I got my first post-graduation job offer. Unfortunately, it was not so good.

[Tobin S.]

I've been sending out resumes left and right and I've filed out a few applications. I'm not really expecting much until after New Year's Day, but I figure it doesn't hurt to get out there and start trying now.

I did get a call from a logistics company yesterday. It's a subsidiary of a much larger trucking company that I've heard about before. The HR person conducted a half hour phone interview with me and then made me a job offer for a sales representative position- $30,000 base pay plus commission, health benefits, and a 401k. It sounded pretty good. Then I asked her what I could expect as far as my salary went with commission and she told me that in the first year sales representatives usually make over $60k, second year $80k, and third year $100k. That's when I started to get suspicious. It just sounded too good to be true. She said it does require a lot of work including time outside of the office to make those figures, but I was still doubtful.

I got home and took a look at what some of this company's employees are saying. The overwhelming majority of reviews say that the company lies about salaries to get you in the door and engages in other unethical behavior.

Being a trucker, I've been a victim of such hiring practices in the past. Trucking is full of companies that promise drivers the sky when actually giving them horseshit. With my college degree, I thought I had stepped outside of that realm of huckster recruiters. It looks like I'm going to have to keep on watching my step.

[KG]

1. they're conducting cattle calls. keep looking.

[Major Nikon]

2. Unless you find something better you can always use it as a stepping stone

It's always easier to find new work while you're employed in the same field.

You should always be skeptical of claims of future earnings, and this is especially true of sales jobs.

[RebelOne]

3. My thought exactly.

That job could definitely be used as a stepping stone until something better comes along.

[avebury]

5. Agreed. Plus if they expect you to be in and out

of the office to make the commission it is easier to hide any job interviews around the out of office time.

[Tobin S.]

6. I don't think that's a good idea with this company.

It would probably end up being a step backward from what I am doing now. I made $45,000 as a local trucker this year and I just got a raise. The way those employees were talking, they are not making even that much at this company.

If I was just coming right out of school very young and unemployed, I'd probably consider it more seriously.

[Major Nikon]

7. Tell them to pay you $50K

If you really don't care whether you get the job or not, simply make them a counter offer for whatever would make it worth your while. The worst that can happen is they will decline your counter. You never really know if a company is willing to increase their starting pay bid unless you ask for more. It really all boils down to what the market demands for the type of employee they are looking for, and particularly in a sales position they should expect a counter offer for whatever starting pay they are throwing out there. Upselling yourself may even impress them.

[Tobin S.]

8. I don't have a problem with doing that.

I have negotiated better pay for myself in the past. I just don't think it's going to happen there. However, you are right. I could try.

I don't know what kind of field you are in or if you are experienced with this kind of company. Their turnover is very high, well over 100%. They have groups of new recruits coming in once a month. That's for a company with a current total of 20 sales representatives. Many trucking companies are like that. It's so bad that if you find a trucking company with less than 100% turnover that's considered good. They tell you anything to get you through the door. Once you get on the road or behind the desk, you find that all of the good stuff is impossible to attain. It was all smoke and mirrors designed to get qualified people to work for less.

I'm pretty good at spotting companies like that having worked for a couple. The Internet is a marvelous tool for getting the straight dope on companies now days as well.

[Major Nikon]

9. Many sales jobs are that way

I have a friend that owns his own trucking company. His turnover is low, but his business is small. He finds good employees and pays them enough to keep them and treats them well because he just can't afford to have drivers that can't handle things when they are hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. I'm not really sure how the larger companies stay in business with that kind of turnover. Perhaps many don't.

[HERVEPA]

4. Soory Tobin. There are unethical hucksters at every level of everything.

Good luck in your search. I'm at the other end of mine. Retiring in two months.
Never having to do a resume again is a very freeing feeling.