Is It Fair to Fire a Newbie for Not Meeting Tough Credit Card Sales Targets?

Today, I visited a bank where a fresher was appointed to sell credit cards. She has been given a target of selling at least two credit cards. If she cannot sell two, she should aim for at least one. If, throughout the entire month, she is unable to reach the target or sell even one credit card, she will be terminated from the job. Is it fair to terminate her if she was not able to sell even one credit card?

Please let us know whether this is an off-roll job (on a third-party roll) or on the company roll. Normally, when a company appoints freshers for the marketing/sales function, new recruits will be under a probationary period or honeymoon period for about 3 to 6 months. The purpose of this is to train them and develop them into better sales personnel for the company.

In my opinion, expecting immediate results from a fresher in sales is not fair. The company should provide the necessary training before setting targets. After the training, they can certainly expect business growth.

Even though the sales target for her is very low, the company has to train her effectively to achieve it.

Regards,
M. Kannan

There is nothing like right or wrong in this. It entirely depends on the company to set standards for the executives joining them. From my experience, I can say they never fire a fresher for non-performance if they are convinced that the person is putting in efforts. Now, it is the job of the person to work sincerely and report regularly to their superior so that the superior is convinced that this employee is serious. In the sales line, these kinds of threats are always there to create pressure on freshers so that they perform. Some managers prefer hand-holding and pampering in the initial days, while some believe in creating pressure. Just learn to live with it for some time. Things will fall into place. There is nothing right or wrong morally here.

Regards,
Biplab

I am not able to get a clear understanding of your problem. First, because you are not specifying your locus standi in this matter, and you are also not stating why it's your problem. Second, you are using SMS lingo, which makes reading difficult.

Employee Sales Target

The employee has been asked to sell 2 cards a month. She is given a minimum of 1 credit card a month! Below that, she will be terminated. If an employee cannot sell even 1 item of a low-end job, why will the company keep and pay her salary? Even for a fresher, selling a credit card is not rocket science. It's a question of persevering through a database and speaking to as many people as possible, then following up rigorously until they say yes or no.