Today I had an interesting interview at Essence Management. I responded to an ad.
RECEPTIONIST with style and flair. No experience necessary. Call (419) 476-1753
It seemed sketchy, but I responded out of curiosity. The secretary refused to give me any info over the phone about either the position or the company itself, but set me up for an interview the same afternoon (today). I decided before I went not to fill out an application until I had more details, although I brought a resume. I arrived at a nondescript office building at 5265 Tractor Rd Suiite E.
The office was bare except for a few second-hand, mismatched office chairs. I had a very brief interview with 2 other applicants after filling out a "get to know you" questionare that had the laughably unprofessional question "how would you rate yourself on a scale of 1-10". I was never asked to fill out a professional application.
The interview was with a fast-talking young man who was impressed that I graduated H.S. With a 3.4 since he admitted he barely graduated. Since I hadn't been allowed to ask any questions and was told nothing except I was applying for management in which I'd be in charge of around 10 employees (even though I've been a homemaker for the last 9 years and have no work experience), I did some research after the interview and came across a variety of reports linking Essence Managenent with World Perfume and Scentura and the scandal associated with their questionable business practices. The reports described my experience almost exactly, including the description of the management position and the questionare.
He called me back a little while ago and told me I'd been selected for a follow-up interview. I took the opportunity to ask if he's affiliated with World Perfume or Scentura. He claimed to be an independent business. I told him that he has to get his product from somewhere, so who is his distributor? He became vehemently defensive, claiming that his products are "his own" and went on to tell me how " Scentura and World Perfume are not the same companies" and his company "markets perfume and helps other people start their own business enterprises". He also immediately retracted his invitation for a second interview because his business "doesn't need people who believe everything they read on the internet". This was especially interesting to me since I never told him where I'd learned of WPI, and I can only assume that the management position was how he "helps other people start their own business".in addition, how does he know so much about WPI and Scentura if he's not affiliated with them, and why wouldn't he tell me where he gets his product?
Any reputable company is impressed when a prospective employee actively learns more about the company, and certainly would never respond to questions with hostility. On a final note, a young girl tried very hard to sell me some knock-off perfume at a gas station parking lot only two miles away from Essence Management office last week. I can only assume that she was one of their new recruits.
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