Northwestern Marketing Concepts Manager Interview Questions
& Process

I got sat down and the interviewer told me a bit about the company. Then they asked me some questions to get to know me. They were pretty basic questions about me and my 5-year plan.

The interview process includes two rounds. The first round is a brief, basic interview lasting no more than 20 minutes. The second round involves a lunch meeting with an assistant manager, focusing more on personality fit. During this lunch, they reveal that the initial year, or possibly less, will involve door-to-door sales of fiber optics, with compensation primarily based on commission, though they referred to it as 'merit-based'. My interviewer seemed uninformed about health benefits, suggesting I investigate them myself. This felt misleading, as their advertisements portrayed it as a rewarding opportunity for diligent individuals, but it's more suited for those who don't require a stable income and are comfortable with door-to-door sales. The high volume of continuously posted job listings on Craigslist, all with slightly different titles and posted frequently, suggests a high turnover rate. The role is essentially a sales position, which is acceptable. The office environment appeared friendly, and the workplace seemed fine. This job is suitable if you are content with a year of door-to-door sales before potentially moving to a salaried role. It's a good fit if you're okay with that path; many people earn a living this way. However, if you expected an office-based role with a guaranteed hourly wage or salary from the start, you'll need to complete this initial phase before accessing travel, benefits, or management opportunities.

Northwest Marketing Concepts recruiter called me after pulling my resume down from LinkedIn and asked if I would like to interview because she really liked what she saw on my resume and thought I would be a good fit. I had a solid resume with an unbroken 35 year work history. I arrived 10 minutes early for the appointment wearing a new suit. As soon as I checked into the reception desk I began to feel a negative vibe from the recruiter. Could have been the "Oh!" when she looked up and saw me. She excused herself and walked to the interviewer's office and closed the door. In a few moments she returned and I was asked into the interviewer's office. The interview went well and I answered all questions giving detailed responses of my past work accomplishments and my future goals. Again, my resume was solid. As the interview was ending, I began to feel that negative vibe again. I was told they would call me by 4 PM if I was going to move to the next step. I knew I would not be coming back. I think Northwestern Marketing Concepts did not hire/move me on in the process because of my age. One need only look at their website to see that there doesn't appear to be any person pictured over the age of 35 and certainly no one over 40. The recruiter's "astonishment" when she saw me indicated surprise. It's a shame and their loss.