Pros
For the right individual, it's most rewarding and best paying sales position in the wireless industry. With many inside positions under-paying and over-managing, outside positions moving to retail or being dissolved, the capping of commissions for outside reps with many carriers, and the amount of account maintenance large sales require these days in this industry, this position is a no-brainer for a self promoter who wants to be financially rewarded greatly for the exact effort they put in and be with the best carrier in an industry that is not going anywhere and is about as close to recession proof as possible.
The commissions are the highest in the industry, period. Instead of an hourly rate, which can breed clerks and historically do not pay enough, an open system of profit sharing on business during the hours a representative is in an office for that day provides more income than the industry standard hourly pay and creates inherited financial incentive on the part of those who are already on board to teach those coming in everything they know. Sales in a team format always increase when everyone knows everyone else's strengths and weaknesses. Personal sales (B2B, friends and family, appointments, etc.) always pay 100% of the commission to the rep and is definitely where the money is in this business model. Bonuses are retroactive and pay monthly.
Scheduling for most regions in the United States comes out a month in advance and the sales reps are allowed to manipulate the schedule among each other without asking a manager's permission. There are usually 2 to 8 offices on a team and the reps rotate in a round robin fashion between the offices to extend their business footprint and break up the monotony of being in the same office every day. This caters well to someone with outside sales experience who may think the idea of pulling into the same parking lot for the first year or so of their position is too much to handle.
The initial sales position with Cellular Sales is entry level for the company, but is anything but entry level. If the money, freedoms, and responsibilities were placed with any other company in this industry, and in many others, they would be management. It's essentially management out of the gates, without the title or the headaches, but also means it requires a very responsible individual who can handle not being micro-managed. There are no geographic limitations as to where an individual can sell and, although not the main focus of the position, the representatives can conduct business-to-business sales if they desire.
Most exciting, is the company's new policy of employing everyone on a W-2 instead of its previous history of contracting with its sales and management teams. This has allowed them to provide medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, life insurance, and a 401K.
Cons
Training pay is hourly until the trainee can prove they have mastered the systems well enough to come on as an employee. Therefore, everyone starts in a temp-to hire for almost always a month before being able to sell on their own.
Due to billing cycles in this industry being on a monthly basis, pay is also once a month, so budgeting and proper money management is vital for success. There is an initial training period that compensates an hourly rate and, in most regions, a draw for the first 2 calendar months due to Verizon's Worry Free Guarantee that causes a lag in initial earnings.
This is definitely not the opportunity for someone in a financially strapped situation, as it takes a few months to get into a regular pay cycle.
Scheduling requires individuals to rotate offices and be available for some night and weekend work, which may not suit those with a lot of obligations outside of the workplace.
Even though there are multiple revenue streams coming in every month between office and personal sales, this is still technically 100% commission. If that makes someone uncomfortable, it may not be the best fit for them.
