Capital is an economic system that has contributed to the growth of societies around the globe. It has created development, top notch innovations and opportunities for people elevate their financial status. It is also a system deep rooted in contradictions that has also enslaved people without a chance of escape. I recently had an experience of the darker side of this economic system. This was an organization that claims to provide opportunities for both staff and clients alike to gain financial growth but after a brief surveillance of the environment, I soon realized it was just a ruse to make people sell their very souls. Here exploitation was not just a practice, it was a way of life.
During my search for a job, I saw a vacancy sign very close to my house. It was a real estate company desperately in need of business executives even indicating that they were willing to train amateurs in the field and qualification levels was not really a criteria for getting the job. This was obviously a no brainer, I was going to apply for the job. I took a picture of the vacancy sign and also copied the email address for backup. Immediately I got home, I forwarded my CV via email to the company address and that was that.
Five days later I discovered I had an email inviting me for an interview at the company three days earlier but regardless I got dressed the next morning, put on my Sunday best and off I went to the location. When I got there I was told to wait at the reception office for about 27 minutes before I was called up to the office of the human relations director for proper scrutiny. Listening to man talk about the benefits of working with them felt like a fairytale story in real life since it was sure to have a happy ending for me and I was soo confident that this is where I was meant to be. I even told him I was yet to go for service ( NYSC ) because I wanted to be transparent but he told me it was no problem as the company also employed Corpers to work for them
After the interview, I was employed but due to company policy I was placed on probation. I stayed around the building talking to my supervisor to get better acquainted with the responsibilities that come with being with a business executive ( I really loved how the title sounds). I went back home by past four, took a cold bath and decided to rest but something just didn't sit right with me about the job so I decided to review their operations completely. The HRD sugarcoated the job that I was blindsided by how much of a horrible job it truly was. First I was not even a business executive, I was a marketer tasked with fighting for prospects either online or physically through face to face interactions after walking about for hours. I was not even on payroll, I will have to depend on 7 percent from every sales I make meaning no clients no money for me. However I was told I would be given three thousand naira weekly for mobility, mind you the distance my place to the company costs one thousand four hundred naira daily excluding feeding and the cost for transportation while I am marketing. This was literally exploitation, we were not even employees but slaves rewarded with peanuts for the company's growth. No wonder it is one of the top 3 real estate companies from the country.
I talked it over with my elder sister and she told me not to do it as it was really difficult to convince people to purchase house or landed properties due to the state of the country's economy but I just told her that I will give it a try just for day to gauge it out before quitting( I am not going to lie the mouth watering benefits I was swayed to believe I will get when I make huge sales was still vibing off in my head, I wanted to go to Paris 🤣🤣 which was the reward for the top staff of this year).
On Monday the next week I went off to work, it was a presentation intended to last for 2 hours. I took my seat, watched the projector while taking notes. After the briefing, the employees gave reports about their earnings for the past few weeks. What I saw was completely discouraging I discovered that some folks had not made a single sale for over two months meaning no money for them they were just coming to work, struggling to go home with nothing for over two months this was looking pretty bad. Everything lasted for three hours after which all four of the newbies including me were taken to the training room for one last orientation before we officially become workers.
After the lady was done talking I asked her a very important question: " how long did it take you to make your first sales".
She told me it took her two months and there was even a guy that did make any sales until after 8 months which he made just 200k from it and to add insult to injury, if you don't make any sales after two months as a beginner, you loss access to mobilization funds( three thousand naira weekly) which meant that guy was probably wasting his time and money for eight months only to make 200k later. That was the last straw I knew this was not the place for me . Immediately it was closing hour I turned over my tie and ID card resigning before I even started.
For all capitalism stands for is simply a system that excels with help from inequality. It grants positive sanctions to those who are willing to do whatever it takes off the backs of others usually the working class. The rich keep getting richer and the poor, completely dominated in a constant circle of exploitation . However, capitalism is not evil. It has the possibility of being a drive for good, creating growth and development for those who are able to utilize it for the right purposes.
In the end capitalism is neither a symbol for good or bad. It is simply an instrument and like every tool, it heavily depends on how it is used. It is up to us to ensure that it is not used negatively but to create a world where everybody benefits from it equally no matter how difficult it may seem.
