Complaint Review: Capital Marketing Solutions

I found the advertisement for "Entry-Level Marketing Account Executive" on Monster Careers. I had been on the job hunt for a few months. I have a Bachelors degree and am planning to go to graduate school for my MBA. This job ad looked like a very promising opportunity to break into a Marketing Career.

I email my Resume and never got a response back. Two wks later I call and the secretary immediately sets me up for an interview. When I go in for my interview, I notice 6 other people in there as well! That was feeling #1 that something was up. As I filled out the application, which was on a clipboard, (on the secretary's desk there is actually a stack of clipboards with applications already prepared),there was loud music and people cheering in the next room (door closed). I wait to be interviewed and talk to the other applicants and find out all 6 of them are there for the 2nd interview: an interactive on the "field" interview. WTF! Feeling #2.

I get interviewed for about 25 mins and am told their clients are Staples and Quill (owned by Staples). I was asked, "Now there will be some travelling to Miami and New York, do you mind travelling, expenses covered by us of course" I thought, "Wow, this is going to be awesome." Basically the interview involved the manager SELLING you their company. He didn't ask me many questions about my capabilities on selling, which I was disappointed since I have extensive experience in clienteling and selling. He didn't even ask the typical interview question, "Why do you want to work with us?" He basically makes the job sound like this glamorous position by using words such as "account executive", "client acquisition", "direct marketing", "public speaking", "clienteling". When the interview was over and I was told I would get a call back by 3pm and if not, that meant they decided to go with someone else. As I was leaving I noticed a handful more new candidates waiting to be interviewed.

Anyways, I did accept the job and tried to ask about salary. Like many have posted, they dodge and run away from this question. My boss said, "Don't worry I give out many bonuses and everyone is able to live comfortably here" I asked again, "Basically, I am not paid unless I sell something?" and he says, "I go over with you how much your rent and other expenses are and I will help you determine how much you need to sell in order to hit your goals, but I make sure you do and you won't have to worry about finances." Realllly? 

So, despite my bad feelings about this job, I thought, "I'll take the risk of being on 100% commission, because I really want to get my foot in the door of a Marketing firm prior to grad school." I definately should have never accepted the job.

The past 3 days this week working for this firm has been a waste of time. I would come into the office at 8am. From 8am until about 10:30 you work on presentations and practicing sales pitches with each other. The manager then comes out basically tries to brainwash and persuade everyone that if they stick to face-to-face marketing (door-to-door selling) they will eventually be making ridiculous sums of money. He also uses this time to talk about employees who have been promoted. But really the promotions don't mean anything. The promoted employees are still on 100% commission.

At around 10:30am, everyone gets a map and is assigned a specific territory. Most of the people in the office do not own a car! One guy was assigned Springfield and my trainer and I were assigned Herndon. He had to drive us to Herndon and then go and drive to Springfield for his territory. You basically spend 10:30 to 6:30 walking to every single business. You are not allowed to skip doors. You have a track sheet, where you log the name of the business, the name of the person you spoke to. You are selling office supplies. You can choose to take a lunch. But most of the people are so stressed on making a d**n sale, that they just keep on going. My third day, my trainer didn't want to take a break, because she didn't make any sales. It was 90 degrees out! Also, you have to carry a large catalog and binder with all of the sales materials. Picture yourself in business professional clothing with a huge tote bag weighing about 10lbs!

Around 6:30, the guy picked us up and then we head back to the office. Where everyone rings a Bell or a Gong, which represents small or large sales accomplished. Then everyone is finally allowed to go home.

 I did love the positive and upbeat atmostphere. I loved doing presentations and speaking in front of my coworkers and I enjoyed gaining the extra people skills (though I have tons of sales/clientelling experiences already) HOWEVER, driving 2-3 hours on top of the commute to work in the D.C./VA area is absolutely ridiculous! I didn't drive out to the "field" on my 3 days being there, since I was training, but I witnessed one employee drive myself and my trainer 40 mins away from the office to our Territory and then turn around in the complete opposite direction to drive 40 mins back towards his territory. Now, I love my car and take good care of it and I do not want to put unneccessary mileage on it when possible! Also, out of 20 people in the office, why did only about 4 have a car? Everyone was so excited to see I had a car, on top of that, a car that was in great running condition inside and outside.

Everyone is really nice and my trainer was so encouraging and warm when it came to delivering feedback and coaching me. But coming to the office at 8am and not leaving until 7:30pm everyday was obsurd. I am by no means, a lazy individual. I work very hard and understand I have to start from the bottom to get to the top. HOWEVER, I am not about working 10-12 hrs a day and only getting paid if I sell something! You wanna call me lazy? How about call me smart! Like Dan said, there is a difference between working HARD and working SMART. Thank you Dan for that!

FISHY FACTS:

My boss lives an hour away from the Northern Virginia area in a city that is relatively cheap in rent (I know for a fact, because I considered the same city prior to moving) and he lives with 3 other coworkers in the office on top of not having a car! He's supposed to be the manager and as he said, "I don't want settle for making only $50, 000 a year, do you?" Well, then why are you splitting $1000 rent with 3 people?

Most of the employees do not own a car. They were so excited to find out I had one.

They encourage everyone to try and room with each other.

The week I worked, the office had their New York employees stay in Falls Church for 3 weeks, because the Falls Church office does not have enough employees on its own yet (another sign that the turnover at this place is ridiculously high!!) I learned that the 5 New York employees were rooming with my boss and his 3 roommates!

Obviously, no one in this company or the New York branch are making enough money.

Please everyone, do not waste your time on this Pyramid Scheme company. I wasted 3 days along with hours of commuting and lack of sleep just to realize that this company is living on hopes and dreams and not reality or truth.