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March 17, 2010I’ve just started a new job. Insurance sales.
I spent $300 – to get my state license.
I’m excited about this but…..
My boss is a driving me crazy. I suck at phone sales but he doesn’t want me doing any other marketing/advertising – just telemarketing (which is belittling and intrusive).
After making 800+ dials I only got one appointment. It’s my first week.
He hasn’t given me access to my backoffice online because he wants me to just book appointments not sell over the phone. So I have no idea what insurance products to offer the customers…..He doesn’t want me to study more (learn about area competition or current local insurance news) just call warm leads. I’ve got the same leads day in and day out that 15 other agents are using – the poor potential clients feel harrassed and most of my time is spend appologizing.
Should I try another agency? Ask to be transfered in office? Or just leave – I’m a talented saleswoman….but phone sales is not my medium.
Just a side note – I’ve been a telemarketer 2 other times and it was fun and profitable….I’ve also had 10+ yrs of retail selling – I also found that fun and profitable.
It’s not the selling I have a problem with – it’s they process that is harrassing people (customers). I’m feeling like the business might be a shady fly by night kinda place.
If you feel that you are being asked to harass people and this goes against what you feel is right then your integrity is being put at risk.
If you feel that you can’t do this job and keep your integrity then you need to leave.
If your boss isn’t letting you get the product knowledge that you need then he is setting you up for eventual failure. I’m not big on giving up/quiting on a whim but, in this case it sounds like you are in an unhealthy work environment. You need to get a job where you can hold your head up high and be proud of, not a job that makes you feel guilty and that you have to apologize.
To answer Francesca, there are A LOT more ways to sell than just phone sales. It sounds like she was hired to do a sales job, not a telemarketing job.
Horaayy..there are 5 comment(s) for me so far ;)
Sales is a difficult job, you’re only as good as your last close. But, I would say give it another week or so. Familiarize yourself with their products (insurance) and do the best you can. If after a couple of weeks, you still feel as if you’re not being provide with the necessary tools to be a top producer, move on. I would search online for a professional mentor in your industry and perhaps they can give you some tips or vital connections. Good Luck.
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WHY are you doing phone sales when you cant sell?
You know you suck at phone sales, so why take the job?
Sales is a very high pressure environment and someone who cannot sell anything does NOT last long.
Believe me, I know.
I hate selling as well. I once applied for a job in a telemarketing office selling subscriptions for one of the local newspapers (there are 4 newspapers in this city).
I sold nothing the first day and by lunch time the second day, I was let go. I was told – you should have sold at least one subscription by now.
I wanted to try it and see how bad I really was – so now I can honestly say – yes I tried sales, and I am hopeless at it. I still got paid though.
I think you should leave that place and go back to being a real sales person, not a telemarketer. You sound like you need to be face to face so you can read the body language.
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it could be that your boss is looking at your potentials first,it is also your first week and of course you know your own capability but like any other new manager they need to see what your weaknesses and strenghts before they can give or put you in a more challenging role. i suggest give it few weeks if after proving yourself well and still no change then go a new agency or actually work in a more face to face customer service coz if you are a good saleswoman then thats where you should be, it is more fun and liberating to actually work around people than telemarketing where you are mostly on your own with a phone.
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Ruth, you’ve received some good advice here already. I would only add something I learned long ago. It’s an old axiom – you first effort is your worst effort. In other words, if this is a new thing for you, of course your initial efforts will be less fruitful. As you gain experience and confidence your sales will increase. Even if you leave, you will leave with a better appreciation for the future leads you get generated by the telephone sales division.
References :
If you feel that you are being asked to harass people and this goes against what you feel is right then your integrity is being put at risk.
If you feel that you can’t do this job and keep your integrity then you need to leave.
If your boss isn’t letting you get the product knowledge that you need then he is setting you up for eventual failure. I’m not big on giving up/quiting on a whim but, in this case it sounds like you are in an unhealthy work environment. You need to get a job where you can hold your head up high and be proud of, not a job that makes you feel guilty and that you have to apologize.
To answer Francesca, there are A LOT more ways to sell than just phone sales. It sounds like she was hired to do a sales job, not a telemarketing job.
References :