Newcomers

(Flashback, Victor Story')

Victor was very happy, that morning he received a message stating that he was accepted by a top brand company with an international reputation. Tomorrow will be his first day of work.

Victor went shopping for clothes for work. Victor plans to perform at his best on the first day of work.

In 2009, Victor just graduated from high school. He could not continue his education to any university due to cost issues. His parents couldn't support him. In essence, Victor also buried his dream of going to college.

Victor started a new life in the capital. When he got the job vacancy information, Victor registered. His height and appearance are qualified, so the physical requirements can pass him easily.

The next day, Victor set off for the office feeling happy and head full of dreams. According to the content of the message that came to him, Victor met HRD on the first day of work. They had already determined the meeting room, so Victor went straight to the meeting place.

Victor met two other people. They introduced themselves to each other.

Eka, a woman with simple, neat makeup, and a sweet smile introduces herself. Her teeth were white and she also smelled good. Victor could smell the scent of jasmine perfume from Eka's body.

Victor was relieved that he also bought perfume before. Today, he wears it. It made him feel more and more confident.

Another is Luis, a man, wearing lip balm. The color of his lips looked unnatural but it didn't seem strange to him.

This is the first time Victor has seen a guy wearing lip balm. Victor is from the village, so Victor has never seen men wearing lip balm.

For villagers, such objects are always identified as women's and only women can wear them. So, if there are men who wear it, they will be considered crazy, deviant, and acting beyond the limit.

Victor began to get used to his new friend.

A woman wearing high heels walked into the room. She didn't sit down when she introduced herself.

"Good morning, because everyone has gathered. Let's get acquainted briefly. My name is Rami. You guys are already acquainted with each other?"

The three nodded. Rami smiled, the three people in front of her looked innocent, reminding her of the first days of work. This is the hallmark of the faces of the new employees. Innocent, but full of expectations to become an outstanding employee.

"Well, I will explain the work rules here. Please take this home, and if you start to forget our rules, read it again," said Rami.

"This is for Victor," Rami said as she handed out a printed out document to Victor. The division was carried out according to each person's name. This is also her way of recognizing people one by one indirectly.

"This is for Luis, and Eka," Rami said kindly.

"I'm holding a copy. Okay, let's get straight to it," Rami said, then took a seat.

"Regarding work regulations, please look at it yourself. The important thing I want to convey here is homework for each individual. Victor, you have to go to fitness. Your height is good, according to the criteria, and your face also passes the criteria, but your body lacks content. We don't want you to look too thin or fat, but we want you to always be healthy, you have to have muscles. Your body shape becomes pleasing to the eye. Luis and Eka should do the same."

"Why is Eka too? Although female, we must also be able to show a good look, body and appearance. Why? Because the products we sell are high class products. Our target market is not from the low class, but remember, high class and they have standards."

"Okay, maybe this sounds like a force to you, but trust me, when you can follow this standard, you will get a lot of customers. If you manage to get many customers, you will also get a lot of income. Does it make sense?"

Victor, Eka, and Luis nodded.

"The standard of appearance we want is on the appearance standards page after the work standards page. After that there is also a bonus page. We've also included ways for you to socialize with customers. Follow all that and we don't refuse if you want to improvise, as long as the goal is to increase sales, maintain our reputation, especially if those who come as customers are celebrities."

Rami then shared the habits of celebrities and connected them to the riots that can occur on social media.

"Working here, the most important thing is that you can keep the face of the brand. The reputation is international standard, so you must also have an international attitude. So far it can be understood?"

Victor, Eka, and Luis nodded.

"Okay. The verbal explanation is enough up to here. Follow me. You have to see and understand firsthand the field conditions," said Rami.

Victor, Eka, and Luis follow Rami. Once out the door, Rami walked in front of them while talking, providing information and various operational standards of work in the field.

"Adapt quickly, otherwise you will be eliminated. Sorry if my words are rude, because we prefer to act firmly on people we think have no potential. Understand, right?"

"For example, first in terms of appearance, if you still look bad even though you have been working here for a week, your appearance value is minus. You remember, your training period is three months. If during those three months you do not show changes that reach our minimum standards, then inevitably you will not receive an appointment letter as an employee."

"Look, the standard appearance is the one like him, him, and him," Rami said, pointing to the three staff who were standing inside the store. They look to shine luxuriously.

"Sales must also look expensive here, because our merchandise is expensive, more expensive than your life. Sorry if it's rude, I just want you guys to take this seriously. It's so serious that you have to remember it in your subconscious."

"When you stand here as a salesperson, you have to have a different persona than when you're out there. During this one week, you will get fewer working hours, the rest of your working hours to practice in a special room. What exercise is it? Sales practice, pose practice, and more. I will share the schedule in the group after this," said Rami.

"We also have to practice poses?" Eka asked with a very innocent face.

Rami turned her head, "Yup! You won't be a model on the catwalk, but you will stand up and sell products. Your appearance and charm are very important. Posing, when standing between products, can attract the attention of buyers."

Rami is looking for examples for them. "Look at her. Her name is Hani. Hani has been working here for one year and six months, less."

Hani was standing by the suitcase, and a customer seemed to be looking around. Hani just stood up and didn't talk to the customer, but the customer approached Hani and they seemed to be talking.

"Hani stood there not as a statue, but as a figure who was ready to help customers choose products. Look at Hani's expression and her style, it's a pose that shows she's ready to choose the best for that customer."

"Hani doesn't need to approach the customer first, approaching the customer will make them feel uncomfortable, but she slides her shoulders slightly towards the customer, opens her legs slightly, her face and eyes look kindly at the customer, so that the customer realizes that Hani is there to help her choose, not as a security guard who will maintain the price of goods or sales who have to sell goods."

"Hani is indeed in charge of selling, but she does it with soft selling techniques. There is a hard difference between soft selling poses and hard selling. You have to be able to tell the difference. Therefore, practice poses are very important, later you will get more lessons with your teacher. Your practice is every Friday night."

Victor, Luis, and Eka looked confused. They don't know if a single pose can make a big difference in trading techniques. How are they selling in traditional markets? Do they understand things like this?

Rami took them for a walk around the store for a few moments. After that, Rami took them back to the office. Rami explained the attendance system for work and arrived at a special room for class.

"This is your classroom later," Rami walked in and posed.

"Today is empty because there is no class. This room is used for pose classes. The Sales Class is in the next room."

Rami walked out and was followed by Victor, Luis, and Eka. They look like ducks following their mother.

After explaining the site plan and how it worked, Rami took them back to the meeting room.

"For gym, fitness, you have to come to this place. Show this card to the officer there. I told them that we sent three people to train. Later there will be trainers for each of you. No need to think about costs, companies do not hesitate to invest in their employees," said Rami then winked her eyes.

Victor was happy to get a card that was like a credit card. Victor is even more curious about what kind of changes he will get if he perseveres in the company.

"Today, you guys can go back to the store. There will be those who explain in more technical detail in their respective areas. This is your ID and where you have to stay for three months as a newcomer," Rami said and then handed out the ID with a red strap. Rami wears an identification tag hanging around her neck with a black rope.

"Okay, let me explain the difference in the rope between us. The red strap is for newcomers who are still on trial. If you pass the trial period, you may get a blue strap as a sign that you are a contract employee. Whereas if anyone manages to get black, it means you are a permanent employee."

Something inside Victor's head said, "I'm going to get black."

After that, they dispersed. Victor entered the shop mentioned by Rami. Eka and Luis also enter their respective stores.

(The flashback is still ongoing--continued in the next chapter.)