There seems to be a lot of sales/telemarketing positions open in my area.

[StrongBad]

I need a job and could probably snag one of these if I want given my past experience in sales.

However working as a telemarketer in a boiler room situation is not something that I find appealing. Additionally, I have a suspicion that a lot of these open positions are for outright scams.

Do you think it is more virtuous to work at any job for the sake of working or to hold out for a position that is not, shall we say, "ethically challenged"?

[meow2u3]

1. Perfect job for an unemployed bankster

They have no qualms about scamming people down on their luck. :evilfrown:

[Chan790]

2. I wish there were more of those out this way...

I've done that kind of work before and I have no qualms about it at all. I just need to make a lot of money quickly to get onto my feet so I can get the hell outta DC. I hate it here so so much.

[pitohui]

3. it's likely commission only, so they are "open" because most people are not getting paid

a friend of mine used to work in telemarketing, after his last boss was arrested by the fbi he turned to me and said, shaking his head, every single person i've worked for in telemarketing has gone to prison

there is nothing wrong in working a hard job, but there is a LOT wrong in working a job where a) you don't get paid, and 2) the customer don't get product


my friend made $$$ only because he said the federal requirements are too difficult, if i disclosed that information i would never make a sale so you do the math

the people who kept it legal just lost two weeks of their lives, and there was never any chance they were going to receive any payments -- no one in their right mind buys from a stranger over the phone if the stranger over the phone is making honest disclosures -- the only way to make $$$ is to scam the elderly and in fact my friend's last boss went to federal prison specifically because he was targeting the elderly

[NYC Liberal]

4. I think if you really need the money

try it. If it feels scammy to you or you just hate doing it, you can always leave. The turnover rate for telemarketing is pretty high I think.

Have you worked retail? That's where I am now and I don't mind it so much, I love the people I work with. That's really key is working with people you can get along with.

[quakerboy]

5. It depends on you

Everyone I have known who went into those found them soul deadening. That said, sometimes we do things for money that in better times we might not be willing to approach. Only you know where your lines are and what your needs are. Maslow and all that.