Increasing Number of Students Seeking Jobs in Network Marketing

– Hey, hi, do you have a moment for a question? Hey, sorry if I’m bothering you, I would just like to ask you something if I can?

Surely most of you reading this have encountered similar messages from unknown people in your private chats on social media at least once. We all know what it’s about – it’s network marketing. We are aware of what they do, what kind of people they are looking for, and what exactly they expect from us. However, there is another side to the story. In conversations with students engaged in network marketing, I learned how they, as students, manage in this job, what benefits they gain from this type of work, and how they balance work with their academic obligations.

Concept of Network Marketing

Although its practices are already well known, network marketing can be defined as a type of system that uses recommendations from trusted individuals for business purposes in selling products or services. It is also known by the names Network Marketing or Multi-Level Marketing (MLM).

It is a distribution method in which a company sells its products through independent distributors to end customers, but they can also participate as independent sellers. This is not about direct selling or direct marketing, but its recognizability lies in the strictly vertical structure of the distribution system where a strict hierarchical structure prevails from top to bottom. This structure leads to a numerically widespread distribution system with a large number of independent consultants.

Students’ Jobs in Network Marketing

Given that this job is promoted as simple and one that does not take up much free time, it is presented as ideal for students. For this reason, students are one of the main targets for independent consultants whose goal is to “expand the network” by seeking potential collaborators, and ultimately customers. The students I contacted, who are employed in companies engaged in network marketing, say they learned about the job through recommendations (recommendations from friends, recommendations from professors at the faculty), while others got involved by responding to the classic question posed through social media.

As a description of their job, MLM students state the following: jobs in the digital marketing department; “My daily routine is operational marketing – setting up campaigns, monitoring and reporting, media buying, planning – campaign planning, and accounting – client management – strategy, meetings, as my line manager would say – the first line of defense.”

Then providing opportunities for using products to improve health and opportunities for creating online businesses, as well as developing and implementing marketing strategies including digital marketing strategies. Their most important tools are Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and surveys, but they also use other networks for employer branding and brand awareness. Depending on their willingness, motivation, and possibilities, they dedicate from five to over 30 hours a week to the job, which is not surprising since they earn money per hour of work. Salary amounts really vary, while some earn approximately a solid five thousand kuna each month, others reach figures of up to nine thousand kuna. When asked if it is worth working this job while studying, they replied that it is worth it if a person has ambitions that they cannot achieve as an employee and does not come from a successful entrepreneurial background. They also state that they will remain in the same job even after finishing their studies.

Teamwork

We already know that this type of work is based on teamwork, and each team has its own rules. Some of them are, for example, “watching each other’s backs” – the one who stands in front of the client takes responsibility for all shortcomings, and within the team, they work on improving that. One student states that there is no judgment, lying, or backstabbing, and emphasizes that people (team members) are actually the best part of the company they work for. She also states: “In the last few months, various top marketing experts from high positions have come to work with us because they heard we are a great team and that exceptional interpersonal relationships prevail – and they are right!”

Who are the Customers?

We are all familiar with how MLM companies operate, but do we know who their customers actually are and how companies reach their clients? Clients. Depending on the type of services or products the company offers, clients vary. For example, in a company that offers dietary supplements, clients are those who have challenges with proper nutrition and lack of energy, and such customers “come” through social media. Other companies act as marketing agencies, so clients come to them on their own. They are most often invited to a “pitch” (presentation) and ultimately make a decision on which agency they will work with that attended.

Offer

MLM companies offer a really wide range of products and services, which most often include: vitamin preparations, weight loss products, dietary supplements, cosmetics and personal care, fragrances, cleaning products, insurance, telecommunications… However, the students I spoke with about their jobs revealed to me that the companies they work for sell “atypical” and valuable services among which are: online media buying, performance, programmatic, planning, offline OHH marketing, TV, radio marketing, social performance, community, creative, influencer marketing. There is also the application of artificial intelligence, chatbots, software robots, and advanced analytics. From this, we can conclude that MLM companies do not only sell “weight loss products,” but their range of products and services is much broader, hence there is a large market.

Is it Worth It?

What I was most interested in, and what I asked students employed in network marketing, was what the actual response of students to such a type of job is and to what extent they accept the job when offered, and the answers varied. Most believe that the desire and motivation to work depend on many factors (financial stability, amount of free time, prejudices, amount of obligations at the faculty). The answer I also received was: “I was specifically the first student that the company I work for ever hired, and after me, two of my colleagues also got jobs.

It is (as strange as it may sound) difficult to reach students. If a student does respond, they are usually not ready for the job as such. There are no requirements from their side; I had 0 experience, and my mentor said that if I know what Facebook is, that is enough, and everything else can be learned if you have the will and passion. And that was the case. I believe that students should not be approached directly unless it is a case of extreme necessity because everything is served to us on a platter anyway – the least every student can do is browse job ads, research marketing portals that often publish when agencies are looking for jobs, or proactively respond to open applications for positions they want to work in. Employers love to see that! Proactivity, motivation, passion, and a desire to learn work wonders! There is really work available; anyone who has the will and time will surely work if they put in the effort.”

From this, we can conclude that the world of MLM in which students work is neither black nor white, but the benefit of such a type of work really depends on ourselves, our desires, preferences, goals, and beliefs.

{embed_digitalno_izdanje}{/embed_digitalno_izdanje}