Dragonflies, Butterflies & Lady Bugs

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Jeff started his new job at the car dealership yesterday, only to find that they a) misrepresented the job to him and b) expected him to work 12 hour days for the next 5 days in a row and c) REALLY misrepresented the pay scale.

In regards to A? They told him he would be calling people who had indicated interest in buying a car and asking them to come in to meet with a sales person. He specifically asked if it would be cold calling. They told him no. In fact, he was, for all intents and purposes, cold calling. If you live in the US and have any credit cards, you have probably received a letter or two from your local car dealership telling you that you are ALREADY APPROVED and COME ON IN! Jeff's job was to hound the people who didn't COME ON IN! by calling them and cajoling them to come apply for credit they perhaps did not need. Nice, eh?

So, B. When this company initially offered Jeff a job as a salesperson, he turned them down because they expected him to work 6 ten hour days a week. I'm sorry, but unless he's an attorney or a doctor, unless the income is guaranteed, that kind of time away from home isn't happening. Plus, Jeff still wants to do the police thing -- there is no way he could make time for that to happen while working 60 hours a week. When they called to offer him this new position, he made a point of telling them he couldn't work that kind of schedule. "Oh no," they said, "This is five days a week, 40 hours!" Ahem. Bullshit.

Worst of all, C. Base pay of $500... A MONTH! Everytime he gets someone to show up at the dealership, he gets $25. If they buy a car, he gets another $75. If that happens 20 times, he gets $500. And gee, if he works more hours, he has a better chance of making the commissions.

Jeff is better off working at Lowe's or Home Depot or Best Buy until he can apply to the police department in the spring. Today he's going to put in apps there. Hopefully he'll make sure he nails down the particulars of his job in the interview this time... though I think the car dealership was slimy with him. Bastards.

My husband is a man of scruples. I appreciate this, even when it means he will have to continue his job hunt. When he told me he couldn't stand trying to talk people into buying a car when they had a crappy credit rating (the credit rating was included on the call list) and when it really wouldn't be in their best interests. Since we've been on the other side of that phone call, I have to respect that.

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