folks who forgot you were even coming to begin with.

-There has to be a better plan than this. Did we run an Indeed search? Why is this a good job or career for you right now?

I would rather hear you took a telemarketing job where you don't need to drive anywhere and waste time. Charlotte is a hotbed for sales, I'm sure. 

-If you want to get out of the office then try and secure a sales job in construction or a company you can drive around and represent.

Only thing I would like is the B2B angle but you need to imagine what those conversations are going to be..."We already have an alarm and video camera system"

100% Com is fine but you know the turnover with this company is high for a reason, if it were easy they likely wouldn't need to hire you. 

Just be careful NCC, it's 100% Com so tell them you need to think about it...believe me they will have opening next week, next month, next year, this isn't a must take IMHO. 

 

[Gally]

I don't know your situation at all but how does this compare to your current employment?  To me that would be the biggest factor in making this decision.

 

[NCCommish]

I was going to PM this NCC but you're way too smart for ADT and forget driving 100 miles around town to meet some folks who forgot you were even coming to begin with.

-There has to be a better plan than this. Did we run an Indeed search? Why is this a good job or career for you right now?

I would rather hear you took a telemarketing job where you don't need to drive anywhere and waste time. Charlotte is a hotbed for sales, I'm sure. 

-If you want to get out of the office then try and secure a sales job in construction or a company you can drive around and represent.

Only thing I would like is the B2B angle but you need to imagine what those conversations are going to be..."We already have an alarm and video camera system"

100% Com is fine but you know the turnover with this company is high for a reason, if it were easy they likely wouldn't need to hire you. 

Just be careful NCC, it's 100% Com so tell them you need to think about it...believe me they will have opening next week, next month, next year, this isn't a must take IMHO. 

Thanks MoP.

Yeah I am just really starting the search. I just got done reading a ton of reviews on Glassdoor and this is definitely a non-starter. Even very specific complaints about the office I was interviewing with. I am going to keep looking. Just getting tired of the stupid pizza job and was maybe a little overeager to move on. You guys have really helped me get my head right on this.

 

[tone1oc]

If you do decide take it, I think you will need a side hustle to keep your revenue floor up.  My suggestion would be smuggling a bunch of those little signs and stickers that say "Secured by..".  That way even if a prospect is not interested in your product suite, you can push them signs at $10 a pop and stickers at $5 a pop.  The sales pitch is easy, it keeps honest people honest and if a burglar or home invader cared at all about the presence of a security system they would probably stop once they see two lawn signs and a decal in each ground floor level window.  You can call it the entry level or starter package, it could even lead to more "traditional" sales down the road.

GL

 

[NCCommish]

If you do decide take it, I think you will need a side hustle to keep your revenue floor up.  My suggestion would be smuggling a bunch of those little signs and stickers that say "Secured by..".  That way even if a prospect is not interested in your product suite, you can push them signs at $10 a pop and stickers at $5 a pop.  The sales pitch is easy, it keeps honest people honest and if a burglar or home invader cared at all about the presence of a security system they would probably stop once they see two lawn signs and a decal in each ground floor level window.  You can call it the entry level or starter package, it could even lead to more "traditional" sales down the road.

GL

I like it.

 

[hxperson]

Good guess. Yeah they mentioned that Black will be running it. Don't know much about him what makes him notorious?

Former Drexel guy.  Reputation for being a hard-line negotiator.  In the case of Apollo, has a long track record of screwing over other stakeholders (mostly through creative interpretations of their legal agreements) when things get challenging for a portfolio company. 

 

[NCCommish]

Former Drexel guy.  Reputation for being a hard-line negotiator.  In the case of Apollo, has a long track record of screwing over other stakeholders (mostly through creative interpretations of their legal agreements) when things get challenging for a portfolio company. 

He sounds lovely.

Well I just officially turned down the offer. At the end of the day the 100% commission issue was the big hurdle, just couldn't get past it. When I called to tell them I couldn't do it the branch manager said that may be changing soon. So I said call me if it does.

 

[The Hank]

Good call - 100% commission is a scary propostion in this type of field.

 

[NCCommish]

Also the reviews on Glassdoor didn't help. A couple of them were specifically about this office. One said not to take the 100% commission deal at this office that they didn't provide enough leads or support to make it viable.

 

[NCCommish]

Good call - 100% commission is a scary propostion

Yeah if this were 20 years ago when my wife made decent money then I could've taken a shot. But not now when I am the only person bringing in money. Just couldn't do it.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

You take 100% commission jobs when your earnings potential is well into 6-figures, not when it is 50-75K.

 

[NCCommish]

You take 100% commission jobs when your earnings potential is well into 6-figures, not when it is 50-75K.

Yeah that was part of it as well. Although 75 wouldn't be a bad thing. That is 40% over the median income and would be a very nice increase for me. But the lack of advertising along with the 100% made that seem like a tough slog. I mean I hear ADT on the radio, on TV and the web, These guys? Nothing. Leads me to believe one company probably has a ton of leads and the other not so much. I wonder what they will do after the merger? Will they continue advertising like that? Hard to say.