Submitted a resume through their Workday web portal and within a few hours an internal recruiter contacted me via email to schedule a 30 minute phone screen interview at the end of the month. I noticed it is an occurring trend in the logistics industry where former account managers migrate to an HR role designated to fill open positions. This recruiter was extremely friendly asking simple questions that opened up an interactive conversation about work history, qualifications, and goals to achieve. In addition to the job requirements and salary, I learned about potential work-from-home procedures, the number of new sales hires in a given "class", and the upcoming start date. Along with passing a second, final second interview with a hiring manager, I had to pass an online personality assessment. Towards the end of the phone screen the recruiter made a gratifying statement, "I have a lot of respect for individuals who are self-employed that are seeking new careers. You seem like a good fit for sales." Compared to interviews with other logistics companies for a similar position, this recruiter left the best impression. Also, he was more open and honest.
Passed the assessment with flying colors and a second interview was scheduled two weeks later. Due to COVID-19, all office employees are working remotely from home thus this interview had to be done through Microsoft Teams. Day of the interview arrives and I dressed in full suit attire hoping for some type of similar presence on the other end. I noticed the employee was running a few minutes late but I was more struck by his choice of attire: a black, plain t-shirt along with a trucker mesh cap. Without introducing himself he said, "Hi there,I want to make this a positive conversation and feel free to interrupt me if any questions pop up. Let's start with your current role," as if he was in a hurry. For the record, this was my third attempt to get hired as a carrier sales representative thus I had noticed a familiarity of questions reminiscent of prior interviews. Everything flowed well until I asked, "Industry peers average between 40-50% gross margins in the last 3 years, Echo is between 15-20%. How does this work to the advantage of the company?" After five minutes of circling around the question, he continued to ramble on for an answer. He could have simply replied with, "I don't know." I felt a bit humored that despite having a solid work history with Echo Global Logistics this person was clueless about the company's financials. Sadly, this may have contributed towards receiving a rejection email two days later that read, "We appreciate your interest and enjoyed interviewing with you. We have decided to pursue other candidates that fit the background of the position." I should mention Echo Global Logistics is a newly formed company still trying to break ground in a super competitive industry. For young job candidates seeking a new career in sales with no previous experience, this job will assist getting your feet wet. On the other hand, if you have solid sales experience in another industry, it may not be a good fit. Perhaps changing directions and having the courage to start an entirely new career may be the best option.
