Interview process was brutal. After applying for the position, which had a very limited description, I was contacted by a recruiter for an initial phone screening/interview. The questions were standard such as previous employment and what you're looking for. Once the conversation was over, I still had no idea what I was interviewing for. After receiving a call back I was invited for a formal interview at the main office. In the meantime I was sent a case study and accounting packet that explained a little about what the company does and different accounting methods, which would be discussed during the interview.
I was excited to sit down and have great conversations about what I am looking for in a career and if the organization was a right fit for my future goals. Instead, I was brought into the meeting room and interviewed by two reps. Some of the questions seemed unprepared and there was not much, if any, flow to the conversations. The young ladies seemed to give me strange looks whenever I answered a question or expounded on my reasoning. Despite the somewhat awkward conversations, I felt good about what was discussed and how I answered their questions. The ladies left after exactly 30 minutes and the next half of the interview was a joke.
Two guys walk in and immediately have attitudes, like I was being an inconvenience to them. Very unprofessional looking, like jeans, t-shirts, and ball caps. We shook hands and took a seat. Immediately one of the men started drilling me on accounting methods and whether or not I would choose bonds over other investments, statement of cash flows over financial sheets and so forth. Need I remind you that I was interviewing for a "sales" position. I was asked multiple times if I had taken any classes on accounting or finance. You would think that having both bachelors and masters degrees in business, they would have assumed the answer to those questions were yes and yes.
Every time I gave an answer I was scoffed at and told I was right, but also wrong. I was cut off more than once and the conversation didn't go anywhere. At one point I had to explain to them that I was not an accountant, and that if they were looking for an accountant they should post that in the description of the opening. By the end of our conversation I felt my time had been wasted. I had to drive across town to be beaten up in an interview where I believed I was being pursued.
I have been a part of some very terrible interviews and I can honestly say this was by far the rudest and most unprofessional I had been too. I have many years of experience in leadership and sales. I am a professional and expect those who are interviewing me to also be professional. The lack of information and respect given during my one week of interaction with thiis firm has inspired me to save all of you other deserving individuals who are hard working and loyal to look elsewhere and save your time. $40,000/year isn't worth being someone's whipping horse. I'm glad I was not selected, and feel bad for whoever was.
