Pros
After reading some reviews on here I see there's a lot of misinformation out there... both good and bad. I'll try to make this review as balanced as possible but it is going to be heavy on the positives. This is not my first mortgage job and I wouldn't be at this company if I didn't think it was the BEST opportunity in the mortgage business. The sky really is the limit with this company. Nearly every high level employee started the same place I did. And the same place most of you will, as an account executive. This is not the only way to get in with the company but it is the track I am familiar with. You start with a solid salary and go through a training program. Training is top notch and I don't think there is another company that can compete. I had 5 years of mortgage experience prior to coming to Newday and I can't even tell you how much I learned in training. Had I skipped training and went straight to working; I would say the new hires with zero experience would have been better prepared than I was. Your first month consists of classroom work and testing to get licensed, I am not a great test taker but the information will be presented in a way that is easy to retain. If you graduated college and you take the material seriously you will pass, simple as that. Once training is complete you will join the sales force but you will not be thrown to the wolves like you would at other companies. You will start in a department of new hires just like yourself with some veterans sprinkled in to help your progress. I have seen reviews that believe this is a bad thing, starting in a department where you can only make between 40-70k while the other departments have potential to make much more. The truth is you will not be ready and you would fail if you started anywhere else. Many people misconstrue this as earning your stripes, when the reality of it is you need to learn the business and learn how to communicate effectively with people over the phone. It is not something that just comes naturally. There is no minimum or maximum time to stay in your initial department; if you excel you will move on quickly. If you struggle it will take more time for you to move up. I have been in management meetings for this department and our focus when evaluating new hires is probably 25% production and 75% effort. If you put in the effort and show you want to get better, your job will be safe. Now, if months have passed and you are not showing improvement this may not be the right job for you and it may be best to part ways. Not everyone can do this job. In some cases you may be offered a position in staff if one is available. We will transfer a hardworking individual that is not cut out for sales before we will bring in an outsider to fill a staff position. With the amount of time and money invested in every hire, Newday wants you to succeed, there is no doubt about that. Once you move on to a more lucrative department your career can go as far as you would like. Some people are happy making a great living as an account executive and that is all they want to do. Others have goals to be in management and that can be accomplished, there is no glass ceiling. Every President was once a Vice President, every VP was once an Assistance Vice Preseident, every AVP was once a team leader, and every team leader was once an account executive. Your road map for success here can be summed up very simply. Work hard and act with integrity, help those around you succeed, and share the opportunity with those outside of these walls to continue growing the company. One more thing... I haven't seen one review mention what may be my favorite part of this company. Newday organizes and pays for so many things outside of this office to honor their employees, whether it is just for fun or for promotions. Just about every other month we have dinners and award ceremonies at Ruth's Chris or Four Season's. Your hard work will not be recognized by a short meeting and a round of applause, we are going to throw you are party and the entire company will be invited. Do really well and you will get to travel, trips to Atlantic City with free rooms as a monthly contest. There have been a trips to the Super Bowl and the NCAA Mens Final Four via private jet for a quarterly contests. And find yourself in the upper echelon for the whole year you will be invited to the luxurious Kiawah Island to celebrate your accomplishments. I have had the pleasure of experiencing many of the perks and I have been here about a year and a half. Nothing is unreachable, looking at this years Kiawah list, I see six people that are invited that have been here less than 2 years. There's also a yearly softball tournament for employees and their whole families. Last year it was at the Ripken baseball facility and was great time. Hit one in the gap and Cal Ripken Jr. himself was waiving you on to second as the first base coach
Cons
As I mentioned earlier, this work is not for everyone. We get stressed, we get overwhelmed, it is not easy work, and sometimes we wonder why we even do what we do. Other than work ethic, I'd say having the ability to maintain an even keel through the ups and downs is the most important quality of an account executive. The worst part of this job is the day when you have to tell a veteran, in need of help, that even through all of our hard work we can't help them. That is tough and that really can weigh on you. We develop a relationship with each and every borrower and letting them down is painful; you want to crawl in a hole and give up. But we keep going because veterans out there need our help, and there is nothing better than getting the job done and making a difference for that veteran who fought for our country. That is the best feeling in the world. It is a feeling I haven't felt since playing sports; it's striking out the side, knocking down a three as time expires, making the catch and getting two toes in-bounds to win the game.... nothing better.