Having college students spend 80 hours a week going door to door to sell your books is borderline exploitation. It is extremely manipulative to make these vulnerable students believe that this type of work is beneficial. Very disgusted by this program.
Estonian rep here, going for a second summer, best thing that I've done. It's meant to be challenging and the payout is high BUT it's not a get rich quick scheme, because you actually have to put tons of effort into it. My mentors who've done it 4-6 years have invested over 100 k thanks to revenue from the program and the lessons learned see you at the top
@@m.tammekivi Excellent comment! I just was visited by a wonderful young lady...I'm very hard on door to door salespeps...not at all nice to salespeople usually, but her sales approach was excllent and the products seem really great for my child. I signed him up for the LEAD program and got the Math books...seems like an awesome program
The full picture isn’t your experience. It’s the fact that they do this to exploit college students who want an internship. Your self-employed for a reason.
The sales pitches they are taught are not about the product they are selling., they are about the program, and they teach these kids a sophisticated way to panhandle, that preys on people altruistic nature. If you have ever had one of these kids show up at your door you will see that when they are at the point they cant make a sale, the pitch turns to a request for a donation. That donation does not go to the person you are talking to. They do teach kids to be persuasive, but it's not in the way you want your child to learn.
I completely agree that what you describe has most likely happened in RARE cases. But that is 100% not what we are taught in sales school and in my two years of watching many young people sell, I have never seen what you are describing. But as I mentioned in this video, most of the time no one is watching over us, and some students do end up diverging from the sales talk and the whole sales techniques that we are taught.
@@YarosLoginov You are doing the "girl scout method" . They sell cookies at drastically inflated prices because people want to help out the nice young girls...The difference here is the company that makes the cookies doesnt make the girl scout an independent contractor and require her to work 80 hours a week 7 days and tell her it will look good on a resume, nor do they wind up in debt if they dont sell. There are no salesmen other than these kids. That ISNT an internship, and making them sign a dealer agreement is another ruse that SWA tries tospin as something positive "its like running your own business:" When what they are doing is circumventing minimum wage laws and indemnifying the company by saying they dont work for us. All the negatives have cult like spins on what you are doing to these kids. For a small number of them, that would otherwise be at risk, a summer of indentured servitude might be a good thing, the parents at least know they are trying to do something respectful and are being watched. For the vast majoirity of the others, this is NOT something that looks good on a resume, as an employer I would l wonder about their judgment and what was wrong with them that they got sucked into such a rabbit hole. Unless I was selling timeshares or bad used cars, then they might be perfect for it. When I watch these testimonials, everyone talks in platitudes that mirror the brochure. They dont get into the specifics and how little per hour they make. Selling door to door goods at 4 times the market price is not a business skill in 2021 You want a 2021 real internship teach them how to build a website and market to the right audience... not show up and prey on peoples pity and good nature.
@@YarosLoginov Every pitch starts with a mention of the internship. You might as well wear a girl scout uniform. There is a reason the only ones directly selling are students and it isn't to help young adults learn life lessons or how to run their own business.
You are extremely right!!! I took part in this programe also . I am from Europe . I was so young at that time , so naive. I paid so much money to them for that scam programe. When I run out of money tehy sent me to Kentucky. I said I have no money to rent a room , for food as well. So they taught me and other students to ask for help from the local priest. So maybe any family will feel sympathy for me and accept me for free. Horrible scammers. they don't invest in people a cent!!!! those old manipulators earn a living by those young kids who have no clue how they are being exploited.
2 years, countless rejections, tons of lessons, and lifelong friends. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m already planning to do it all over again next summer. I guess some challenges are just too good to pass up!
I agree with all that is said! Thanks Yaros for taking the time to explain this, I have great memories of this program. I also understand the need to explain the controversy, as I remember digging into this when I was deciding to go my 1st summer. When we were later student managers I was trying my best to explain the program 100% to new students and prepare them, as being unprepared and not cared for by the manager leads to potential bad reviews. This effort was also worth it and created lifetime memories & bonds within our student group. Challenging and rewarding!
If it's not for everyone why are they so insistent, even aggressive when recruiting? I went to the meeting knowing I'm not interested and it's not for me. They did everything in their power to try and convince me to join. I eventually just started bringing excuses as to why I can't join (other plans, interests, no money to pay for the costs bc you have to pay for your own plane tickets, living expenses AND TRAINING). It felt like I had to PROVE to them why I can't join. While I appreciate your honesty as to how hard it actually is, they're not upfront about it and ways one could fail, only bringing out the positives.
They don't pay. Because it is a super greedy group of people. They would rather so much brainwash you and put pressure on your weak points. that after a time you will start believing that this is the best bullshit company on the globe. horrible horrible scammers. I have many friends who was there during summer and they didn't want it , wanted to change a job there you don't have to be ashamed all the time. and manager was threatening them to cut down their visa. But clever people called police and asked for a help. Then a manager appologised and did not threaten and manipulate any more. People worked in restaurants earned good money , lots of tips , nice free time . those who stayed in the programe selling those shitty books most of them ended up in a dept . did not earn anything despite the fact that they worked for 70 hour per week. If you wanna develop and learn you go to a courses you read books, you go to university !!!! you don't get any lessons and develop by learning that idiotic sells text which they teach you at SW !!!!!!
I did 2 summers. It was a bit of a challenge, definitely out of my comfort zone and challenging. But it definitely worth it. Really good opportunity for students😌😀
Definitely that’s a good program to take part in for ambitious students who are looking for something more self developing than casual work and travels where you work in aqua park as a lifeguard. Program is not easy but it’s very rewarding. Nothing in life that is worth it comes easy, same with this program. There is nothing like it on the market currently. Best work n travel program for ambitious hardworking students.
Well I have some questions. 1. Do I get to choose where I sell books for the summer? 2. If I get sent to an unfamiliar area, will the company put me in a hotel? (Generally when businesses send their workers to out of state conferences, businesses put them up in hotels that the businesses pay for). If so, which hotel? 3. I understand that workers use their own vehicles when they do these sells? If my vehicle breaks down on the job, will the company help me to pay for the repair expenses since the incident occurred on their time? 4. If there is a flash flood warning for the area I am selling in, am I still expected to try to sell and risk drowning to make a sell? 5. How does the company protect workers from the risks of sexual violence in the midst of the sales? 6. If the locals call the police on workers and the workers end up in jail, does the company pay their bail? 7. Does the company reimburse workers for gas? (When my grandmother volunteered at a senior citizen center for the Meals on Wheels program, the center gave my grandmother gas money).
Im polish, i did this program too. Not gonna lie really hard job wouldnt recommend it to everybody unless you are like super driven and ready to work your ass off
Pretty sure there is an MLM recruitment component to this AND how can you say it is the best way for a student to spend there summers when virtually all fortune 500 companies offer internships. Also door-to-door salesman is relevant to what fields exactly? probably almost none
On point! Thanks for your words, if some people are wondering and reading some negative comments - i can add as well that it's not easy. Everyone works hard here and if somebody just looks for an option to visit america - go somewhere else. But if you want to grow and have high goals for the future, work your ass of for it and that's a program that helps with that. Not by the accident the company is year by year winning awards for being a TOP Internship in USA amongst google, Intel, Amazon, NASA, Disney, General Motors etc.
You're not entirely right. First of all, it needs to be mentioned that a lot of things are left unsaid during the selection process, and important facts are omitted. Another thing is that there is a lot of manipulation involved. I don't want to go into too much detail, but in short, it's garbage wrapped in nice paper. Ultimately, it is an ugly exploitation of young people, forcing them to work eighty hours or more, making them aggressively push those books, ignoring if someone says no. This puts naive young people at greater risk of trouble. Maybe someone will shoot them, or a dog might bite them, or at best, people will call the police. The company doesn't care; they don't pay the young person a cent, they don't take care of their accommodation, they just teach them to beg, for example, from a priest. Disgusting. And you still dare to promote this as a good thing? Is your conscience completely rotten? How do you feel knowing you sold that garbage to someone who was coerced and couldn't really say no? How do you feel knowing that the person overpaid for that garbage twenty times over and may later end up in financial trouble because of you? Doesn't it evoke any bad feelings? Are you really that amoral? Don't you feel like you've committed a crime when you push that garbage on someone? Come on?
Awesome internship, I love to participate every summer. Next year it is going to be my 4th summer and I can truly recommend it to everyone who seeks self improvement, personal growth, and is not afraid to take up challenges to achieve a lot. It was one of the hardest thing in my life but I cannot imagine anything that would be more worth it. I am truly grateful for all leaders that helped me in this journey 🙏 Looking forward for the next summers already! 😄
I did this back in 2013 and it was the worst/best experience 😂😂😂 I came out negative in the bank, but one thing It did do for me was lose 50 lbs and improved my people skills . This helped me get my next internship and it was super easy lmfaoooo don’t do this program tho 😂 especially if you’re soft lolololololololol
Having college students spend 80 hours a week going door to door to sell your books is borderline exploitation. It is extremely manipulative to make these vulnerable students believe that this type of work is beneficial. Very disgusted by this program.
Estonian rep here, going for a second summer, best thing that I've done. It's meant to be challenging and the payout is high BUT it's not a get rich quick scheme, because you actually have to put tons of effort into it. My mentors who've done it 4-6 years have invested over 100 k thanks to revenue from the program and the lessons learned
see you at the top
@@m.tammekivi lõpeta oma sotsiaalmeedia crusade sõbrake
@@m.tammekivi Excellent comment! I just was visited by a wonderful young lady...I'm very hard on door to door salespeps...not at all nice to salespeople usually, but her sales approach was excllent and the products seem really great for my child. I signed him up for the LEAD program and got the Math books...seems like an awesome program
The full picture isn’t your experience. It’s the fact that they do this to exploit college students who want an internship. Your self-employed for a reason.
The sales pitches they are taught are not about the product they are selling., they are about the program, and they teach these kids a sophisticated way to panhandle, that preys on people altruistic nature. If you have ever had one of these kids show up at your door you will see that when they are at the point they cant make a sale, the pitch turns to a request for a donation. That donation does not go to the person you are talking to.
They do teach kids to be persuasive, but it's not in the way you want your child to learn.
I completely agree that what you describe has most likely happened in RARE cases. But that is 100% not what we are taught in sales school and in my two years of watching many young people sell, I have never seen what you are describing.
But as I mentioned in this video, most of the time no one is watching over us, and some students do end up diverging from the sales talk and the whole sales techniques that we are taught.
@@YarosLoginov You are doing the "girl scout method" . They sell cookies at drastically inflated prices because people want to help out the nice young girls...The difference here is the company that makes the cookies doesnt make the girl scout an independent contractor and require her to work 80 hours a week 7 days and tell her it will look good on a resume, nor do they wind up in debt if they dont sell.
There are no salesmen other than these kids. That ISNT an internship, and making them sign a dealer agreement is another ruse that SWA tries tospin as something positive "its like running your own business:" When what they are doing is circumventing minimum wage laws and indemnifying the company by saying they dont work for us.
All the negatives have cult like spins on what you are doing to these kids. For a small number of them, that would otherwise be at risk, a summer of indentured servitude might be a good thing, the parents at least know they are trying to do something respectful and are being watched.
For the vast majoirity of the others, this is NOT something that looks good on a resume, as an employer I would l wonder about their judgment and what was wrong with them that they got sucked into such a rabbit hole. Unless I was selling timeshares or bad used cars, then they might be perfect for it.
When I watch these testimonials, everyone talks in platitudes that mirror the brochure. They dont get into the specifics and how little per hour they make.
Selling door to door goods at 4 times the market price is not a business skill in 2021
You want a 2021 real internship teach them how to build a website and market to the right audience... not show up and prey on peoples pity and good nature.
@@YarosLoginov Every pitch starts with a mention of the internship. You might as well wear a girl scout uniform. There is a reason the only ones directly selling are students and it isn't to help young adults learn life lessons or how to run their own business.
You are extremely right!!! I took part in this programe also . I am from Europe . I was so young at that time , so naive. I paid so much money to them for that scam programe. When I run out of money tehy sent me to Kentucky. I said I have no money to rent a room , for food as well. So they taught me and other students to ask for help from the local priest. So maybe any family will feel sympathy for me and accept me for free. Horrible scammers. they don't invest in people a cent!!!! those old manipulators earn a living by those young kids who have no clue how they are being exploited.
2 years, countless rejections, tons of lessons, and lifelong friends. It’s been a wild ride, and I’m already planning to do it all over again next summer. I guess some challenges are just too good to pass up!
I agree with all that is said! Thanks Yaros for taking the time to explain this, I have great memories of this program. I also understand the need to explain the controversy, as I remember digging into this when I was deciding to go my 1st summer. When we were later student managers I was trying my best to explain the program 100% to new students and prepare them, as being unprepared and not cared for by the manager leads to potential bad reviews. This effort was also worth it and created lifetime memories & bonds within our student group. Challenging and rewarding!
Thanks so much for the comment Laci :) totally agree!
4:20 - 5:10 Here is a rule of thumb. If you have to cloak the truth of a company in order to recruit, the company is not that good.
Really recommend this summer internship.
Just finished my first summer with Southwestern Advantage and I guess I’ll do it again next summer.
If it's not for everyone why are they so insistent, even aggressive when recruiting? I went to the meeting knowing I'm not interested and it's not for me. They did everything in their power to try and convince me to join. I eventually just started bringing excuses as to why I can't join (other plans, interests, no money to pay for the costs bc you have to pay for your own plane tickets, living expenses AND TRAINING). It felt like I had to PROVE to them why I can't join. While I appreciate your honesty as to how hard it actually is, they're not upfront about it and ways one could fail, only bringing out the positives.
It seems like they pay you for doing the video
Feel free to get in touch with them and ask them to pay me :) I won't mind
They don't pay. Because it is a super greedy group of people. They would rather so much brainwash you and put pressure on your weak points. that after a time you will start believing that this is the best bullshit company on the globe. horrible horrible scammers. I have many friends who was there during summer and they didn't want it , wanted to change a job there you don't have to be ashamed all the time. and manager was threatening them to cut down their visa. But clever people called police and asked for a help. Then a manager appologised and did not threaten and manipulate any more. People worked in restaurants earned good money , lots of tips , nice free time . those who stayed in the programe selling those shitty books most of them ended up in a dept . did not earn anything despite the fact that they worked for 70 hour per week. If you wanna develop and learn you go to a courses you read books, you go to university !!!! you don't get any lessons and develop by learning that idiotic sells text which they teach you at SW !!!!!!
I did 2 summers. It was a bit of a challenge, definitely out of my comfort zone and challenging. But it definitely worth it. Really good opportunity for students😌😀
I have learned a lot with this program. I am very glad that I took part in this program:)
I can agree! I spent 2 summers with Southwestern Advantage. I have learnt a lot about myslef, sales and a lot more!
Definitely that’s a good program to take part in for ambitious students who are looking for something more self developing than casual work and travels where you work in aqua park as a lifeguard. Program is not easy but it’s very rewarding. Nothing in life that is worth it comes easy, same with this program. There is nothing like it on the market currently. Best work n travel program for ambitious hardworking students.
I participated to this program and recommend everybody to try this. Show you more perspectives and you can develop yourself 💪🏽
Well I have some questions.
1. Do I get to choose where I sell books for the summer?
2. If I get sent to an unfamiliar area, will the company put me in a hotel? (Generally when businesses send their workers to out of state conferences, businesses put them up in hotels that the businesses pay for). If so, which hotel?
3. I understand that workers use their own vehicles when they do these sells? If my vehicle breaks down on the job, will the company help me to pay for the repair expenses since the incident occurred on their time?
4. If there is a flash flood warning for the area I am selling in, am I still expected to try to sell and risk drowning to make a sell?
5. How does the company protect workers from the risks of sexual violence in the midst of the sales?
6. If the locals call the police on workers and the workers end up in jail, does the company pay their bail?
7. Does the company reimburse workers for gas? (When my grandmother volunteered at a senior citizen center for the Meals on Wheels program, the center gave my grandmother gas money).
Thanks Yaros! Thank you for a great explanation.
Hey boss! Super great to hear from you! Love your unpacking of the M1 video :D
Everyone going for somethig like this are incredibly strong or incredibly crazy people :-D
yes!
Im polish, i did this program too. Not gonna lie really hard job wouldnt recommend it to everybody unless you are like super driven and ready to work your ass off
yea eff this company
Ive been there too. Very challanging but rewarding. Ive learnt a lot
Pretty sure there is an MLM recruitment component to this AND how can you say it is the best way for a student to spend there summers when virtually all fortune 500 companies offer internships. Also door-to-door salesman is relevant to what fields exactly? probably almost none
This entire video is disingenuous
Really good experience, a lot of knowledge about ourselves, sales, life 👏🏻
I did this program as well, it was an amazing experience ❤
On point! Thanks for your words, if some people are wondering and reading some negative comments - i can add as well that it's not easy. Everyone works hard here and if somebody just looks for an option to visit america - go somewhere else. But if you want to grow and have high goals for the future, work your ass of for it and that's a program that helps with that.
Not by the accident the company is year by year winning awards for being a TOP Internship in USA amongst google, Intel, Amazon, NASA, Disney, General Motors etc.
Everyone going for the first SW meeting should se this to have the full picture!
Thanks!
You're not entirely right. First of all, it needs to be mentioned that a lot of things are left unsaid during the selection process, and important facts are omitted. Another thing is that there is a lot of manipulation involved. I don't want to go into too much detail, but in short, it's garbage wrapped in nice paper. Ultimately, it is an ugly exploitation of young people, forcing them to work eighty hours or more, making them aggressively push those books, ignoring if someone says no. This puts naive young people at greater risk of trouble. Maybe someone will shoot them, or a dog might bite them, or at best, people will call the police. The company doesn't care; they don't pay the young person a cent, they don't take care of their accommodation, they just teach them to beg, for example, from a priest. Disgusting. And you still dare to promote this as a good thing? Is your conscience completely rotten? How do you feel knowing you sold that garbage to someone who was coerced and couldn't really say no? How do you feel knowing that the person overpaid for that garbage twenty times over and may later end up in financial trouble because of you? Doesn't it evoke any bad feelings? Are you really that amoral? Don't you feel like you've committed a crime when you push that garbage on someone? Come on?
Awesome internship, I love to participate every summer. Next year it is going to be my 4th summer and I can truly recommend it to everyone who seeks self improvement, personal growth, and is not afraid to take up challenges to achieve a lot. It was one of the hardest thing in my life but I cannot imagine anything that would be more worth it. I am truly grateful for all leaders that helped me in this journey 🙏 Looking forward for the next summers already! 😄
Great breakdown, thank you
WVU GROUP, 1975 TN, 1976 GA, 1977 FL (Elvis died), 1978 IL Great times.
Mike Dixon, Mac Kelton, and Creig Soeder and Jim Schlosser.
I did this back in 2013 and it was the worst/best experience 😂😂😂 I came out negative in the bank, but one thing It did do for me was lose 50 lbs and improved my people skills . This helped me get my next internship and it was super easy lmfaoooo don’t do this program tho 😂 especially if you’re soft lolololololololol
Done The program, totally worth it. Great experience and cool people
Thanks bro tho
nicee