Professional Sports Publications Sales Representative Interview Questions
& Process

I applied on Indeed and got an email a few days later to call their recruiting coordinator. It was a quick chat with basic screening questions about my interest in the role. She then scheduled me for an in-person interview the following week. Upon arrival, I first had to fill out another application on a computer. After that, I was told to wait at a desk because the manager had stepped out. I waited about 15-20 minutes until he returned. Based on what others have shared, I suspect this waiting period was intentional to allow me to observe the sales floor, which was unremarkable. The employees didn't seem happy, and there was a lack of team spirit or company culture. I also noticed they employ deceptive sales tactics; for example, I overheard one salesperson falsely claiming to represent the University of Chicago's athletic department and another falsely claiming to be from Colorado State's athletic department. When the manager returned, he took me into a room for the interview. It was straightforward and conversational, mainly him explaining the job duties. Afterward, I was informed I'd hear back by the end of the week regarding a follow-up Zoom interview with the VP of sales. The next day, I emailed the manager to thank him, but received no reply. By week's end, I still hadn't heard anything. The following Monday, I emailed the initial recruiting specialist for an update, but again, no response. I only confirmed I didn't get the job when I saw a LinkedIn post about a new hire at that branch. I found it highly unprofessional to be ghosted like that, leaving a very negative impression. My suggestion to the company is to inform candidates when they are not selected instead of ghosting them and causing them to constantly check for a response. A rejection letter would have been much better than this treatment.

The interview process itself was pretty straightforward with standard questions about you, why you want the job, and your interest in sales. But actually getting to the interview and getting useful info was tough. It started with a recruiter phone call for some basic screening to see if you're even worth interviewing. Setting up the interview took forever, like two weeks, with multiple emails needed for a response. The recruiter was nice and made it comfy, but couldn't give much detail about the company, the role, or the culture. Then, you're supposed to meet with a hiring manager at the office, but that didn't happen on my interview day, which was a bummer. Before the interview, there's an online application that's basically a repeat of the first one, just with a different company name (USP instead of PSP). Then you sit on the sales floor with the reps to get a feel for the job. It didn't look super complicated, but you could see the stress on the reps' faces; they seemed under pressure to lie, make successful calls, or face management backlash. Lots of unhappiness and frustration, and it didn't seem like a place for collaboration or sharing tips – just jumping to the next number. Most reps moved on quickly, suggesting it's hard to build relationships or make money, possibly because customers sense the deception and hang up. To top it off, there are big screens showing a sales leaderboard, which I guess promotes competition, but maybe makes the lower performers feel anxious. Overall, it seemed like a decent chance to earn good money in NYC, with a potentially supportive, competitive culture and a way to get initial sales experience. But it was hard to find anyone who'd stayed more than 2 years. Felt like they hold back info until you're hired into a potentially bad role. Deception seemed part of the job and the hiring process. I like to know as much as they do about the role, and I didn't leave feeling totally informed. I was told I'd hear back in a few days about meeting the hiring manager, but never did, and got no follow-up.

I found the job posting on Indeed and applied. The interview process was in Manhattan and overall pretty smooth. When I got to the office, which was on the 10th floor, it was a bit hard to find the receptionist at first. I had to fill out a 3-page handwritten application that took about 20 minutes. The office setup was a little confusing when I first walked in, with the reception desk tucked away in a corner. Instead of a waiting room, I was told to sit in a chair right by the sales manager's desk, in a room full of other salespeople. I think they do this so you can hear what the sales reps are doing and get a feel for the job. Then, I had a one-on-one interview with the manager, who was very direct and friendly. They were really upfront about whether I could handle making 200 cold calls a day, if I had thick skin, could deal with rejection, and if I got discouraged easily. They made it clear it's a tough job but the pay is good. They also have a really thorough training program that teaches you everything you need to know to be a sales rep there. The vibe in the office was a bit stiff and serious, not much casual chat. If I could suggest one thing, it'd be to put the receptionist closer to the entrance for a better first impression, rather than having interviewees walk into a room full of salespeople near the door with no clear directions. But I really appreciated how honest and upfront they were about the company and the whole process. They didn't sugarcoat anything, and I think that authenticity is what will keep drawing people in.