*This was one of the most horrifying experiences that I have ever had in my life. All of this while I was dressed in a button down shirt and layered with a sweater in the 80 degree South Florida heat. Originally appeared on Hey Holl on October 2, 2008.

So, we’re in downtown WPB and as my buddy and I are walking to the building where we are to meet with “clients,” she’s telling me how when she does these big executive buildings, she likes to find the back way in that way she doesn’t have to go by security. Ummmm…WHAT?! Why are we essentially sneaking into a building when you are supposed to have clients in there? What did I just get myself into?!

On the way up in the elevator, she’s talking about how to present yourself to the client, to be professional, and all that common sense jargon that HOPEFULLY most, if not all, twenty-somethings already know. Leslie also explains how when she does these executive buildings, she starts at the top and works her way down. Again, what did I get myself into?! We arrive at her floor of choice and proceed to the first office, a law office I believe. We stop at the desk and I proceed to watch her pitch her promotional cards to the receptionist….okay, let’s rewind for a minute. On our way to downtown WPB, she explained that the current promotion is for the Florida Panthers, the hockey team here, and don’t even get me started on WHY Florida has a hockey team because that’s whole other issue all together. The promotion is four tickets to ANY of the 42 different home games….a $250 package for $30 (I heard this enough times yesterday that yes, I have it memorized!) Now, back to the poor receptionist who’s being pitched. Like so many others yesterday that would, this lovely receptionist declined, but not before I witnessed Leslie ask if there was anyone in the back that would be interested. All the while, I’m thinking “Give it a rest! She said ‘no’.” We leave and proceed to the next space, but again the fun does not stop there.

Leslie proceeds to check EVERY door to see if it’s open and to see if she can find another way to the “clients.” We made it through four floors before security…that’s right, SECURITY, came and said that he needed to escort us out of the building. Yet again, something else that I can cross off my list! Can you believe that?! I was escorted out of a building. ME! Little Miss “I do not trespass” was escorted away like a vagrant caught sleeping on the sidewalk (which by the way I don’t agree with because it IS a PUBLIC sidewalk…again though, a whole other issue). So after being escorted out, my “buddy for the day” just laughs it off and says that “as long as you’re nice to them, it’s okay.” Ummm, that’s all fine and well, but I’m REALLY not the type that thinks it’s funny to get escorted out of a building like a common street thug. Did I mention that this was at 10:30 in the morning? Oh goodie! A whole day of this crap! The rest of my day was spent basically soliciting EVERY office within walking distance in downtown WPB. The highlight of my day was when she decided to hit up the employees at a yacht club, so at least I made it to the ocean which was nice.

This girl was absolutely shameless. Sneaking into back parts of offices trying to find “clients,” interrupting people’s work to try and sell them something that they’ll probably get burned on in the end, soliciting where there was signage that was CLEARLY posted telling you not to, and at points being outright rude with some people. Here’s another kicker: when the “clients” declined her Panther tickets, she tried to offer a smoothie promotion and when they denied that, she would offer Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise promotions. Seriously! She had a magic bag of random promotions that she was trying to push onto these poor people. Did I also mention that she was also soliciting people on the street by randomly yelling out, “Do you like sports?!”The REAL kicker about these “direct sales marketers” (which is what they call themselves as I failed to mention that earlier, so my apologies) is that they have absolutely ZERO respect for someone’s financial situation. The continually push and push and push to get a sale, making sure to tell them that it’s ONLY $30. ONLY $30?! To most people these days, $30 is a lot of money to spend on something that may not be on the up and up. Have some tact. To make this long story even longer, after being escorted out of the first building, I had already made my mind up that this was NOT the company for me. I did not KNOWINGLY interview or sign up to be a solicitor. The only credit that I will give Leslie and this company is that they probably DO come up the offers that are on the cards, maybe not though because I didn’t see THAT aspect of the company.

This was definitely not the place for me, which is why I turned down the job. I do have a shred of dignity left…it hasn’t all been dissipated quite yet. Do I condemn ALL solicitors? No. I’m just not the type of person who will intentionally trespass and interrupt someone else’s work for my own financial gain. That’s just not who I am. If the choice at the moment is between soliciting possibly fraudulent promotions or waiting tables, I’d rather wait tables…at least I won’t get escorted out of a building for that!