SEARCH FOR SALESMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21115, 24 February 1932, Page 11

SEARCH FOR SALESMEN.

GOOD PROSPECTS REJECTED.

EMPLOYERS DISAPPOINTED. LACK OF SELF-RELIANCE. What, is wrong with tho young men of Auckland ? is a question strongly suggested by the recent experiences of two business men who have been most disappointed in their efforts to secure young men to fill remunerative positions. The employers referred to are brothers engaged in separate businesses and both keep a number of salesmen "on the road." Both recently advertised for more men and when they came to compare notes afterwards they found that they had had almost exactly similar experiences with the applicants. They are convinced that what is wrong with many otherwise promising young men to-day is lack of confidence in their own powers. Ono of tho brothers relates that in response to his advertisement for travellers he received 70 or 80 replies. From these several were selected for interview. They were told something about the line they were to sell and about 30 were asked to come back for a little training before taking up the work.

They were all assured that tho commission on tho gales they would make was capable of producing £lO a week or more. Not one of the 30 selected men came back as arranged to receive instruction. As proof that, he had not overstated the prospects of tho job, the employer showed the returns of the latest recruit to the staff. In three recent weeks in the city his earnings were £9 10s, £6 and £lO 16s. The most successful salesman on the sta® last year made about £BOO.

The other brother, sales manager for an organisation operating throughout the country, says they have a number of men in their employ earning as much as £ls or £l6 weekly. New men can earn from £5 to £lO weekly to begin with. Last week he obtained 105 replies to an advertisement in the Herald and of the applicants he personally interviewed over 30. The majority seemed keen and enthusiastic about the work and he chose six of the keenest and arranged for them to begin on Monday morning for or four days' training. Only one man attended at the appointed time and in the afternoon he was missing. Thus, out of tho 105 applicants, not one survived to accept the opportunities offering. The first tiling all the applicants wanted to know was, not what their work would be, but. how much was their pay. When they learned that it was a matter of commission and would depend on their own success, their hearts immediately failed them and they unanimously declined even tp make the attempt.