emodel.com / Options Talent Group Model Scouts

The claim of benefits is just to lure you into the interview. In order to qualify, you have to enroll 25 people during your initial 30-day training period, during your first week work (unpaid) five open call sessions, attend a conference call for new scouts and scout talent.

Also, a scout report detailing the names of the people you scouted and the dates they are coming to the open call must be submitted online before 9:00 AM daily.

The bottom line is if you don't enroll 25 people in 30 days you do not advance. One does not become a full-time scout until after 120 days (90 probationary period requires that you register at least 7 to 10 models before you receive commission on enrollments at $25/enrollment or $50 for more than 10 + they promise a salary of $600/week).

The compensation breakdown (straight commission for 30 days) for model enrollments per week is as follows:

1 to 3 - $20/enrollment
4 to 6 - $50/enrollment
7 to 9 - $75/enrollment
10 or more - $100/enrollment

The benefits breakdown as follows:
Cell phone allowance (includes telephone and basic plan) 90 days
Insurance - 90 days
Transportation allowance (up to $250/month) - 180 days
Travel expenses (approved by Options) - 180 days
Stock options - 1 year (OPTG.OB is currently trading at 0.145 as of 3/22/02)

On the first day of training (which starts about 10:00 AM), scouts are given a script of the sales pitch, participate in a motivational conference call, given about 30 minutes to practice the script on each other, and then are sent out in the community to scout people.

That 30 minutes constitutes the scout training.

The scouts are instructed to return to the office by 4:00-4:30 PM, where they are then "trained" on how to conduct an open call session. In actuality, the scouts are providing free labor for appointments that had been scheduled prior to the new scouts becoming employed.

Depending on the office, open calls can be scheduled anywhere from 3 times a week to 12 times, 6 days a week.

The office I was hired in requires their scouts to attend two open calls a day, M-F, 6:30 and 7:30, and Saturday 1:00 and 2:00 PM during their training week. The scout is not paid for their time during the initial 30 day period unless they have enrolled models. My first day I "worked" 12 hours and had to be back the next day at 11:00 AM.

Everyone who shows up for the interview gets hired. The turnover is about 90%. While you think it's a one-on-one interview, there will probably be 20-30 other people there thinking the same thing.

You'll see a presentation, participate in a "model project" where you are broken up into groups, given a stack of laminated comp cards and are instructed to select three models that you would use to open an agency with. There is no wrong answer.

Everyone breaks for lunch, a second "model project" is conducted where you are given the same photos and conduct the same selection process, but this time your selections are evaluated. There is no wrong answer.

Exit interviews are conducted, and the applicant is offered the job. Everyone gets hired, unbeknownst to the applicant. However, before leaving the room the scout is instructed not to say whether or not they have been hired because not everone gets hired. In actuality, not everyone comes back.