Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

You would think with a 10.6% unemployment rate in Indiana that I would have loads of applicants from job postings, right?  Wrong!  I haven't had ANY!  Here is a quick background: I posted on craigslist, and some other small free job boards.  The job is sales, it is 100% commission, however the potential for $100k plus is very real.  Here is a link to the job posting:

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/sls/1331582988.html

Is there something wrong with my posting?  I wrote another one that I might try out.  Here it is:

Start-up general contractor is seeking aggressive, positive, money-hungry sales representatives interested in growing with the company at a fast pace. We specialize in storm damage restoration, a multi-billion dollar recession proof industry! You will have the opportunity to move into a management position within 12 months, and travel throughout the country opening new offices. You will be rewarded for your hard work through a generous commission structure with $100k plus potential.

Job Requirements:

- H.S. Diploma required

- Bachelor’s Degree or some college a plus

- 1-3 years sales/customer service experience

- Must be willing to knock doors

- Positive mental attitude

- Self-Starter

- Friendly and personable demeanor

- High level of integrity

- Customer focus

- Reliable transportation

Email your resume to contact@cicadaroofing.com for immediate consideration.

Hi,

Use to be you could hire someone on purely commission basis for construction business.  Now days though, people are looking of a paycheck to pay bills.  Very few people are working on commission only. 

You might be better off contacting a company that does sales calls for clients.  Typical example, I worked with a company that represented 7 different clients.  One was a door hardware company, another was a door manufacturer, a third provided windows for doors.  Each client was closely related in type of product sold.  The sale rep company represented all 7 clients each time the sales rep called on a prospective customer.  The sales reps worked on a percentage of what they sold in their service area. 

Every company in this industry pays 100% commission.  I'm now looking into two things.  One is a staffing agency, mainly so I don't have to spend a ton of time trying to hire people.  Second, when searching for staffing agencies I did find a company like what you are talking about.  They offer door to door sales staff that would set the appointments for me.

The subversive activities of the recruiting industry have forced people to quit replying to job ads via email/fax/mail.

The only way to find independent, intelligent, hard working people is to network. Any job seeker who isn't lazy or stupid has switched to networking to find a job. People have realized that responding to job ads via email or fax only fills recruiter databases that are sold in mass to whomever has the money to buy. Sending resumes via mail only gets them tossed in the trash as "junk mail".

Place an ad with a phone number that has a set date range for calling. You'll get responses.

Also, keep in mind if you go the agency route you'll get a bad name with the job seekers. If you don't treat people with respect, they won't treat you with respect.

Hi again,

I'm afraid I have to disagree with your assumption that all construction based sales people work on 100% commission.  I worked for a construction company and had contact with many other construction companies.  A large percentage of the sales people for these companies worked on salary or salary plus commission.

Maybe posting on the bigger job sites instead of the smaller free boards would get you more responses.  Keep in mind that bigger job sites have higher traffic that the smaller ones.  Plus advertising on bigger sites gives your company more perceived credibility.

If you have limited budget which prevents you from posting on the bigger sites, an alternative would be to approach the colleges and universities and post on their job boards.

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Kate

MedifastHealth.org