I applied online. I interviewed at Austin Communication Group (Austin, TX) in May 2015
Interview
The first interview was a very brief in-person interview at their office, and I was invited to come back again to shadow one of their employees and see if it would be a good position for me. The employees were nice and professional, but I should have known something was up when they told me to "wear good walking shoes" for my second interview.
They introduced me to the guy that I would be shadowing and said that we would be going out and meeting with clients. All was well until we stopped at H-E-B and the guy changed out of his business casual suit and into an AT&T uniform. I should have left right then and there, but I ended up going with him and another salesman to a neighborhood and knocking on doors for several hours. At the end of the day I had a brief meeting with one of their upper management people, and he told me to send him an email answering some final questions and then he would decide if they would give me an offer or not. I never contacted them again, I was so annoyed that they had wasted my time with their false advertising.
There's nothing wrong with door-to-door sales, but it should not be advertised as a communication internship. You certainly won't get school credit for it, if that's what you're looking for. Even if you are looking to get into sales, I would not recommend this company. Their business model seems very sketchy, they promise that you will eventually make a fortune with them and you'll be able to open your own office if you just stick it out for awhile. Too pyramid-schemey for me. I would not recommend them to anyone.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What makes you a good candidate for this position?
I applied through an employee referral. I interviewed at Austin Communication Group
Interview
First had a phone screening. Second was a 30 minutes in person interview with the owner. The final round was a 6 hour field shadow. During the break the person you would shadow asked a few interview questions.
I applied online. The process took 1 week. I interviewed at Austin Communication Group (Austin, TX) in July 2015
Interview
Phone screening and first in-person interview were relatively easy. When they schedule the shadowing day, it's really a chance for you to follow a sales guy around in the heat, knocking on doors.
Unfortunately, I didn't know it was this until I showed up and left with my sales person to a nearby coffee shop for a small sit down. They don't warn you that you'll be walking around outside, but they tell you to wear business attire while the person you're following puts on shorts, a comfortable shirt, and sneakers. This is the only chance you have to say "let's go" or "thank you, but no thank you". Not wanting to be closed minded, I went, so any complaints I have are all on me.
The only plus side about the door to door is the population you're after is already targeted, it's not completely random. After you feel the blisters form, it's time to go back to the office to have the exit interview. You wait in the lobby while the person you were with chats with another coworker (their supervisor?) about if they think you will be a good fit. Once they're finished, they call you in. The woman I met with was pretty alright and my sales guy spoke of her highly earlier, but in an attempt to lighten the mood after a rough day with a joke, she got really serious. I get it, it's an interview, but the least you could do is tone down the ineffectual intimidation factor. After enduring the whole day, it really just comes off wrong.
On a positive note, they did tell me not to wear heels (I didn't!), so thank you for that. Lastly, if you're looking for door to door, this is your gig. If not, don't even bother.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Did you happen to look at the links we provided? What did you think?