Pareto Sales Associate Interview Questions
& Process

The interview was a waste of time. We scheduled a meeting from 12:00pm to 2:30pm. The Graduate Manager A asked for these times in an email, and I agreed. When 12:00pm came, there was no call. I called them, but no one answered. I called back 20 minutes later, still nothing. I called at 2:05pm and they finally picked up. They seemed surprised I called. I asked if it was a good time, and they said yes. She asked about my sales experience, and I listed my resume experience. Then she said, 'Because you aren't passionate about sales, I'm sorry that this job isn't for you...' I never said I wasn't passionate, nor did I indicate that. She cut the call abruptly. Horrible graduate manager.

A recruiter from Pareto contacted me about my job search and then suggested I apply for a role with an assessment centre in two days. They were very insistent I apply and asked some competency questions. I was then asked to prep a 3-minute pitch for why I want a sales role and was told they'd set up a Zoom call for the next day to discuss it. However, the recruiter never called, nor sent the link for the assessment day Zoom. They missed the initial Zoom call and only apologized five hours later, stating I'd be fine at the assessment and that they'd call an hour before with details for the assessment day, also via Zoom. I never received that call or the Zoom link, and heard nothing further.

I was invited to their assessment day in London. After looking into it, I thought it was pretty good overall, but I reckon if you don't prep enough or do your homework, you'll find it tough, especially if you're fresh out of uni with no experience. My day ran from 1 pm to 5:30 pm. It kicked off with intros where you gotta say who you admire and your proudest non-academic achievement. Whoever you pick will be part of the first group task. In this first activity, you and others are stuck on a boat. You'll act as your famous person and have to argue why you deserve to stay on board because half the group has to go overboard. You could pick someone like Ray Mears or Bear Grylls, but remember they're looking at how you justify your points and your logic, so an obvious pick might not be the best. Try to manage your time and step up as a leader early on. The second activity is that your group has crashed in the desert, and you have 15 items to rank from most to least important. Again, use your brain and try to persuade your group on what's most crucial. Imagine you're actually in the situation and think about the most sensible thing to do. After these, there's a short break before you're called for a 3-minute presentation on why you want a sales career and why Pareto should hire you. Follow the structure they gave in their example email: 3 reasons for wanting the sales job, 3 reasons they should hire you. Practice this beforehand and maybe bring cue cards, but don't just read a script. Also, while practicing, time yourself, make sure your body language is open and professional, maintain eye contact, and have a firm handshake. Lastly, there's a quick 1-2-1 chat where they'll ask about industries you're interested in, etc. It's chill and the easiest part of the day. Dress smart, behave well all day, and know you're being watched from the get-go, so be professional, confident, and act as sales-y as you can. Good luck!