Mimeo.com Interview Questions & Reviews

Interviewed Aug 2007 in New York, NY (took 2 weeks)

I was recruited by a headhunter, just as the division of my current employer was put up for sale. It was an uncertain time. Therefore, I was open to other opportunities. What I found exciting about Mimeo is that they offered an innovative online solution, printing on demand, something which I felt would reach massive levels of success.

After meeting in person with the headhunter, which by the way is a fabulous agency with people who truly care about you as a person and help you along your career, I was set up for an initial meeting with the HR recruiter at Mimeo.

This was my first time actually interviewing with a company that was not global nor a F500, so I was open to encountering a different culture. When I arrived for my initial interview, I found out that the HR person had just quit that morning. No doubt, it was a different culture than the F500 environment I was used to. Although the young lady at reception was friendly, it seemed no one else noticed my presence there. They wouldn't even look at you enough to greet or say hi. It seemed everyone was absorbed in their own thoughts. So, the other recruiter sat with me and we had a great opportunity to speak. I liked her. She recommended me to the hiring manager for a position at a level higher than what I initially came in for. I wasn't sure I'd qualify but went with the flow.

My 2nd interview was with the hiring manager for the Enterprise Sales department, which was in the process of being formed. That interview was very uncomfortable. The personal space between us was too close. He asked me about past earnings and eventually told me he was looking for candidates that had a history making more than what I had shared with him. He felt I would be a good candidate for the initial position for what I was originally set to interview and would recommend me for it.

My 3rd interview was with the person who would eventually be my manager. I liked him immediately, and our interview lasted almost 2 hours. I knew right away I wanted to work for him. Though I will share with you that I was not used to a small cubicle environment, where you sat all day making phone calls. I was used to making outside calls and visiting my "cubicle" only at the beginning and at the end of the day. But I really liked the product and the hiring manager, so I kept an open mind.

After meeting with my future manager, I was called back for an additional round of interviews, this time with a peer of my future manager, and also with a senior rep, who ended up becoming my colleague, and eventually my manager after a few internal changes months later. I remembered they stressed how the job was all about phones, and high numbers of calls. They stressed that over and over, to make sure I understood that. It did indeed turn out to be a telemarketing job.

So, it was after this fourth round of interviews that I received my offer. Now, from what I understood, Mimeo's highest salary paid to reps at my level at the time was no higher than $60K. My current base was much higher than that, so they made me a deal to match my current, much higher salary during the first year, as I'd ramp up and make up for the difference in commissions. Given this really exciting prospect. I took the job.

What I found a bit scary is that they wanted me to start immediately. I've always believed in giving my employer a two-week notice, but my headhunter told me not to worry, because it is common practice in sales that the day you give your two-week notice is the last day you're there anyway. Mimeo was counting on that and the following weekend I was on a plane to my training class in Memphis.