Testimony 092110.1

I have a story to share about my experience working with the Southwestern Company. I too fell for this "internship opportunity". I was a sophomore at the time at Grand Valley State University studying Psychology. I remember when "she" came into our classroom one day, holding a stack of little survey sheets and talking about the great internship opportunity she had. Honestly, at the time, I wasn't paying the least attention to her and filled out the sheet, simply assuming I wouldn't hear a thing from this cheery happy woman.

Boy was I wrong.

I didn't get a call from her until my winter semester in January.  (I had filled out the sheet in November or December) It was probably around 6 pm on a Sunday, so I was completely caught off guard when she called.  As she explained on the phone about how I was "recommended" by my professors to be a hard-working student, I would be perfect for this internship. Being only 19, I thought this was a fantastic opportunity. I could make 10 grand in one summer, begin developing a cutting edge resume, and do something nobody else I knew had even tried to do.

After hanging up the phone, I immediately called my mom and told her I had been recommended for an internship, and I was going to a meeting about it on Monday. She was excited as well, thinking like I was, that it was a legitimate internship.  On Monday, I arrived at the meeting, to my surprise, along with at least 35-40 other students. The same cheery woman was there along with another man. (Who eventually went on to be my Student Manager) Both of them wore the same ridiculous smiles. They split us into two groups and began explaining the company to us, the internship, and the nature of what they do. That’s when I first heard "door-to-door" selling. We would be selling books door-to-door.  The way they explained it, was that we would be speaking with clients, having made previous connections with these said clients, and would be running our own businesses.  They told us about all the successful businessmen/women who started with this company. They explained it would be hard, and not everyone can do it, but those who are strong-willed, will last. They were basically giving those who wouldn't want to do it, an out. Wanting to prove myself, I signed up for the first interview, and they gave me a packet of things to fill out. I raced home, filled it out, and nervously went to my first interview.

Now today, after having experience in professional interviews, my lack of confidence and nerves that I was experiencing at that time would probably cost me a job. But, they didn't seem to care, they complimented me, asked about my family, my goals, asked why I wanted to do the "experience". I answered them as best I could, and they said they wanted me back for a second interview.  They gave me a list of phone numbers to call of random southwestern alumni and asked me to call them to get advice. I obeyed, went to the second interview, and was asked back a third time for a one on one interview with the manager. I passed that too and was accepted...along with everyone else who agreed to stay for the first interview. There had been NO actual real qualifications.

We had pre-training and meetings every Tuesday.  The managers seemed really nice, warm, and caring. We would talk about what to expect when we went, the goals he had for the team, and all the fun we would have. Everyone was ready and psyched to go. One major thing that had to be dealt with was my parents. My Manager went to my parents home to speak to them about the trip. My mom and dad were not enthused over the idea, but allowed me to go because I was so bent on going. They put their feelings aside and signed the forms. I wish they had said no.  Everything changed once school ended and we went to travel from Michigan to Tennessee. A week before we left, my manager asked for money from my parents to pay for sales school.- It was supposed to be free, so lie number one. My parents handed over a check and away we went. I paid for gas the whole way. The hotel, my stupid ugly bag and supplies.

Our managers began to change too. They went from nice, to really mean. They yelled at us, rarely let us eat or rest, and made us feel terrible if we messed up on a sales line. One girl decided to leave at sales school, and they screamed at her.

We didn’t dare leave. The day we left sales school, we drove two days to Minnesota. We paid for another hotel that night. Once we arrived on Saturday at our home spot, we unpacked, went to purchase sales permits, picked a breakfast spot and got settled. Sunday we drove to meet with everyone and talk about the sales week ahead of us. We would have to check in every night with a manager and discuss the sales day and report our stats to them. All of that was to be confidential and not to be shared. We were to get up at 6 to be ready to leave by 6:30.

We did just that the next morning. We got up, took cold showers, and got ready to go out selling. We ate breakfast and I arrived at my first sales territory by 8.15. My first two hours consisted of me getting screamed at, threats, dogs barked at me, and doors slammed in my face. By noon, I was already a wreck. I wasn't able to call my parents, due to the fact that they are supposed to be the figures who "don’t believe in you", so I called a manager. I told him I was frustrated and needed some encouragement, to which he replied I needed to suck it up. I was letting the controllables control me. WTF?

I made a couple sales my first day, knocked on tons of doors, and felt absolutely exhausted. When I called to report my stats, I was told by my manager I wasn't doing enough and I could do better. The next day, I went out again, and it started pouring rain. It was only early May, so in Minnesota, it can still be cold. I was freezing. I had nowhere to go. I was lost in the middle of nowhere. I figured pouting wouldnt get me anywhere, so I picked myself up and set forth to more doors. Most people didn't answer me, but one old lady felt sorry for me and let me in to dry off a bit and use her restroom to clean myself up. (She even gave me some coffee!)  After that act of kindness, I felt rejuvenated. I went to a new smaller neighborhood to try again. Most people were really wealthy and wanted nothing to do with a small 19 year old girl knocking on their door. One lady when she opened the door, took one look at my soaking frame, yelled "ick!" and slammed the door.

The worst that day though, was a little after the snobby lady slammed the door. There was a German Sheppard loose in this neighborhood. I saw him and immediately crossed over to the other side of the road. I didn't run or make eye contact, except for slight side eye glances. He started barking, and I stopped. He growled and then ran at me. I was so afraid! He didn't do much, but he did jump at me, knock me down and he bit my arm. Thankfully, two men saw this, stopped their car and got the dog off me. They asked me where I was from, if I was okay, and if they could take me anywhere. I told them I was from Michigan, working for the Southwestern Company, and that I was okay, just really really scared from that. I declined to have them take me anywhere, but I went back to my car after that and called my manager. He was annoyed, I could tell.

The remaining week, I was sick as can be from being out in the rain, attacked by another dog (I know! Cmon!) Had the police called on me twice, almost arrested for wandering into a different neighborhood and not having the proper permit. All the while, I was starved, sick, exhausted. On Sunday, I was berated by managers for not performing the way I should. They said I was failing because I wasn't working hard enough. That Sunday, I finally called my mom and told her what was happening. She begged me to come home. I wanted to, but I wanted to try one more day. It didn't matter. That one day still was terrible with more rain, angry homeowners, etc.