The Southwestern Company Internship Difference Blog
Two days ago, a young girl named Meagan e-mailed me to ask how she might be able to participate in the Southwestern company summer program. Her e-mail follows:
I was just wondering how old you have to be to get involved with this program. I am 15 and I am looking for a summer job so that I can get early experience in work fields. I am just wondering if this is for college students only, or can you be younger. If i am unable to do this program; do you know any programs I may be able to work through? Thanks for your time.
I thought about this for a minute before sending the automatic response that we do allow anyone that young to participate. This was a perfect opportunity to educate an impressionable young person who seems to be mature about what she wants for her future. The last thing I would want is for her to get caught up in a traveling sales crew at her age. The crippling effect on her life could be tragic. Here was my response:
Meagan – thank you for your e-mail. Traditionally, the program is for college students. Most are over the age of 18. We do have a few graduated seniors who are participating this summer, but they have their parent’s endorsement and are entering college in the fall. Some are siblings to other student dealers in our program. I do not really know any other programs similar to ours, or that would allow someone of your age to do it yet.
I would caution you, however, to not get attached to any offers that are too good to be true or promise lucrative travel and money. Traveling sales crews that typically peddle magazine subscriptions door-to-door are very abusive towards young people. They take advantage of you by withholding your money and controlling you in various ways. Southwestern Company and other consumer organizations have taken a stand against organizations like these to try and educate the public and young people that these sales crews are dangerous. Many runaways and youths with criminal pasts take advantage of these groups to get away or go into hiding. There is little to no training involved and you are constantly on the move from town to town. Multiple laws are ignored – from solicitation permits not applied for to motor vehicle violations. The reason I tell you this is because I would hate for something like that to ruin your life, as it has for so many – including someone in my family. I know first-hand the realities of the traveling sales crews.
Look for a credible, reputable company. Research them and check them out with the Better Business Bureau and get qualified testimonials. There are lots of offers out there that simply should not be taken up on. Also, work with your parents to make sure they help you make an educated decision as to what the right thing is for you to do.
In a few years, Southwestern Company would be happy to interview you on a college campus and have you sell our products to make money and build your life skills. I’m sorry we don’t have anything for you at this time. You show a real initiative. Always plan ahead as to how you can better yourself and set yourself apart from others – through experiences and the amazing things you are capable of accomplishing.
The reason I share this is I hope this message not only reaches Meagan, but anyone else who is considering working with a traveling sales crew as an option.
And there is a 13 year old whom I tutor (who uses the Volume Library of course) who is just waiting until he is old enough to sell books. He said that he wants to be a stockbroker and he knows that selling books will help him be ready for that career. He also says that he will be great at it, because his parents say that he never takes a "no" for an answer.
Yael
Yael – that is funny… looks like a future student dealer in the making!
Once upon a time I was selling Southwestern Company books in Illinois in an area where most houses had storm doors made of glass. I was just coming out of the house where I finished my demonstration. Two kids were waiting outside when I opened the door. Thinking I am a family-member, they started their demonstration right there. One kid, about 17-year-old, sprayed some cleaner at the glass (without asking any permission for doing so) and the other kid, who looked much younger, wiped with the cloth. Their sales-talk was: „See, how clean is your door now“. I noticed a van with some more kids with white polo-shirts waiting around the corner, so I understood there were more kids working in the neighborhood. I moved faster, because I didn’t want them to be first at the door on that particular street. I didn’t give it a lot of thought then, but thinking back now, I should say: it didn’t look like those kids had any professional training to prepare them for their difficult task.
Thank you, Trey, for warning young people!
Thank you HM! I’m glad you were trained properly and recognized that!
That's great that Meagan has the initiative at 15 to start looking and finding ways to set herself apart! I hope that she does remember the Southwestern opportunity and comes and sells when she's in college.
Thanks for encouraging her to be constantly improving herself Trey! That's one of the things I love about Southwestern–their genuine interest in fostering character and integrity in young people.