The interview for the position started with a phone call from the recruiter. I applied online and submitted my application and received a phone call within 24 hours. The recruiter hit it off with me and we ended up talking about the job, my goals, about the company, what I would be doing, salary, basically everything she could think of. This was very inspiring as she was very optimistic about my skills and how I could put them to work at TQL. After I finished up the half-hour phone call I was asked to come in that next Friday for an in-person interview with her.
I showed up to the office with the requested materials (printed copies of my resume, in suit and tie outfit). The first thing they ask you to do is a simple computer test which covers information about the company (who is the CEO, what they do, etc.), it also covers some basic math, computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook) and a basic geographical test of the United States (what states are included, excluded, where is this state located). Which I received an "A" passing grade at 92% on. I then spent the next hour with the recruiter talking about my resume, why I thought I would fit in at TQL, a bit about my personal life. All of this was fine and dandy. We hit it off, there was a great synergy going on and I really thought I was going to be a perfect fit for this position / company. After I was done interviewing with her I was invited back to interview with the Group Sales Manager at this location.
This is where all the negative things I were reading about this company started to make sense. First I was asked to bring a list of 20 Suppliers of Goods (10 Dry, 5 Refrigerated, 5 Frozen) and a list of Shippers broken down by truck type with at least 50 trailers. Only if I knew that this would never be asked for or looked over for feedback I felt as if it was a waste of two hours. The third interview started out with two job shadows. One was with a young guy around my age, they gave me a headset and hooked it up so I could hear what he was saying to the suppliers / shippers. That's great except he spoke very quietly, didn't really pay me any attention and never really explain anything about what he was using (their systems). After spending 30 awkward minutes with him I went and shadowed a quite nice guy, he was a little bit older and more mature as he was actually in sales. He did an excellent job at explaining things and I really have nothing bad to say about him.
After the job shadows I was asked to meet with the Group Sales Manager, this is when things get really awkward and tough. I did a bit of research on the GSM and who he was, expecting to interview with him. I walk into the room and it is a man I never met before, fine, I introduce myself to him and the GSM sat in the corner, made no mention of me and had a disgruntled look on his face like I was wasting his time by interviewing. The interview felt more like an interrogation, asking me personal questions, having me do random math and at times they were flinging my questions about their company back into my lap. It felt more like an attack on me than it did an interview about my skills. I was asked at one point "Do you think a $13,000 increase is worth an hour drive"? My instincts wanted told me to get up and leave but I politely answered, in reality if I jumped through leaps and bounds, spend three weeks of my time and $300 on a new suit jacket, tie & shirt to come interview does that not show at all I was serious about this job? The longer the interview went on the more awkward it got especially with the GSM sitting in the corner staring me down not responding to much I was saying.
I was a skeptic about this place but it's hard to take advice from the internet. This place seems like a feed, churn & burn for college grads / qualified applicants. Spend a few hours reading the Glassdoor reviews, they are legitimate in what they say. I honestly wish I had never wasted my time, gas, money and energy on these interviews.