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Q:
I've been out of work for three months. My significant other is, for
all intents, supporting me while I look for work. I've been an IT guy,
but that was several years ago and my industry knowledge is now woefully
out of date. Most recently, I worked for a mortgage company. I
now have a sales opportunity at an insurance company. The manager
said that he can see me making management in just a few months. Each
policy is very inexpensive, which means I'll need to sell a lot of policies to make any
money. I want to take the job, as I'll be in management soon.
My S.O. is against it because there's not
guarantee I'll make any money at all. Should I take the job?
-Rick in Fairfield
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A:
You sure put a lot of background in your question, Rick! Kudos!
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There are a few nuggets
you left out, however: 1) Will you be straight commission from day one, or have
a tapered draw against commission, or a flat base salary plus commission?
2) Will your S.O. be supportive even if you go
against her advice? 3) Do you have the guts to make the sales you
need to make the money you want?
Those are important questions - particularly the third one. You've
spent your professional life nowhere near sales, after all.
Given the information you've supplied (because that's all I have to form an
opinion), I would side with your S.O. for the
following reason:
You're being sold to. You
were told in the interview that you'd make management within a few
months. Hiring managers often say this to job candidates to draw them
into the job. If someone says you'll make management in just a few
months when all s/he has to go by is your resume and an interview or two -
particularly when you're new to the industry and position - then s/he is
selling you on the job. You have to wonder why a hiring manager would
try so hard to sell you on the job. If it walks like a duck and
quacks like a duck...
IN THE CARAVAN: Don't take jobs hiring managers try to sell you on.
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The Lion’s Pride: Q & A
