what's it like doing the sign holder jobs? (employees, apply, employer)

[amylewis]

I have to wonder about this because they are all over the place now. Some of them have to wear costumes and dance around, which in the Florida heat can't be all that fun, but others get to just sit there in a chair behind the sign for their whole shift, talking on their phones or listening to music, or radio shows, or whatever.

When I first saw people doing this I thought it was horrible, a desperation job for those down on their luck, but at least they were working. Then I heard that some of them make pretty good money at it, up to $15 an hour. I'm sure that's not most of them though.

What I've heard is that sign holders are being used because it's not legal for the businesses to put up a sign on a pole there, but it is legal for them to have a person holding it. Makes sense I guess. I think the upside of this job is that you are out there alone with no workplace bullies hassling you, and you don't have to deal with angry or rude customers, and no office politics to deal with.

On the downside I'm sure it can be a really tedious and boring job, out in the weather, and in the heat it can be pretty bad. I don't even want to think about the rain. I have to admire those people for doing that job, at least they are working and doing something most will not do.

[squirrels]

Honestly I'm a little surprised that many businesses think it's worth the paycheck to have a person doing that. I sure wouldn't want to have to do it though.

[d from birmingham]

Depends upon the location though. No soliciting places can arrest people holding such a sign. So make sure the place that employs the sign holder has the permission to put the sign holder there. Another problem is well you have people sometimes throw things at you from their cars. It's rare but it happens.

[amylewis]

Yes I was surprised at that too, but seeing them all out there everywhere I guess it is worth it to the employers, and to be honest I've gone into a new business locally because I saw their sign holder out there, doing his job. I made sure to tell his boss his sign holder got me to come in. I totally support anyone who would do that job, it can't be easy, and I'm sure it's not fun.

[amylewis]

Originally Posted by d from birmingham

Another problem is well you have people sometimes throw things at you from their cars. It's rare but it happens.

Yeah, I thought about that too, and I'm sure it does happen. Pretty sad that anyone would do that to someone just because they are out there trying to make a buck to eat on.

[d from birmingham]

Originally Posted by amylewis

Yeah, I thought about that too, and I'm sure it does happen. Pretty sad that anyone would do that to someone just because they are out there trying to make a buck to eat on.

People that would do that are the same people that have the Jesus fish on that drive through residential neighborhoods and toss their liquor bottles on the sidewalk causing them to break. Seen it happen several times.

[UnknownJaneDoe]

Originally Posted by amylewis

I have to wonder about this because they are all over the place now. Some of them have to wear costumes and dance around, which in the Florida heat can't be all that fun, but others get to just sit there in a chair behind the sign for their whole shift, talking on their phones or listening to music, or radio shows, or whatever.

When I first saw people doing this I thought it was horrible, a desperation job for those down on their luck, but at least they were working. Then I heard that some of them make pretty good money at it, up to $15 an hour. I'm sure that's not most of them though.

What I've heard is that sign holders are being used because it's not legal for the businesses to put up a sign on a pole there, but it is legal for them to have a person holding it. Makes sense I guess. I think the upside of this job is that you are out there alone with no workplace bullies hassling you, and you don't have to deal with angry or rude customers, and no office politics to deal with.

On the downside I'm sure it can be a really tedious and boring job, out in the weather, and in the heat it can be pretty bad. I don't even want to think about the rain. I have to admire those people for doing that job, at least they are working and doing something most will not do.

Hi, I'm actually one of those sign holders you are talking about. I was actually started at minimum wage when I first got this job last year. I now work for $9 and hour. Yes, it is very hot out there, but if you know how to dress and bring enough water and Gatorade/Powerade out there while in the heat you'll be fine. Having a little portal fan, a spray bottle with a fan, bring a bottle of water that you don't mind pouring on your head when you get to hot, and/or have an old baseball cap you don't mind getting messed up and wet it with water before putting it on your head will help you keep cool. The key thing with this job is dress for the weather if you don't have a uniform or custom you have to wear. I can put up with doing this job because my boss allows me to listen to my music and he has recently told me I'm allowed to play on my phone while holding the sign because I have shown him that I can talk to customers that ask me about what we sell, listen to my music, hold the sign, dance with the sign, and wave to the people passing by me at the same time. Original I was only allowed to listen to my music. The how being on the phone, sitting in the chairs, and so on depends on the company, employer, and the employee. My boss notices I do a better job when I can be on my phone talking to people and finding out how close to quota the store is than when I can't.

I'm not allowed to set down while outside, so I'm on my feet for 7.5 hours a day. (This includes breaks because I do have a hard time setting down after jumping around like I do which all I was ever told to do was just hold the sign, so I do more than I should. XD) Also, my employer has one of those pole signs, but he is just the kind of guy that wants to give people that are willing to work a job, so he also employees people to be sign holders. We are all told though that are first job is sign holding and or second job is cat rescuing if we spot a cat in trouble while doing or job. (My boss has a soft spot for cats. XD) I do like the job because I hardly do deal with customers, but I do got to admit that I miss the interaction with people, even if it can be bad. Rain doesn't bother me, especially when it's been hot outside, it's the lighting that bothers me because I get sent home because of it. -_- I only have this job and it's a part time job, so I do take a hit on my money when I get sent home early. With rain you can have a raincoat, umbrella, and rain boots, so no problem with it. Bug are a different story, I get attack by ants everyday because we're not allowed to put ant killer down, which has boss upset because we get attack by ants and the fact that the city has yet to mow the grass in the median on one of the streets that I hold the sign own makes it risky because the grass is so over grown that I'm worried about snakes. Snakes, biting insects, and lighting is what makes this job horrible if you have the training and now how to deal with weather. Luckily I was a girl scout and in the NJROTC program, so I have some survival training that is needed for weather.

Alright, sorry for the long response, just wanted to let you know. Also, this type of job is also used as a second job. Where I work at I was the only person that didn't have a job before apply and getting my job. I tired getting a job in another state before a friend came and rescued my butt before I ended up on the streets, brought me back to Florida and than I got hired at my current job. I was down on my luck, but trying. Even if I wasn't down on my luck I would still take this job.

[bumpus7]

Originally Posted by squirrels

Honestly I'm a little surprised that many businesses think it's worth the paycheck to have a person doing that.

If it was not worth it to the businesses, they would not hire them.

.

[jwiley]

There is a guy I have met several times that makes more than $15 an hour, he told me it would cost me over $20 an hour to hire him away from his current employer, who has him standing on the busiest corner in town 40 hours a week.

Now the company he works for is owned by a guy who 5 years ago just owned an old beat up van, a paint gun, and lived in a house with a bunch of roommates. Now he owns the biggest painting company in the area, and it is all due to his sign waiver, and their reputation of doing a good job, no mailers, no advertising on the radio, tv, or internet (they just got a facebook page about a year ago). So I am sure that he would be the 1st to tell you that it is worth it to pay this guy whatever he pays him.

[Hemlock140]

There is a woman in Redmond, WA that has been doing it for years and is now up to $25/hour, she is so good. People keep offering her more money because she gets attention with her jumping around wildly. It's apparently very effective for a business that;s off the main drag, where people are not aware of them. Before the crash when I had a sign business, I made a lot of them for the new home developments, but now homes are in such demand that they don't have to use them any more. The one kind of business that still uses them regularly is discount mattress stores.