I was contacted by a recruiter for a management position with this organization. I confirmed repeatedly that I was not interested or qualified for insurance sales, but was skilled in process/organizational management and business process improvement. I showed up on time for my scheduled interview with Erin, and was a little taken aback by the 10+ people in the waiting room - but I have participated in mass-hire events so I dismissed it at first. 15 mins after my interview was supposed to start, a different employee brought me back for the interview. Let me take that back.There was no interview, he asked three questions 1) Tell me about yourself, 2) What positions are you interested in 3) Who referred you to us. The third one caught me off guard - if it was an internal recruiter they should have it somewhere in their system who recruited me.(This should have been clue number 2) He then told me that my management experience would make a great fit and he wanted me to speak with the Regional Manager today if I had time. Great! They then had me sit in another waiting room, and I again thought it was odd that this many people were waiting to speak with the regional manager for management positions. While waiting they had us fill out a stereotypical psychological profile quiz, although a lot of the questions where about wanting to make a lot of money(alarm #3) Finally the RM comes in and instead of doing an interview gives us a powerpoint presentation. This was a sales-pitch/presentation that felt very standard for any Multi-Level-Marketing or Pyramid Scheme organization - lots of focus on maximum earning potential, many corny and poorly times jokes. Time and again the presentation was focused on how we can make 100s of thousands per year, and very little on what about their service and benefits make them a viable company in the marketplace.(Bells everywhere)
There were even a few potentially honest moments in the presentation (like the screen saying that level 1 agents typically make 40K-60K) however the presenter insisted that noone makes that little and he doesnt let people even go out till they can make close to 6 figures.
Finally they broke down the income stream, and we learned that reps make 50% commission off of the insurance premiums they sell, + some additional weekly money. And here is where they straight up admit it is a pyramid scheme. Supervising agents(who oversee regular agents) make 120% of the regular agents commission. Meaning on a first year policy they are paying out over 100% of the premium back in comissions. Most of the group got real excited, but I pointed out that this is impossible, because the company has to make money somehow. The RM got kind of annoyed and asked if I was an accountant or finance major (cause only geniouses know 50%+50%+10% is greater than 100%?)
Here he admitted that these bonus are only for the first year and that is where the pyramid structure becomes clear. You need to constantly be bringing in new staff to get the commissions on their first year bonuses.
There is no management or independent structure - its just sales and MLM sales at that from top to bottom.
The presentation ended in typical MLM fashion - talking about the fabulous conferences and cruises that top performers get to attend, but which the majority will never aspire to.