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Job Interview... ?
Figgy
Fighter of the night manChampion of the sunRegistered User regular
Fighter of the night manChampion of the sunRegistered User regular
I received a call Friday for a job interview for a Financial Consultant. I was enthusastic on the phone, booked the interview, and that was that.
The strange part is, I never applied for this job. I've been bombing my resume all over the place, but I would have never applied for this position, simply because I am nowhere near qualified. All of the jobs I've applied to involve writing, journalism, or some form of customer service (copy writer jobs, reporting, tech support, etc.)
The guy on the phone said they saw my resume on Workopolis and wanted me to come in for a "chat." Sure, I'm not about to argue with this guy or interrogate him about how he got my number. I figure the worst that could come of this is that I earn some more interview experience and an interesting story, and the best case scenario is that I start working for them.
So, what the hell does a Financial Consultant do? Is there really no actual education "requirement," so that this firm would somehow consider my resume applicable? I'm going to be bringing my resume to the interview, but which one do I bring? My "writing" resume, with the staff writer / managing editor jobs I've had, or my "customer service" resume, which is more or less serving at restaurants.
The guy also mentioned there being a test for me to write that day, so what can I expect here? Simple personality questions? Math? Something I would have learned in a financial consulting course?
The strange part is, I never applied for this job. I've been bombing my resume all over the place, but I would have never applied for this position, simply because I am nowhere near qualified. All of the jobs I've applied to involve writing, journalism, or some form of customer service (copy writer jobs, reporting, tech support, etc.)
The guy on the phone said they saw my resume on Workopolis and wanted me to come in for a "chat." Sure, I'm not about to argue with this guy or interrogate him about how he got my number. I figure the worst that could come of this is that I earn some more interview experience and an interesting story, and the best case scenario is that I start working for them.
So, what the hell does a Financial Consultant do? Is there really no actual education "requirement," so that this firm would somehow consider my resume applicable? I'm going to be bringing my resume to the interview, but which one do I bring? My "writing" resume, with the staff writer / managing editor jobs I've had, or my "customer service" resume, which is more or less serving at restaurants.
The guy also mentioned there being a test for me to write that day, so what can I expect here? Simple personality questions? Math? Something I would have learned in a financial consulting course?
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I'd be very fucking wary though. It might be a legitimate position with a legitimate recruiter but I'm betting all the internet bucks I've earned since CompuServe was launched that this is some scam where they get you to pay them for training with 'guaranteed placement on completion. maybe. sorta. except we aren't making any legally binding promises' or something.
They got my resume off monster.com and I felt exactly the same way. No finance or sales background, etc.
I went to the "interview" and while the whole thing is actually legit, it just seemed wrong to me. Pretty seedy.
The company that tried getting me was called Primerica, just google it.
Not that I'm saying that your experience is the same, just something to think about.
In that case, are they a legitimate company? I don't live in the US so I'm not familiar with them. They have a website, but it is all very generic stock image.
If they are real, is the job you're being interviewed for listed here?
Yes or no, contact the number there to confirm the interview etc.
I can't find anything specifically about scams relating to Investor's Group, but recruitment scams certainly exist.
Lately I've run into quite a few job listings that turned out to be middlemen trying to recruit people for classes and other job placement agencies.
In essence, before you do anything, find their name, their number, and the name of the company.
The fact that this job is something you've never even thought about is a pretty big warning flag that this guy just needs a warm body more than he needs someone with an actual set of skills.
Yeah, I guess they could also just be a very unscrupulous investment company with a bad name so they have to recruit from outside the industry. Definitely research the company thoroughly. Call some other companies, get a feel for how they're regarded, etc. You might end up just working in a call centre, cold calling and hammering old people for crappy investments or something shit.
And the position isn't listed on their website.
Really though, it might be legit, it might not. Like you said, the likely worst-case scenario is a little wasted time and a story to tell.
Obvious red flags would be asking for money (for anything), wanting your SSN or other info without a job offer, job description that boils down to you recruiting other people, selling anything that encourages sales to family/friends.
3DS FC: 4699-5714-8940 Playing Pokemon, add me! Ho, SATAN!
3DS FC: 4699-5714-8940 Playing Pokemon, add me! Ho, SATAN!
Most people don't last more than 2 years, but you can make $texas if you're good at it and have solid leads/connections out of the gate. Basically it isn't the type of job you want if rejection hurts.
http://www.investorsgroup.com/english/aboutUs/careers/consultant/default.shtml
Standard lower finance sales gig - if you're any good you'll move onto a better sales gig within 18 months.
It's a pyramid scheme. Something to entice fools into schlocking their goods while recruiting others selling "financial services". Not worth it.
Also, Ameriprise is actually a legit company, just want to point that out.
If you're really into getting into financial services, check these people out, www.TheAmericanCollege.edu.
Most legit financial and insurance people have a whole bunch of alphabet soup on the end of their name...that college issues most of that soup.
On a separate subject, Technical Writer positions often ask that you have some sort of English or similar degree, which I have. However, I have no experience as a Technical Writer and most of them require that you possess, at least, 2-3yrs of experience.
So, how does one get experience as a Technical Writer? It's that irritating circular effect. You need experience to work, but you can't get experience unless you work.
When you see a position asking for technical writers and they require experience apply anyways. Sometimes they're hiring entry level positions as well which you can fill (and get experience). For some reason I've found the IT world has a really tough time posting entry level positions which are available.
OP:
Remember, the interview is not to see if they like you it's to see if you like the company. Ask the questions that concern you despite what they'll think. I've started going into interviews with this attitude and it's gotten me pretty far.
Also so far Primerica has sucked in several people I know, I keep getting goddamned offers from all of them to go to their seminars and for some reason "no thank you" isn't acceptable enough.
Primerica: Local Pyramid Scheme or Cult? You decide.
Apply to everything. The ad says 3-5 years experience? Apply anyway. Use your cover letter to relate any experience at all to what you'll be doing with the job.
You could also volunteer to work up some sort of experience that you can relate.
--
UPDATE:
After some research this morning, I was fairly convinced this was a position that involved me simply working at home (or from anywhere) to sell their products, with no base-salary or pay. I wasn't interested in anything like that, but I decided to go ahead and take the interview anyway---"just in case."
I drive the 20 minutes to their office, walk in, report in to the receptionist, and I sit in a little ante-room. About twenty minutes later (five or so minutes after my scheduled interview time) a man in a suit walks rather briskly out toward the door, sporting a very inconvenienced expression. That must be another applicant... did his interview go poorly? I guess that's good for me.
The receptionist gets a call about 30 seconds later and I hear him say, "He is. Okay," and hangs up. He then tells me that Jim Smith* is ready and he proceeds to walk me into the office. *name changed*
*Common handshake/greeting formalities/sit down/please, take off your jacket/is that a copy of your resume? perfect/etc.*
Interviewer: So, let me tell you first a little bit about what we do here and then we'll chat and find out if you're right for the company. Sound good?
Me: Sounds great.
Interviewer: Perfect. First of all, we're looking for people with an entrepreneurial attitude, people who have a desire to earn, and people who like to be their own boss. You'll be working from home, setting your own hours, and your pay will be based on your effort. The sky's the limit! Does this sound like you?
(Warning bells in my head go off: commission-based position. do not pass go. do not collect salary. let's fuck with this guy)
Me: I don't think anyone could say "no" to that, Jim.
*awkward expression on his face before continuing*
Interviewer: Alright. Well... that's fantastic. Now, how much do you know about the finance sector? I notice you have no formal education in this field. Do you foresee that as an obstacle?
Me: That's right, Jim. I have no experience or education in finance. In fact, I was pretty surprised that I got a call the other day for this interview--I was expecting copy writing positions, since that's what I applied for. But I've got a "will do" attitude, as well as a "can do" attitude, and I am confident I can do anything given the opportunity.
*I was having a hard time by now keeping it together, because he was looking more and more awkward with my over-enthusiastic responses*
Interviewer: *pause looking down at my resume* Perrr...fect. Now, before I tell you more about the position, we have a short personality test we'd like you to complete just to see if you're right for us. You can complete that right here, and I'll look over your resume some more. It should only take you about 5 minutes.
Me: Okay!
*Hands me a sheet of paper, filled with the typical "Strongly disagree/Strongly agree" personality stuff, and he begins going over my resume. Really? Hasn't he seen these two pages before? His assistant did call me for an interview based on it, right? Oh wait.. no.. I had no resume up on Workopolis*
Me: *Look over the test briefly* *Fill in random dots, completely the 30 question test in about 30 seconds and hand it back* Here you go!
Interviewer: Oh! That was fast. Perfect. Alright. Well, that was extremely fast.
Me: Oh I know. I didn't really read it.
Interviewer: I'm sorry?
Me: Yeah, I didn't really read the test. I just filled in random dots.
Interviewer: Well, I think that's all we need for now. We'll be in touch.
Me: Perfect! Thanks Jim!
So, the entire interview lasted about 3 minutes, and the receptionist had a pretty weird look on his face when I left the office. I'm sure he's never seen a meeting go so quickly. I felt kind of bad that I wasted the guy's time like that, but then again.. he wasted mine. I never applied for this job. He phished my number out of god-knows-where, and he lured me into an interview 20 minutes away for a job based on network marketing. Still... it gave me a reason to wear a suit for the afternoon, and I went to McDonald's after for a celebratory quarter pounder. I even up-sized the fries, which is not something I often do.
From home? Wow... that's pretty budget. The office I'm familiar with at least gives you an office (that you have to pay rent on) to at least sort of legitimize the whole experience.
3DS FC: 4699-5714-8940 Playing Pokemon, add me! Ho, SATAN!