I came across the posting for Twin City Events on career builder during finals week of my senior year of college. Still without a job I was open to almost anything, and I applied when I saw their job description and requirements. I mean, really, it does sound like an amazing, fun job from the job duties and responsibilities listed.
I submitted my resume one night late, and then when I got into work the next morning and checked my e-mail, there was a thrown together message from Twin City Events saying, Congratulations, I was selected from numerous candidates for an interview. This e-mail came from the Human Resource Manager, Vicki, so I thought that maybe I really was standing out to them. Being that I was still very new to the job searching/interviewing process, I excitedly forwarded the e-mail to my mom and said that was going to set up an interview, and what did she think of the company, had she ever heard of them? (She works in business, so I thought she might know.) She wrote me back saying that it sounded like a fun job, but that she was a little put off by all the gramatical errors in the body of the e-mail.
Nevertheless, I called later that day and scheduled an interview for later in the week. I had to drive over an hour to get from my campus to Plymouth, and when I finally got there found it very hard to find their office in what looked like a bunch of storage sheds with windows. The parking lots were full of potholes and I quickly became frustrated and a little put off that a "large marketing firm" would have such a small office.
I arrived and a red flag immediately went up when I stepped into the office. There was a woman at the front desk who handed me a clipboard with a one sheet application that asked some very minimal information and asked me to take a seat. I was curious as to why I was the only one in the office in a business suit when this was supposed to be a professional interview. One person even had on Jeans and a sweater. I convinced myself that they were going for another position. There was also loud music blaring in the room, which I found to be extremely unprofessional. It was even Lite music, but KDWB type music that some may have found inappropriate. To top it all off, there were large checks on the wall as their classy artwork boasting what they had given to charity, and there were stuffed animals on the floor boasting of their link to DARE. When I look for jobs, I look for professionalism... And this place definitely does not have it.
I was eventually called into the office by a woman (I can't remember her name) and I noticed that everything in "her" office was cheap. There were no personal pictures on the walls and the door was that awful wood that they use for temporary setups. She began selling me this great story about how they raise all their money for charity, and just last week she was a Twins game after having coordinated a DARE function. I kept trying to ask her questions like, what would my day to day responsibilities be? And how much of the salary is commision based? But she kept shirking them off with, if we select you for a second interview, you will get to spend a day on the job, and all of your questions will be answered. She also said I was lucky I came on the day I had, as they were wrapping up hiring for management positions THAT day. She said I would be contacted by 5:30 the next day if I was selected.
With that 15 minute "interview" over I took off my suit jacket and made the loooong drive back to my campus. I wasn't even halfway back when I received a phone call from Brian, the hiring manager, telling me that he and the woman who had interviewed me had put their heads together and would like to invite me back for a second interview. He wanted to schedule it for the next day but I told him that I couldn't until the next week because of tests and then my actual graduation ceremony. Quickly forgetting about all the off things I had experienced, I did end up accepting a second interview offer because I was excited I had been selected so quickly. (It was the first interview that had "worked out" for me, so I was fooled and very happy about the marketing career I might be starting.) He also told me to dress just as professionally as I had that day for the interview. (Ha lady in the jeans... I bet you didn't get a call back! In reality... I'm sure she did.)
I called a friend of mine the next day to tell her about this fun job opportunity I had stumbled across because she was looking to change careers and this sounded like a great opportunity for a fun job and advancement. I told her the name of the company and heard her sigh as I began to explain the job description through the rose colored glasses I had been given by the woman who interviewed me.
My friend told me that she had gone on the first interview and the second. She said she waited in the waiting room for an hour without being told at all what was going on and then some guy she'd never seen and who looked a little unsafe said, "Lets go!" and walked out to a van. There were groups of people dropped off at various locations. She was selected to stand outside of a big box retailer and sell items for 8 hours, job shadowing a current employee. After that she was called for a third and final interview. They offered her the job and she said she needed to think about it. The person actually told her this, I can't let you wait on this decision. You'll go home and talk to your friends, and they will try to talk you out of working for us, but you know the company and you know what we're about, and you need to make this decision on your own. Soon. Nervous, she accepted the job offer.
She did in the end talk to her friends, and ended up turning down the job. The people on the other end weren't even surprised. Just said OK, and ended the call.
Of course after hearing her account I did not want to go on that second interview but I did more of my own research, including stumbling across this site. I called back and cancelled my interview. They were fine with this, as I'm sure they knew there would be many more fish waiting to bite at their seemingly interesting job offers.
If the type of work I mentioned about is what you are looking for, then perhaps this is a good job for you, but I would seriously not recommend this to someone with a college degree (hoping for advancement) looking to start their career. Do your own research and decide for youself, but be warned... And don't waste your time and gas money if you live far away like I did, it's not worth it!
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