Y students spend summers going door-to-door

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    By Lindsay Clark

    Jeremy Pittard wasn”t necessarily in it for the money.

    He got tan, met some girls, grew his hair out, lounged on the beaches of California and oh yeah, sold Pest Control.

    Jeremy Pittard, 24, a senior, from Caldwell, Idaho, majoring in Business, is one of many Brigham Young University students who are enticed by marketing groups to join sales forces and sell anything from pest control to security systems, and are promised to make thousands of dollars all in one summer.

    Although Jeremy didn”t make as much dough as he would”ve liked, he said it was one of his favorite summers.

    “I went down with my brother and some buddies and we had a great time, Pittard said.

    “We still had to work hard but because we were with a small, less structured company, we had more freedom to just kick back and go to the beach.”

    Jeremy went to California, and had a great experience.

    Individuals have the opportunity to go to all corners of the nation, but not all students may have the same success, nor level of seriousness on the job.

    “That all depends on the person,” said Adam Forsloff, 25, from Northbend, Oregon, a graduate in mechanical engineering.

    “This business is really just personality dependant,” he said. “If people don”t mind going door to door it”s great, but if you”re a quiet person you”ll have a hard time.”

    Forlsloff said, although it is commission and sales, most people make decent money. It just depends on your personal skill level and drive.

    While the thought of rolling in the dough in a new environment sounds enticing, Matt Sterzer, vice president of sales and marketing of Alliance Marketing Group said it can get pretty monotonous.

    “Although I did have a gay guy pick up on me one time, not very many exciting things happen. It”s long hours, hard work, but awesome money if you do it right.” Sterzer said.

    Sterzer has sold both pest control and security systems.

    He is now with security systems and said since the September 11 happenings, people have really been tightening up on their purse strings.

    “There”s been a renewed concern about security and the security sales are really continuing to go up,” Sterzer said.

    Whatever the sales company may be, one thing is for sure – this is a male-dominant occupation.

    Forsloff said the ratio of guys to girls is extremely slim, but it is not impossible to see a girl out there selling.

    In fact Kelly Shaw, a cosmetician from Idaho Falls, went with a girlfriend to Washington D.C. and sold pest control last year.

    “Most people will look at me and say I can”t believe you sold pest control, she said.

    “I”m blonde. I look prissy probably, and most people wouldn”t expect me to do something like that.”

    Despite worried parents, Shaw went, sold and made money, and would do it again if she had another friend to go with.

    Shaw agrees that it is indeed monotonous knocking doors 12 hours a day, 11am to 11pm for 4 months, but it was all worth it.

    Whatever the summer job venture may be, Beth Jamison of the MRI Sales consultants of Provo said they counsel individuals seeking sales reps. jobs to be cautious when choosing a company.

    “Find out as much as you can about the job and other people”s experiences, and really do your homework.”

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