Short phone screen, followed by on-site interview and paperwork, followed by all-day interview and shadowing a current Sales Rep, followed by a job offer.
Positives:
Everyone I spoke with was nice and encouraging. The interview process moved QUICKLY. (This may also be a negative, as it feels like they’re trying to rush you into buying something before you realize what it is.)
The 2nd interview, a full day shadowing a Rep, definitely gives a good idea for the average work day: many “no one home”s, some outright rejections, and some examples of how to present and close a sale. But as others have noted, be prepared for several hours of walking/standing. The route taken for my interview was in a nice area, very high-end of middle class.
There is definite potential for a decent salary and growth if you’re prepared to make the investment of time, money and effort.
Neutrals:
They were clear that it was door-to-door residential, not presenting to professionals in conference rooms. It is very much a job where you have to put forth a good effort to get back a reasonable salary. Based on the numbers I was shown, if you can maintain the required minimum quota (4 sales per week), then you should earn about $34k/yr pre-tax. If you can maintain a weekly average for the whole year above 4 (say, you average 5.5 sales/wk), then it’s about $34k + 8k*(average – 4) /yr (~$46.8k for 5.5 sales/wk). I was told that any Rep should get at least 1 sale per day (weekly minimum of 5), but the average is higher.
You’re essentially a cut-out man for North Inc’s client company. You get customers to sign up for contracts with the client company, and as soon as they sign up, your part is done. This means you don’t have to worry the stress of about follow up (that becomes the client company’s customer rep’s problem), only the sale of the day. On the other hand, you don’t see the post-sale customer reviews either, to know if your customers are actually satisfied. You don’t really build a customer base, as one might for a different kind of sales job. It’s always new people who, if they buy, you probably never see again.
Negatives:
Reimbursement for travel does not come from North Inc, but from itemized deduction on your federal taxes when you file the following year. Until then, you just have to make do.
Earnings are all commission-based during at least the first 2 years, which means your take-home pay will be variable and largely dependent on luck, even with the help of their training, Sales Force software and a solid effort by yourself. The company would argue that it’s less “luck” and more “the law of averages”: meaning that, as a Sales Rep, if you follow their strategy, and put in the usual hours of pavement pounding, you WILL get enough sales to live well. But to me, this “law” cuts both ways: if what they say is true, and you’re all but guaranteed 5 sales/week, then they why would they not offer that equivalent as a steady base salary, with commission bonuses every week you go above 5? Actions say more than words, and keeping it commission-based tells me that their failure rate may be higher than they let on.
North Inc’s employment agreement includes a non-compete clause that prohibits their former employees from conducting *door-to-door* sales within St. Louis County and the surrounding area for 1 year!
Finally, there are a couple of things about North Inc that strongly suggest “pyramid scheme”. A) The above ‘salary’ estimates are based on the Sales you would make, but promotion at the company depends on recruitment of new Sales Reps. It is suspicious to me that individual success depends on recruiting more employees for the company instead of selling more product. B) Before you begin selling anything, and at least two weeks before you start receiving any commissions, *it seems like* you are required to pay nearly $600 for an iPad. The tablet is a reasonable requirement for the job. Its Sales Force app certainly makes the job easier. I would understand having to pay a security deposit, to cover the repair if you damage company equipment, but according to the contract, there is no agreement that this money will be refunded to you if the tablet is returned in good condition.
Taken together, these Negatives tell me that North Inc wants you to take risks on the company, while the company is not willing to take any risks on you.
*response to North Inc:
The Equipment Usage Agreement states a new employee has "received the following from North, Inc ... at a cost of $585 as set out opposite the applicable Equipment". If that's not meant to say that the new employee pays the cost up front, I would recommend changing its current wording.
I apologize for misinterpreting the non-competition clause. It is not prohibitive for *all* Sales jobs as I initially said, only all door-to-door/-business jobs within 35 miles of St Louis County, which I still see as a strong Negative.
