Atlanta Business Consulting Cydcor Entry-Level Account Executive position really door-to-door sales with poor compensation Atlanta, Georgia
If you're reading this, you've most likely stumbled upon an ad for Atlanta Business Consulting (ABC) stating the company does work on behalf of Fortune 500 Companies and seeks to develop new candidates into managers. Please don't believe this is a real opportunity for you.
You're going to be invited to an interview that lasts about ten-fifteen minutes where they determine you're not completely inept. You will then be invited to a second interview where you actually go out into "the field" to see what it is everybody does. Let me save you the trouble of doing all that and tell you what you'll be doing: Door-to-door sales of AT&T products with no previously set appointments. You can't give anyone business cards. You can't leave your phone number. You're taught to dance around the issue that you're not a real AT&T employee (no one wants to buy anything from you if you don't work directly for AT&T. Go figure. Would you buy phone service from a suspicious solicitor?). And on top of all that, it's 100% commission, which should let you know this "opportunity" is nothing more than a twenty-first century version of sharecropping.
Let's say you're really good at this job and begin consistently making a hundred bucks a day, which isn't by any means impossible. You then will be promoted to "Leader" status, which means you get to come to the office earlier, stay later, and train other employees with no increase in pay. Ironically, your pay is cut once you become a Leader, because you have to split your commission with the person/persons you're training. It stinks. By splitting your pay with someone else who is still in training, ABC requires you to invest your own time and money in another employee without compensating you for it. Never work for a company that isn't willing to make an investment in you so that you can succeed there.
I saw lots of guys and gals going in and out of this place every day. They're always interviewing new people because people are always leaving. The ones who leave the soonest are also the wisest and see this for the scam that it is. I quickly learned that very few of my colleagues were able to support themselves with this job. Most of them still lived with their families, and some even told me they had moved back in with their families since being employed by ABC. The company makes it sound like an awesome opportunity. They tell you how quickly you'll get promoted (you will, and it doesn't really mean anything special), how you can put your sales team together and work your way up to management, how you'll become a manager and open your own office and be rich. To convince you of this, each morning meeting includes an inspirational speech from the President or a manager letting you know you need to "keep your eye on the prize" by continuing to work hard for ABC. Your chances of actually getting very far with this are small, because the most intelligent folks get out of it before they're in too deep.
Truth is, I never wanted to operate my own MLM anyway. ABC is a pyramid scheme dressed up in a fancy suit. I wouldn't have worked there if I had seen anything about it on ripoffreport.com, but there wasn't a single report. It's a subsidiary of Cydcor, which is the parent company for lots of similar little MLMs selling for AT&T, Verizon, Quill, and other companies. Look up Cydcor on this site and you'll read hundreds of reviews similar to this one. I didn't even go into detail about the daily meetings/ceremonies (wierd, huh?), but it appears from myriad reports on here that all the other offices are set up the same way and have their employees do the same thing. Don't waste your time with this one.
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Jessica
Miami,Florida,
U.S.A.
They are trying to be up front !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, March 05, 2010
"they are trying to be up front" !!!!!!!!!!
If they were really up front, they would tell you in the first interview the following:
1. It's a door to door sales job.
2. Commisison only.
3. No medical insurance, no paid holidays, no paid vacations.
4. No expense reimbursement. You drive 50 miles to "your terriority" and you pay the gas.
5. You work 60 hours a week.
6. Average weekly pay for first year rep is $300.
7. Huge turnover. Cdycor has 2,000 reps but has to hire 25,000 reps every year.
8. The "opportunity" is a fraud. Cydcor opens 150 offices every year and closes 145 offices.
1898_3042
United States of AmericaAtlanta Business Consulting is NOT a scam!
#5UPDATE EX-employee responds
Fri, March 05, 2010
After reading the original post on this website, I felt the need to write a rebuttal. Atlanta Business Consulting is NOT a scam, and obviously you're a former employee who wasn't willing to do actually to the work.
I understand that in this economy, companies that ask you to work for commission might seem untrustworthy, but all I'm asking is for you to read my rebuttal and judge for yourself.
The interview process with Atlanta Business Consulting is two-fold: there's a relatively quick first interview, and then a day-long second interview in the field. A lot of people have complained about the length of this second interview, but they do this because they're trying to be up front! They want you to see what a typical day is like in this position, so that you can decide if it's something you would enjoy doing. During the second interview, they TELL YOU these entry-level positions are commission-based. While yes, you have the opportunity to work your way up to salary positions in the company, it's made extremely clear that this position is 100% commission based. The idea of working for commission isn't that far-fetched. Think cosmetic sales like Mary Kay, Avon, and Mark; even Aflac Insurance sales are 100% commission based. Many other groups around Atlanta start their road reps off with just commission-based sales to prove themselves. It's a great way to learn the skills you need to succeed in sales in any kind of environment.
At NO POINT are you ever asked to pay them anything. You don't pay for training. You don't pay for classes. Atlanta Business Consulting actually pays you during your training while you learn. They want your to do well.
As with most outside sales jobs, you are managing your own territory. Some people have commented about the company not reimbursing mileage/gas, but there's a reason for that: if you record your mileage, keep your gas receipts, and log the work done on your vehicle, when you file your taxes you can claim all of that.
A commission-based career isn't for everyone. It's hard work, but the benefits are worth it. But here's the thing: you need to have the work ethic to succeed. Commission-based opportunities obviously aren't for everyone (see our cranky friend above), but if you're willing to put forth the effort this is a FANTASTIC opportunity. All it takes is actually getting out there and putting the work in; the Atlanta office is one of the most supportive places you could be.
Just because a job is commission based, doesn't mean that it's a scam. You get to meet new people every day, go on interesting business trips, and work in a fun, interesting environment. And the truth is, you have a great support group in that office, full of people who want you to succeed and who are there motivating you and helping you every step of the way.
*Quick disclaimer: I am not a current employee of Atlanta Business Consulting. I was previously employed by them and greatly enjoyed my time there and the skills I learned in the field.
Indianapolis,Indiana,
USA
wrong perception
#5Consumer Comment
Fri, February 12, 2010
Both of You are dead wrong. This company deals with AT&T, Quill, and Staples! Do you really think these large Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies would allow a bad firm to represent them. Cydcor just got named Platinum by AT&T! You guys sound lazy. Go get another desk job that is replaceable by monkeys. Sales is the only way to be succesful in this economy. You both will be laid off...actually you both obviously dont have jobs! I do not even work for this company, I am just so sick of the lazy people out there.
Leola
United States of AmericaI Agree!
#5Consumer Comment
Wed, February 10, 2010
Thank you * 3 for saving me the time, effort and fuel cost to go on an interview!
I was contacted by this company but could not find anything about them until TODAY!
I had the skepticism that something was wrong but I could not place my finger on it and was willing to give them the benefit of a doubt until I saw your post and another post about this company. This is totally the affirmation that I needed to not move forward with an interview!
The outline that you gave is so reminiscent of the manner in which Marketing Endeavors used 10 years ago when I first graduated from college!
I can't forget it as I wore the wrong shoes that day while walking through tough Atlanta neighborhoods instead of Fortune 500 - 1000 companies which brings me to my point: I was told that we would be working with businesses in relevance to b2b not functioning as foot soldiers peddling Papa John's and Pizza Hut coupons that are found in The Atlanta Journal Constitution for FREE! Keyword here is free not for the price of $10 per page of coupons that the company was charging at the time.
The kicker was when the field trainer didn't want to take no for an answer when a homeowner didn't want to discuss "business" with her due to the death of her son. I only lasted 1.5 hours "in the field" before I had told the trainee that I had to head home because I was feeling sick.
According to the other post that I had responded to about this company, Marketing Endeavors more than likely IS THE SAME company. Sad!
Again, thanks for the post and keep up the good work in exposing this company functioning under many names for what it is.