Long ramblings...

MrNightly

Been debating whether to post this or not.. but I guess it got the better of me. I thought maybe someone would have some advise for a young guy, so here I go.

I am 25 years old. Just turned actually. I was on the police force for the past two years, where come December of '05, new LT promoted and I was pretty much forced to resign for BS. I decided not to take them to court and keep my name in quasi-intact for the future. I took about two weeks off, and was offered several positions in the sales field. I was on Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com and employers would be calling all the time.

I took a job with VW selling cars in early Jan. I enjoyed the selling aspect, and sold 9 in my first month. My wife hated the hours tho, 8am-8pm, and to be honest it was tiring for me too. Not able to see my 20month old Daughter was irritating as well. So I resigned the end of Feb after a lot of talk with my Wife.

I took a job that was offered in another Sales Position. It was for a debt collection agency, but after completing their training, I was pretty much going to be a telemarketer for the next 2 years. Not happening. I hate selling on the phone. I hate calling people up and bothering them. I just hate it. I worked on the phones for 3 days, and every day tried to convince myself I could do it. Nope. I broke down one lunch break with my wife, after just three days of calling strangers, and said I didn't want to be a telemarketer the rest of my life! I left that job that day.

I didn't know what to do, this was the first week of March. I was called up again by a company called Cornerstone America. They guaranteed free qualified leads, exceptional support structure, blah blah blah. I grilled the bossman pretty hard in the interview, and was told repeatedly that I would not have to telemarketer. After talking about it with my wife I decided to take it. It was pretty much selling insurance, Life, Health and Accident. I got my license last week, and started with these guys. It turns out they want me to walk door to door taking, "Surveys" of people to generate business. I did it for one day, and hated it. I'm still there, but starting to get pretty worried, because I haven't received one lead yet, and have mouths to feed back home.

I don't want it to seem like I'm unwilling to work, cause if you ask any of my previous employers, I've always been the best they had, and ALL (minus the PD, mutherf#$%#@!) have said if I ever wanted to return, I'd have a job waiting!

I know any job I take will have it's things I don't like, and I accept that. But I just hate cold calling, and knocking on peoples/business' doors and bothering them! I really enjoy selling things, if I believe in it, as I did the VW's, but I never felt like I was pushy because they came to us ya know? Is it so bad that I can't make myself telemarket or cold call? Is that mean I'm not a, "Winner?"

I also have been told that I'm young, and the future is wide open for me, but it seems that I can't find what I really want to do with my life. My wife would follow me to the ends of the earth, and for that I am grateful. But I feel so lost these days, not knowing where I'm going. When I was on the PD, everything seemed so secure. I loved the job, and actually felt like I was making a difference. Now, I just don't know.

Sorry so long. Hey, if you are still reading, thanks I am looking for a career, not a job. I want to settle down, put my roots in the ground, and climb my way to the top. I dunno where though.

Sorry for the ramble. Any advise or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

bobman1235

If you liked the PD so much, is there any other law enforcement position you could go into? State POlice, maybe?

masanz1

If you like sales, why not consider a trade in it. You can sell boats, bikes, rv, yachts and make better commission and not work in a dog eat dog atmosphere like cars. Become a realtor even.

Demiurge

bobman1235 wrote:

If you liked the PD so much, is there any other law enforcement position you could go into? State POlice, maybe?

That would be the logical choice, unless there is something keeping you from such a job again.

If I were you, I would continue being a LEO, especially if you like it. That can open other doors for you later should you wish to go in other directions. Plus, the benefits...can't beat that. Unless of course your family has reservations about the risk you take being a LEO.

madmax

It's tough when you aren't sure what you want to do. I wouldn't want to make cold calls or work on the phone either, although some like it. Maybe a salesperson for some company that sells equipment or whatever? You could certainly make a career that way and move yourself up a ladder.
madmax

MrNightly

Demiurge wrote:

That would be the logical choice, unless there is something keeping you from such a job again.

If I were you, I would continue being a LEO, especially if you like it. That can open other doors for you later should you wish to go in other directions. Plus, the benefits...can't beat that. Unless of course your family has reservations about the risk you take being a LEO.

The biggest thing is the wife. She said I changed quite a bit personality wise when I was on the force. I know I took a slightly harder view of life, but I am also young and impressionable That would be the main thing that would keep me from getting back into LEO type work. I was planning on shooting for the DEA after being on the Local PD for a few years, but that would be near impossible now, since they don't really take street guys unless you are active in narcs..

We aren't that needy in money wise, so 6-figures isn't what I'm shooting for. Heck, we lived on $35K as an officer, and things weren't terrible. I just feel like i'm getting too old to be job hunting. I want to settle down!

MrNightly

madmax wrote:

It's tough when you aren't sure what you want to do. I wouldn't want to make cold calls or work on the phone either, although some like it. Maybe a salesperson for some company that sells equipment or whatever? You could certainly make a career that way and move yourself up a ladder.
madmax

I do enjoy selling people that are honestly looking for a product, if that makes sense. But I simply HATE annoying people that call on the phone and try to twist you into something that you have no need for or don't desire!

Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't think Cold Calling is insane! HA, that makes me feel better already.

My dad thinks I would be great in real estate, because me and him have a business on the side of flipping houses.. I dunno. I guess it's that insecure feeling that nobody wants in life!

Good thoughts so far. Thanks man.

seo

MrNightly wrote:

I just feel like i'm getting too old to be job hunting.

You're only 25, your job hunting has just begun!:)

MrNightly

seo wrote:

You're only 25, your job hunting has just begun!:)

Arg, don't say that! See, I want to get this part behind me! Settle in, establish myself, and steadly prove my worth. Hmm, 25 is not so young now is it?!

reeltrouble1

Uh, yes I think its reeely young. The danger thing is a real problem LE. I was lucky to land this LEO training job. Many Officers dont live much past 60. Its not for everyone, no doubt, stress, alcohol, drug abuse, I seen alot of good guys get turned.

Big money in Real Estate if you can hook up with an insurance company and do property management for them.

Like Nike says, just pick something And DO IT!!

RT1

Polkersince85

If I read your thoughts correctly, it appears you have the basics of being a top-notch salesman. Integrity, trustworthyness and belief in the product you're selling will make you rise to the top. As long as you stay with those ethics, you'll make money and can sleep at night. Regardless of what the "product" is, your clients will be buying you as much as what you are selling. Don't be scared to take a survival job until you get into something you like. Just keep your sights slightly above the horizon. I was a mortgage broker for several years, and it was nice when you could actually help someone and make money off of them too. Lot of stories there. Good luck.

MrNightly

Polkersince85 wrote:

If I read your thoughts correctly, it appears you have the basics of being a top-notch salesman. Integrity, trustworthyness and belief in the product you're selling will make you rise to the top. As long as you stay with those ethics, you'll make money and can sleep at night. Regardless of what the "product" is, your clients will be buying you as much as what you are selling. Don't be scared to take a survival job until you get into something you like. Just keep your sights slightly above the horizon. I was a mortgage broker for several years, and it was nice when you could actually help someone and make money off of them too. Lot of stories there. Good luck.

Yes, I believe those three you named will take you a long ways in life. My parents were the strict type, and taught me right I guess I'm just looking for a job that I won't dread.

I have been told by many close friends, that sales would be a great fit for me, but I just don't like stepping on peoples toes to dig up the leads. My dad is one of my closest counselors, and I always bounce my thoughts off him. Talking to him today, he just said that was obviously one of the biggest draw backs to sales is digging for leads. (I mean common, who wants to be like the guy on Ground Hog Day. "Phil? PHIL Conners? Ned? Ned Ryerson?") Haa.

Anyways, i'll keep looking. I don't want to jump ship too quick on the current job tho. I like your advise about taking a "Survival Job" too. I'm never one to not roll up my sleeves and dig in. Just always wanted to do something I enjoyed, and also was proud of.

nadams

Phil CONNORS

BIZILL

yo, cornerstone marketing, i signed on with them and got my insurance license to work for them selling ppo health insurance. i'm convinced that you must be sly and slick, both of which i am, but that you almost have to 'FORCE' a person to purchase. hate pushin' shittt on folks. real estate is hard as well for a beginner, never tried it but am sure of this. first thing i thought when i started reading was you getting back into law enforcement. honestly, you earned my respect when you first came along on this forum the second you stated your occupation. i see what you are saying about the personality change within you. i'd like to tell you that nothing can influence you if you don't let it, but i'm sure being the 5-O for long enough, anyone would break down and become a hard person. anyway, i still have a gut feeling that law is your calling. call it a premonition of sorts, although i don't believe in them?

just be careful that you don't get 'stuck' in a career you don't like. that's where i am at, but i get the bills paid. you are 5 years younger than i. take those five years and set a goal and i feel you can achieve it.

danger boy

I hate cold calling people on the phone as well. It's just not me. ALthough, I'm sure I could handles a sale position in person. Just the same as you.. bothering someone who doens't want to be bothered, and doesn't want to buy anything, no matter what it is.

MrNightly

BIZILL wrote:

yo, cornerstone marketing, i signed on with them and got my insurance license to work for them selling ppo health insurance. i'm convinced that you must be sly and slick, both of which i am, but that you almost have to 'FORCE' a person to purchase. hate pushin' shittt on folks. real estate is hard as well for a beginner, never tried it but am sure of this. first thing i thought when i started reading was you getting back into law enforcement. honestly, you earned my respect when you first came along on this forum the second you stated your occupation. i see what you are saying about the personality change within you. i'd like to tell you that nothing can influence you if you don't let it, but i'm sure being the 5-O for long enough, anyone would break down and become a hard person. anyway, i still have a gut feeling that law is your calling. call it a premonition of sorts, although i don't believe in them?

just be careful that you don't get 'stuck' in a career you don't like. that's where i am at, but i get the bills paid. you are 5 years younger than i. take those five years and set a goal and i feel you can achieve it.

Really? You were with them for abit eh? I can see where you are coming from in your statements about forcing someone to buy. Interesting.

My wife would beg to differ with you on the 5-O call I'll leave it at that for now. But a gut feeling for a guy you have never met? Might have been the left over dinner you ate eh? If I was single, I'd be in the Army Rangers, or CIA. But, got married, and things changed.

Now here I am. But hey, I got some sweet speaks that are a blast to listen to HT on right? Hope i don't have to sell them. That would suck.