vB Easy Archive - Does anyone here enjoy their job?

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Does anyone here enjoy their job?
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Posted by: jaschiero

I've read some of the threads and most of them are pretty negative. I have an interview this week for Retail Sales Consultant position that's closer to my home than where I work now. I'm just out of college and working for a company that does e-discovery and litigation technology support, but all I'm supposed to do is customer support for the clients if they have any issues with the software or databases that they access from our server. Anyway, I commute about 45 miles, make just under $30K, and I don't really do anything as they just started webhosting and for the last 3 months all I do is just sit there.

I wanted to find a job closer to home with more real world experience. Even though I work in an office setting with a business company, it's just a glorified customer service position where with Cingular, or any commissioned sales job, I would get experience in real sales which is what a lot of companies look for down the road. I would also consider management once I have enough experience in the store.

1) But it seems like nobody here likes their job. The position online says pay is about $16K-$29K, so I have no clue how the job normally pays. Is it hourly plus commission? Is there a "standard" hourly rate? I'm in Virginia. What about estimating how much commissions are? I'd like to be able to make at least what I am making now, $29K, but with the opportunity to make more/a lot more/advance.

2) What are the interviews like? This is a corporate store. What type of questions can I expect and what is the inerview process like?

3) How good are the benefits? It looks like online they are pretty comprehensive, but it doesn't mention what the match is for 401K. Is it 50% for the first X% ?

Thanks for the help.... I'm excited about the opportunity!

Posted by: NukuCamui

I like my job, but Im not in sales. Retail sales is a hellacious job, and it takes a certain type of person to do it. And with the way the company is beating down on people...its just gonna get harder and harder.

Posted by: jaschiero

Quote:

Originally Posted by NukuCamui

I like my job, but Im not in sales. Retail sales is a hellacious job, and it takes a certain type of person to do it. And with the way the company is beating down on people...its just gonna get harder and harder.

What do you do for Cingular?

I'm assuming you are referring to meeting increasing quotas? What happens you can't meet them, either because of little traffic or other reasons? I'm not really sure how much traffic the store I'm interviewing with gets.

Posted by: ivwshane

I like my job, mostly because of the people I work with and management if great at my store.

Posted by: elushon

I like my job, but like Nuku said, it takes a special kind of person to be what Cingular considers successful...

To be more specific it takes a special kind of A-hole to do this job. And do it the way Cingular likes.

If you can find that balance between being that kind of A-hole, and something you feel comfortable with (like I have and others I'm sure) then you CAN be happy in this job. But then again, I'm not gonna be concerning myself with day to day sales much longer so I could be just over joyed with the end of that.

Posted by: MrAlifEkin

More than half of your questions can be answered by looking at the first sticky in this forums labled, "What to expect working as a corp. sales consultant". And if you asked me if you shoud go for this job a couple months ago, I would have said "go for it". Now, well... let's just say that there are alot of negative threads in this forum for a reason...

I've recently learned that money really can't buy you happiness. Because I was making alot of money when I worked there, but I sure as hell wasn't happy. So, I guess it boils down to the fact that if money is the most important factor in your life (more important than your sanity, friends, family, etc.), than by all means try it out. Just a word of warning. If you make it six months, you won't be the same person you are now

You can take that however you want it.

Posted by: gregsmith59

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaschiero

...I'm just out of college and working for a company that does e-discovery and litigation technology support, but all I'm supposed to do is customer support for the clients if they have any issues with the software or databases that they access from our server. Anyway, I commute about 45 miles, make just under $30K, and I don't really do anything as they just started webhosting and for the last 3 months all I do is just sit there.
...

You could also use that free time at work to improve your technical skills. Lots of people would kill to get paid to sit there and learn/study/read. Admittedly, it's not very useful if what you want to do is work on people skills instead of technical skills.

Posted by: jaschiero

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregsmith59

True, that's something to consider.

Thanks MrAlifEkin, I always look for stickys and scan the current threads, I don't know how I missed that right-on-target sticky. My apologies. I'll be reading that thread tonight.

Posted by: NukuCamui

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaschiero

What do you do for Cingular?

Nuku works for a secret department. But what everyone else here has said is quite true. Ive done retail for several years and sales and it takes a well oiled machine to be successful. Especially with Cingular. I really dont see things getting better for sales reps after reading the BS they have to deal with, but maybe things will change when they see lots of good people leaving.

Posted by: mentalcase

I love my job. Where else can i work 25 hours a week and be on track to make 45k this year. I dont even work that hard.

Posted by: Damian7132

I love my Job but i am a salesman plain and simple (i can sell ice to eskimos as the cliche goes).I have sold Jewelery (Kay jewelers, Zales,Edward Arthur)I have sold Sunglasses (Sunglass Hut) I have sold Games (The Game Keeper) I go where the money is.For me sales is in my blood every sales job has crazy quotas that cant be met by the ordinary person if you concern yourself with these qoutas all you will do is drive yourself nuts.Now this doesnt mean that you dont take those qoutas seriously.What it means is that you sell you give the customer what he wants all the time and try to give him what you need as much as you can.The hard part is trying to convince the customer that what you need is what he wants if you can achieve this at least 40% of the time you are golden if not well start looking for a new job remember that as long as you leave on good terms you can always come back and try again its like the Circle of Life LOL.

Posted by: cuidinsider

i wish cingulars retail department would die its worse than child labor

Posted by: Above&Beyond

for a younger person its a good job because you make good money (at the VERY least 50k) have fairly flexible hours so you can make your $$$ then get the hell out. i love my cooworkers and to be honest thats the only reason im still there, but ive finally had enuff so im leaving at years end. from the customers to upper management and quota bs you will lose your soul and become jaded if u stay long enough

Posted by: brealmp3

well i work for a reseller (local telco that partners with cingular), so my job is a little different. i love it just so you know. i do have those days but i have learned from my assistant manager on how to cut out the nonsense. just get to what the customer has a problem with, and what the solutions are. if they don't like those solutions offered, then tough. just make sure you stick to the policy with each customer and yes they may think your an *** or rude, but that is life. unless she is really hot, then i have a real tough time sticking to policy!!! but anyways i'm closing in in $40,000, but i'm only guranteed to make 22,000. So you can see what can be done with comission. By the way I'm right below you in NC, so don't think I'm in some big city or something.

Posted by: 3rdCoastGSM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentalcase

I love my job. Where else can i work 25 hours a week and be on track to make 45k this year. I dont even work that hard.

Yea, ok. This guy is a

"mentalcase"

. I have to call BS on this one.

This is all you have to know.

50 Million customers = 50 Million problems.

How many do you think you can fix in a day ?

*Not calling anyone out. Just trying to keep it real.*

Posted by: ~X~

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I don't like my job that much but no other place will pay me so much to do so little

Posted by: jaschiero

Thanks for the responses... I went ahead and posted in the sticky thread (since that's where my post should have gone), if anyone has anything more to add, I'd appreciate it.

Posted by: BroPhone

RSC here. This job makes you hate people. Right now (before tax) I'm making over $45k FT, but I'm beginning to think it's just not worth it....
I've been looking around for a different job, preferably not one in retail, but it's slow going in my market. I've been meeting with a couple of people regarding the possibility of becoming a Small Business Advisor for Cingular (I'm keeping my fingers crossed).

Just keep one thing in mind: don't take your job too seriously. It's just a f***ing job, nothing more than a step to get you someplace higher.

-BP

Posted by: mentalcase

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rdCoastGSM

Yea, ok. This guy is a

"mentalcase"

Dont believe me. It is fine. You can make money at cingular as long as your in a busy store. I love my job and since im a student i only work 25-30 hrs a week. And 45k is easy to do when your commission checks are just above 3gs (before taxes).

Posted by: MrAlifEkin

and there is the key phrase...."before taxes". A 33-35% cut in every commission check adds up.

Posted by: jaschiero

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentalcase

That seems to be the case everyone is saying... it depends on how busy the store is. Anyone have an idea how busy stores are in Eastern Virginia? More specifically Hampton Roads, and more specifically the middle peninsula?

Posted by: SoCal91302

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3rdCoastGSM

Yea, ok. This guy is a

"mentalcase"

With that attitude, it is clear as to why you are not (or SHOULD not) be in a retail sales environment.

Posted by: mentalcase

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrAlifEkin

and there is the key phrase...."before taxes". A 33-35% cut in every commission check adds up.

It does add up. Since i'm in my early 20s, still going to school, and still living with my parents it is even with taxes taken out a whole lot of money. It is a great job for someone like me. Sales comes easy to some people. I dont let the job bother me off the clock and when i'm on the clock im aggressive.

Posted by: Demetrius

The pay is good for somebody who doesn't consider it a career. I am a college student and this is a great job for me. The only thing that sucks is the constant descending commission payout. Not to mention that my store is incredibly slow. The trick is to get hired at a fairly fast paced store. This causes the hours to fly and your commission check to be quite agreeable.

Posted by: jaschiero

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demetrius

The pay is good for somebody who doesn't consider it a career. I am a college student and this is a great job for me. The only thing that sucks is the constant descending commission payout. Not to mention that my store is incredibly slow. The trick is to get hired at a fairly fast paced store. This causes the hours to fly and your commission check to be quite agreeable.

What about someone whou would make it a career? Or at least a career until I move or want to do something else? That could be several months or several years. Are you saying that it's easier if you don't get worked up about it and don't have as much riding on the job (like a college student) compared to someone like me who has graduated already and looking to change jobs?

Posted by: Mr. Bond

I would say that you could view it as both. Cingular has wonderful advancement opportunities; and besides that, I don't understand how you can be successful at something if you don't look at it as a career.

Posted by: blessd24

I love this job. Mostly because I'm a gadget freak. I get to use every new phone that comes out through here which is fun for me.

Customers how are mean just don't really bother me. I just argue back with them and let it roll of my back. I just don't let them stress me out basically.

That being said, this is looking more and more like a JOB to me rather than CAREER. I came in thinking about a career but now I am reconsidering. I think I could make more money doing something else in my area. I was looking at going up as far as ARSM in my area by the time I was done (because I could still live in the same area with that position), but with all the "positioning" (aka lies) that goes on from the management to us it gets pretty frustrating. I don't want to live in this enviroment forever.

But like I said, I don't let stuff stress me out. No matter how bad it seems to others. That's the key in this job from my perspective.

Posted by: Demetrius

Quote:

Originally Posted by AccessCellular

I would say that you could view it as both. Cingular has wonderful advancement opportunities; and besides that, I don't understand how you can be successful at something if you don't look at it as a career.

So if, let's say, a high school student was working at Best Buy from 5-10 every night making 9/hr without commission and was planning on going to get a degree in, let's say, history or political science or chemical engineering...do you really think that he would consider working there a career or just an opportunity to pay bills? I'll bust my *** to make the opps if the traffic is there so that I can pay bills and pay for school, but I do not consider this my lifelong career. But I could be wrong. I've considered it. However, 90% of the reps in my store don't consider the job their career. But I live in a college town, so things may be different elsewhere.

I take the job seriously, don't get me wrong. If I don't work, I don't eat. And considering the job as a career isn't a bad choice (as stated above I considered it once), but the current trend makes me fear for the future (work harder for less pay). In the end it is a job, not a life. But that is just me...I don't attribute my personal philosophies to other people.

Posted by: OCbrody

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroPhone

I've been looking around for a different job, preferably not one in retail, but it's slow going in my market. I've been meeting with a couple of people regarding the possibility of becoming a Small Business Advisor for Cingular (I'm keeping my fingers crossed).

I've been reading through these threads as I am interviewing for this position with Cingular. What's the word within Cingular about it? Is it as quota driven and bad as Retail sales? I would love to get back into wireless, but if Cingular is as bad as all these threads are saying, I might pass on it.

Posted by: 3rdCoastGSM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCal91302

With that attitude, it is clear as to why you are not (or SHOULD not) be in a retail sales environment.

Ok. What are you, a Retail Pro ?? You have some sort of degree in Retail. No I mean seriously. Who are you ?

Posted by: jaschiero

So I had my interview today... and while I was waiting a customer who came in and said she has a billing problem. She said she knows she went over her minutes, but no one told her and now she has a $500 bill and wanted it fixed. The guy said how there's ways she could check her usage, etc.... and when I was done and leaving she was still there. This wasn't some stupid redneck woman, but a very nice looking business woman in her 30s...... she was probably still waiting for them to 'fix' her bill and credit her for the overages she acknowledges she made but still feels like she shouldn't pay.

There were 3 managers there doing the interview... and they said it's union which I know, so schedule is based on seniority. Is there anything else about the workers being union that direct effects I wouldn't know about? I didn't know about the schedule thing just because of it... is there anything else about it?

Posted by: Toothless Tommy

Look working for Crapular sucks big time . You have to deal with cretin / degenerate customers all day long who have half a brain and lousy credit mixed in with their rent is late excuses . The smartest ones never go to the store ( online for everything -cheaper, quicker and less time put in ) , then if you are lucky you get a MGR that ACTUALLY works 40 hours a week without saying they are all tuckered out after hiding in the office all day that week ( MGR's never work stat holidays so Crapular pays me 2.5 times my hourly to work it and I gladly do to suck as much dough out of these --- as i can and buy more stocks and real estate and they wonder why profits are down = morons ) , and then the lazy ARSM's and morons above them to - these people make a career out of hiding out in their offices and only come to the store to fire you . BUT the benefits at Crapular are great , the pay is good if YOU are good and in a decent store . Most people that work for this poorly run soon to be over taken by the Verizon Machine company are unhappy and wont make it 2 years here . what does that tell you ? But there are a few company men and head office spies here that will lie to you and tell how great it is .
PS-- Before you leave use up all your PTO.

Posted by: mentalcase

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toothless Tommy

Look working for Crapular sucks big time . You have to deal with cretin / degenerate customers all day long who have half a brain and lousy credit mixed in with their rent is late excuses . The smartest ones never go to the store ( online for everything -cheaper, quicker and less time put in ) , then if you are lucky you get a MGR that ACTUALLY works 40 hours a week without saying they are all tuckered out after hiding in the office all day that week ( MGR's never work stat holidays so Crapular pays me 2.5 times my hourly to work it and I gladly do to suck as much dough out of these --- as i can and buy more stocks and real estate and they wonder why profits are down = morons ) , and then the lazy ARSM's and morons above them to - these people make a career out of hiding out in their offices and only come to the store to fire you . BUT the benefits at Crapular are great , the pay is good if YOU are good and in a decent store . Most people that work for this poorly run soon to be over taken by the Verizon Machine company are unhappy and wont make it 2 years here . what does that tell you ? But there are a few company men and head office spies here that will lie to you and tell how great it is .
PS-- Before you leave use up all your PTO.

This guy is pretty negative towards cingular so i would not follow his views on the job. You have to remember that is what it is, a job. Some are great, some are no so great. I look at is this way. Where else can i go to school and make this much money. Without getting a fulltime job it is nearly impossible. So i like working for cingular? Yes, my store is awesome. I love most of the coworkers and My manager is not too bad (ive had much worse elsewhere). I feel the family vibe from my store and that makes it really easy to go to work everyday. Your opinion on the job depends on a few things. It is what you make of it and if the store sucks then you think the job sucks. I came from a job where there was a ton a shadyness and people were just aholes. Cingular was a breath of fresh air and it was one of the best choices i made in terms of employment. For anyone considering taking a position at Cingular, i recommend it. It has treated me well so far.

Posted by: blessd24

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentalcase

This guy is pretty negative towards cingular .

Well that's the understandment of the century. He's the only person I have on ignore on this site. If you happen to be able to read what he's writing about Cingular through all the grammar mistakes then you realize that the poor guy just had a bad experience in a job.

Posted by: mafiazz

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaschiero

So I had my interview today... and while I was waiting a customer who came in and said she has a billing problem. She said she knows she went over her minutes, but no one told her and now she has a $500 bill and wanted it fixed. The guy said how there's ways she could check her usage, etc.... and when I was done and leaving she was still there. This wasn't some stupid redneck woman, but a very nice looking business woman in her 30s...... she was probably still waiting for them to 'fix' her bill and credit her for the overages she acknowledges she made but still feels like she shouldn't pay.

There were 3 managers there doing the interview... and they said it's union which I know, so schedule is based on seniority. Is there anything else about the workers being union that direct effects I wouldn't know about? I didn't know about the schedule thing just because of it... is there anything else about it?

thats not true in all stores with the union and scheduling. if you are good and produce, management is usually willing to work with you on certain things.

the union is good and bad, IMO. they are good because of helping with SPR issues, management problems and other things. however, they are bad when it comes to things like hmm i dunno..getting chairs for us to sit in? that should be the unions top priority right now with what is going on in Massachusets and the whole labor situation..

just like my manager says..we are not order takers; we are sales people. when was the last time you bought a car and the salesman stood the entire transaction? and even when he was processing paperwork? or how about when you go to a travel agent? or getting taxes done?

i heard one upper management refer to people who work in supermarkets and how they stand all day long. well, i dont make $6/hour lol. nor do i sling groceries into shopping carts.

:vent over:

Posted by: mentalcase

Quote:

Originally Posted by mafiazz

My back is starting to hurt with no chairs. The PODs are definitely not made for 6ft plus people and standing. Have you guys actually called the union on that?

Posted by: mafiazz

Quote:

Originally Posted by mentalcase

My back is starting to hurt with no chairs. The PODs are definitely not made for 6ft plus people and standing. Have you guys actually called the union on that?

yupp...i doubt things will get done. ugh.

Posted by: Mr. Bond

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demetrius

I'm not arguing that the current position with Best Buy is (or isn't) a career, I'm simply saying that I hope that high school student realizes that with a degree and the experience gained in the job, he/she may be able to advance in the Best Buy chain, with the possibility of working in the corporate office.

Posted by: Isriam

i love my job. i get to touch every single aspect of cingular from the switches to handsets. thats the best part. i make less than what most people have mentioned in this thread, but cingular has sent me to so many classes and are now making us CCNA and voip certified.

btw i'm not in sales.

Posted by: Alfred_Neuman

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaschiero

I've read some of the threads and most of them are pretty negative. I have an interview this week for Retail Sales Consultant position that's closer to my home than where I work now. I'm just out of college and working for a company that does e-discovery and litigation technology support, but all I'm supposed to do is customer support for the clients if they have any issues with the software or databases that they access from our server. Anyway, I commute about 45 miles, make just under $30K, and I don't really do anything as they just started webhosting and for the last 3 months all I do is just sit there.

I wanted to find a job closer to home with more real world experience. Even though I work in an office setting with a business company, it's just a glorified customer service position where with Cingular, or any commissioned sales job, I would get experience in real sales which is what a lot of companies look for down the road. I would also consider management once I have enough experience in the store.

1) But it seems like nobody here likes their job. The position online says pay is about $16K-$29K, so I have no clue how the job normally pays. Is it hourly plus commission? Is there a "standard" hourly rate? I'm in Virginia. What about estimating how much commissions are? I'd like to be able to make at least what I am making now, $29K, but with the opportunity to make more/a lot more/advance.

2) What are the interviews like? This is a corporate store. What type of questions can I expect and what is the inerview process like?

3) How good are the benefits? It looks like online they are pretty comprehensive, but it doesn't mention what the match is for 401K. Is it 50% for the first X% ?

Thanks for the help.... I'm excited about the opportunity!

what part of VA? depending WHERE in va you work at, you could make 40k. youll atleast make 30k at most of nova stores.

Posted by: Superpimp

I like my job, it's so much easier than working as a manager for an agent, the only thing I don't like is the chargebacks (especially when people take stuff I put on a cstomers account legitamitly), also on the subject of chargebacks I wish we could get real time chargebacks meaning the month it happens you lose the commision not being in the hole the following month. Onto the subject of chairs I don't care one way or the other, I at first thought that the press we got in the papers was bad, however people have been very simpithetic to us and ask about our chairs all the time

Posted by: gregsmith59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superpimp

I like my job, it's so much easier than working as a manager for an agent, the only thing I don't like is the chargebacks (especially when people take stuff I put on a cstomers account legitamitly), also on the subject of chargebacks I wish we could get real time chargebacks meaning the month it happens you lose the commision not being in the hole the following month. Onto the subject of chairs I don't care one way or the other, I at first thought that the press we got in the papers was bad, however people have been very simpithetic to us and ask about our chairs all the time

The whole commission issue shows what a pointless thing the union is. Certainly there are some state labor commissions which would bash Cingular big time over the stealing of commissions if the union would just step up to the plate. In no way is it legal for a company to let people steal others' legitimate commissions.