I had recently been laid off from my company of 25 years, actually the first time in my life that I have been involuntarily terminated. I'm 52 years old. I have a very good severance package from my former employer so I am doing OK for a good while. I have spent my time polishing my resume networking, practicing my interviewing skills an filling out job applications, and posting my resume to all the recommended job boards.
So far I have gotten a few, thanks but no thanks, notices from companies that I have applied. The positive responses that I have gotten have been from the health/life insurance industry. I have received more than a half dozen emails that go like this:
XXX Preset Appointment Sales Opportunity
Dear Job Seeker,
Our company HR department recently reviewed the resume you have posted on CareerBuilder.com . We believe you may have some of the experience and skill sets that could easily be transferred into success within the culture of our company. Currently, we have only a few positions left in your area. Next week we will be conducting online interviews and we would like a chance to speak with you about the opportunities currently available.
You may have heard of Senior Healthcare Consultants before
(http://www.shcsales.com/). We are currently expanding our national sales team
due to an increasing product demand from the fastest growing marketplace in America, the BABY BOOMERS! We are actively searching for qualified Sales and Sales Management Trainees that desire the opportunity to take advantage of our Preset appointment program division.
Our Sales Consultants enjoy rewarding careers because we offer:
. Preset, Pre-Qualified, Double-Verified Daily Sales Appointments
o No Cold Calling
o No Prospecting
o Focus on ONLY Selling and Closing
. Tuesday-Friday Work Week
o 10-14 hour days
o Monday Sales Meeting
. Strong Commission Opportunity
o Residual Income
o Override Income
o Awesome Bonuses and Fringe Benefits! (http://www.XXXXXX.XXXX/)
. Intensive, High Quality Training Program
o We pride ourselves with one of the very best training programs in the
Nation!
To determine whether this position is a good fit please visit our corporate website shcsales.com. Once you have had a chance to thoroughly review our website please call me at (800)XXX-XXXX Ext. XXX. I look forward to hearing from you.
To The Continued Growth and Success of the Future XXX Empire!
Sincerely,
XXXX XXXXXX
XXX National Recruiter
XXXXX.com
(800)XXX-XXXX Ext. XXX
"Grow Wealthy With Our Future!"
All of these letters sound essentially the same. What bothers me is that at a time when jobs are generally hard to find, jobs selling health/life insurance are a dime a dozen promising to make you "Grow wealthy". Some even claim to be helping others but what you are really helping is to enrich those who are pushing the political and media establishment to maintain the status quo against any real healthcare reform.
Just another stark reminder of what we are up against in this fight.