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Oct 6, 2005 10:52 pm

I interviewed with the Branch Manager at AGE yesterday and all went well IMHO.  He told me to think about what this career entails, etc etc.  He told me if I was still interested to fill out the application and then we would "go from there."  Is this a good sign that he is interested? 

What comes next?

Thank you to all who reply.

Oct 7, 2005 12:14 am

I think your initial experience is typical. However, keep in mind, that if the manager is planning to turn you down, he/she won't do it until you turn in a job application. Why? It's a legal thing.

It's just like when you go to a bank for a loan; you can tell the loan officer that you're unemployed, have no money, no home, no car, no collateral, and you sleep under a bridge, but you want to borrow $10,000. The loan officer legally cannot tell you you're declined until you turn in a loan application. 

Just like you, I interviewed with AG Edwards, but waaaaaay back in the early '90's. Before I was allowed to fill-out a job application, the manager sent me home with a cassette tape of people's reactions to being cold-called by brokers. He told me to listen to the tape and if I was still interested in the job, come back and fill-out an application.

Oct 7, 2005 3:52 am

Dob

I love the cold call cassette your referenced.  My guess is that was pretty entertaining

Oct 7, 2005 2:16 pm

[QUOTE]He told me to listen to the tape and if I was still interested in the job, come back and fill-out an application[/quote]

What happened next?

Oct 7, 2005 6:07 pm

The AGE manager may or may not be interested.  Assuming he is, remember that since this is a sales job, managers are looking for sales attributes.  Among other things, they're looking for initiative, energy, and people who are enthusiastic about the job, the industry, and opportunity to invest a lot of time and make a lot of sacrifice to be able to make a lot of money.

If you haven't done so, you should call him to thank him.  Tell him you'd like to make an appointment to drop off the application and to talk with him about what he wanted you to think about.  Have some very thoughtful responses.  Identify challenges & opportunities and how you'd address them.  Be realistic about how hard the work will be.  Show some initiative by picking up the phone & talk with other reps about the business. Share those conversations & insights gleaned with the manager when you meet w/ him again.

Oct 7, 2005 8:34 pm

Thanks a ton, Duke!

I actually sent him a thank you letter the following day, and I dropped my application off to him this aftenoon.  He said he would give me a call at the beginning of next week.  So here I am crossing my fingers and saying my prayers!

Oct 7, 2005 11:15 pm

$hungry:

He told me to listen to the tape and if I was still interested in the job, come back and fill-out an application.

What happened next?

------------------------------------------------ 

I took an offer from Dean Witter, so I didn't apply at AGE.

Oct 10, 2005 1:37 pm

[quote=$hungry]

Thanks a ton, Duke!

I actually sent him a thank you letter the following day, and I dropped my application off to him this aftenoon.  He said he would give me a call at the beginning of next week.  So here I am crossing my fingers and saying my prayers!

[/quote]

It may not be the case here, but as a part of their screening process some managers use the interviewing process to see how you'd possibly work to convert a prospect to a new client.  In this case the manager is the prospect (you're trying to sell him on offering you a position) and in this business you'll find many prospects who also say they will "give you a call" after they're read your material.  Oftentimes that's just a way to put you off to avoid making a decision, so you can't sit idly by waiting for the call. 

My point is, in the event the manager is using this as a test of your sales ability and/or initiative, if he doesn't call you at the beginning of the week make it a point to call him mid-week or so to follow-up.  And when you call him, have an "action step" in mind.  That is, don't just call to touch base (he might just say he's hasn't gotten around to reviewing your app and he'll get back to you when he's ready, so you won't have accomplished anything).  The action step purpose of your call might be to set up a date for a follow-up meeting.  Something like:  "Mr. Manager, I know you're very busy and so I'm not surprised you haven't had a chance yet to review my application.  Why don't we set up an appointment to meet next Tuesday morning?   That'll give you more time to review my application and we can then take this to the next step.  I've given a lot of thought to the things you had suggested I consider, and I'm ready to share my thoughts with you.  Would 10 am on Tuesday work for you?"

Just food for thought!

Oct 10, 2005 3:04 pm

Thanks a ton, Duke#1!  I actually received a PM stating practically the same thing, and I am thankful (and a bit shocked) that some of the folks here on this board have been so generous with their time/advice

Regarding the screening process he may have in play - it really makes sense.  I mean, what better way to test the waters than to put me in a similar situation to that of a prospect?  I think the "action step" you suggested is an excellent idea, and it will be implemented if I don't here from him by Wednesday.