Southwestern Advantage Interview Questions
& Process

I was offered a role as a business mentor consultant. It was a high-pressure, commission-only sales position. The interview process included talking to several team leaders who were focused on expanding their teams to recruit more people to sell under them, so they could earn a commission from those sales. Some questions were standard interview questions, but it also felt like a strong push to buy into their vision. I was seeking a role where I could help others, not one that involved selling high-pressure agreements that would lock clients into long-term payments.

The interview process is about 4 to 5 steps. It starts with an information meeting, then a follow-up about your motivation and some Q&A. After that, there are three assignments. Assignment 1 is to read 3-5 alumni letters and talk about your key take-aways. Assignment 2 is to call and exchange with 2-5 former interns and talk about your key take-aways. Finally, Assignment 3 is to answer questions about your motivation.

When I was in college, I was invited to attend a "select" group interview for a "summer internship." I printed my resume, dressed nicely, and went to this special meeting. I sat with about 20-25 other students my age and listened to a great sales pitch. The Southwestern reps talked a lot about how much money their employees made, but didn't really say what we'd be doing if we got through their "tough application process." I started to get suspicious after they said for the first time, "If you don't think you can handle this, now's your chance to leave. Please go if you feel you're not good enough for this internship." I realized this was a psychological trick to make people think, "I'm good enough for anything! I won't leave like others. I'll show them!" I caught on during the second round of "You should leave now if you think you can't handle this." Based on reviews from former employees, I'm happy I dodged a bullet!

I initially submitted my application at a career event. Following that, I received a call inviting me to an informational session. During this session, the manager posed several questions to the attendees. I was quite active during the session and was subsequently invited for an interview immediately after it concluded. In total, I went through three interviews. These were quite direct, focusing on assessing my motivation for a demanding internship and ensuring I wasn't someone who would give up easily. They also assigned significant homework to be completed within a single night, alongside my existing schoolwork, to gauge my commitment levels and ability to avoid making excuses. It was an intense process overall, but I really enjoyed meeting the managers.