ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 24, 1997 TAG: 9704240028
SECTION: AT WORK PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: UNCLASSIFIED
"We're swamped," declared a help-wanted ad by the Orkin Exterminating Co. in Roanoke, which is looking for four pest-control services sales people.
No experience is necessary to wear the Orkin uniform - khaki pants, a white shirt with red trim and black tie. The company will train those with drive and integrity to become commissioned sales people, visiting homes and businesses with critter problems. Actually, Orkin fights only insects. It declines jobs involving such varmits as rodents and bats.
Its sales people will call on six or eight potential customers a day. They drive their own vehicles; once promoted they may be issued a company truck.
An inspection begins with an interview with a home or business owner about the problem, which brings Orkin employees into contact with a wide variety of people. The next step is to inspect for signs of such insect problems as termites, ants and wasps. This is where the work can get gritty.
"A lot of times, insects like to hang out in dark, damp spaces and those are the places humans are not excited about spending alot of time in," said company spokeswoman Susan Kirkpatrick. But Orkin's inspectors carry a "crawl suit" for such occasions. It's a pair of light canvas overhauls with a zipper front and tight-fitting collar.
The most dangerous part of the job, surprisingly, isn't dealing with the pests. "The most important [safety] consideration we have is making sure our field people are good drivers," Kirkpatrick said. In other words, it's that snake in the car behind you that you have to watch out for if you join the Orkin team.
A two-month training program, during which employees are paid, covers insects, how to spot them and how to deal with them. Inspectors learn application of chemicals even though they don't do that part of the job, so they can advise homeowners.
Pay: $30,000 to $35,000; pay is on a commission basis
Benefits: Medical and dental plan, retirement savings plan, paid time off, discount on company services
Qualifications: The will to face insects; interpersonal skills for dealing with a variety of people; creativity to solve pest problems; and drive to succeed in a sales job.
The grind: Enter enclosures believed to contain unwanted pests
The perks: Definitely not a desk job, exposure to the fascinating world of insects
Contact: Wayne Foutz, Orkin Exterminating Co., 4445 Industrial Drive, Roanoke, Va. 24019, (540)992-3772
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB