Coast Account Manager Interview Questions
& Process

This interview process was nothing short of comical. It starts with a large Zoom call where every candidate for the role joins in, creating an almost game-show-like atmosphere. Eventually, you're moved into a breakout room with one other candidate, where you're interviewed side by side, taking turns answering questions about the company and your experience. Only after all of this do they finally reveal the real job description and expectations—none of which were mentioned in the original application. Turns out, the role is essentially soliciting Verizon home internet to small businesses on a commission-only basis. Coast Inc.’s business model relies on recruiting entry-level solicitors and, after just 2-6 weeks, "promoting" them to account managers. This so-called promotion means receiving assigned sales territories, where you're expected to commute daily at 9:30 AM to solicit businesses in person. On top of that, there's a mandatory company-wide Zoom meeting at 7:30 AM every morning, where they seem to glorify their higher-ups and push the idea that new recruits can make huge money. The whole setup feels like a textbook pyramid scheme, designed to make employees believe they’re part of something meaningful when, in reality, it’s just aggressive door-to-door sales disguised as a legitimate career opportunity. Nothing about this role is based in Chicago, and the actual job has little to do with what was originally advertised.

This role had 3 rounds of interviews: a phone call with HR to talk about why sales and your strengths/weaknesses, a video call with the Hiring Manager for more in-depth STAR questions, and a final video call with the Account Executive with a few behavioral questions.

The interview was pretty straightforward, with two Zoom calls. The first one included other candidates, and the second was just me. Everyone I talked to was really nice and seemed to enjoy their work, though a bit unprofessional with some swearing. I got offered the job, but turned it down because the whole thing felt a bit off and unclear. They made it sound like a sales role, but it turned out to be door-to-door, almost like loitering, which wouldn't be a good use of a degree. The pay was confusing too; I was told it was commission-only, but the offer letter mentioned a salary of $55,000-$65,000. I asked for clarification on how that worked, especially since the commission could vary wildly. The offer letter also lacked any details on benefits, insurance, or car/gas reimbursements. I asked for this in writing, and the manager suggested a Zoom call, but I really wanted it in writing to be sure, given the conflicting info I'd heard. I sent a follow-up email with specific questions about health insurance, territory, car usage, and stipends, again asking for written details, which is pretty standard for a sales job. After that, I heard absolutely nothing. They used to call me weekly about the offer, but once I started asking these questions, they stopped returning calls or emails, which really sealed my decision to decline. It really felt like an MLM, not a legitimate sales company. Be careful!