Otis Elevator Service Sales Account Executive Interview

Interviewed Apr 2011 in Houston, TX (took 5 weeks)

Met General Manager at a Career Fair hosted by a Group I'm a member of. Spoke for a few min. and I gave a copy of my resume.

Within a week I received a ph. call from the Sales Manager letting me know I had been selected for a 1st round of interviews. I prepared for the interview & researched the position and focused on how my skill sets would be beneficial for the role. For this first interview I had a 30 min interview with the GM and then the SM separately. Interview was very easy, laid back and extremely positive.

I was then contacted and asked to come in for a 2nd interview w/the Regional Manager (who was flown in) and to go on a ride along w/a current sales rep. I met briefly with the GM and SM before I was taken out to lunch by the RM (very positive interview). We discussed my current exp. and how it would apply to "what I will be doing" with Otis once I began. I asked about the next step and was told that this was pretty much it, unless the General Regional Manager wanted to meet me also, but that it wasn't the case all the time. (Would require me being flown out to meet him in another st.)

Back at the office I waited for about 15 min. for the Sales Rep. I spent this time chatting with the SM (GM was gone). The rep arrived we left to some pre-set appts. Sales Rep was extremely personable, great energy, and provided great feedback about the company. The ride along went great. At this point I was extremely excited to be joining the team. Back at the office, I spent about 10 minutes going over the ride along with the SM and was told that everything was moving forward smoothly and would hear back from them very soon.

Sent my thank you emails, and the GM responded and proceeded to tell me that they were very impressed w/me and felt very comfortable moving forward in the process. I was asked if I would be willing to fly out to meet the General Regional Manager. The GM expressed that I should have no worries and that "unless I fell flat on my face" I would be contacted by HR with an offer a day or two after meeting the GRM. The GM also took this time to discuss salary and incentive pay.

I received a follow up email stating that I would be meeting with 2 people. The General Regional Manager, and another Regional Manager.

I was flown out early on a Monday morning (flight with a layover) and picked up by the General Regional Manager, around 12:30. I immediately picked up on the first negative vibe throughout the entire process. I maintained my positivity and made some sm. talk on the very short ride to the office. I was told I would meet with the RM 1st. The RM was nice and the interview lasted about 30 min, very positive interview, I was asked if I would need to give a standard 2-week notice at my prev. position.

I then met with the GRM (same person that picked me up at the airport), this interview was almost 100% negative. My resume was torn apart, I took this as an interview technique and proceeded to interview to the best of my ability. This interview lasted just over 40 minutes and after that I was simply told that that was it and that they would contact me. I was then asked if I needed to use the RR before being taken back to the airport (rude). Ride back to the airport I still attempted to make small talk even though at this point I knew this person was not in favor of hiring me. I was dropped off at the airport about 3 hours before my flight. I wasn't offered lunch (not that it matters, just pointing out the fact that it was clear I had flown all morning and picked up immediately after my flight landed).

Before flying back home (on an earlier flight thankfully) I emailed both people I interviewed with thanking them again for their time and consideration. I also emailed both the GM and SM back home letting them know I was finished interviewing and on my way back. Once I landed I had an email from the SM asking me to call when I landed. I did and we briefly discussed "how did it go?" At this point I knew there had been communication between the two offices because I could sense the tone. I was told that they would be in contact with me by the end of day Tuesday.

Tuesday came and went and nothing, by Friday morning I was a little anxious and I emailed the SM asking for an update. I received a phone call from the SM towards the end of the day on Friday where I was informed that they were not going to be moving forward and would not be extending an offer. I also received an email confirming this (as if the phone call was not enough) I asked for feedback, and expressed my disappointment in the decision due to all the positivity I had been given up until the very end. My response was short and didn't say much else. That was my entire experience from start to finish. I still am disappointed, I feel I deserved the position and would have done really well for them in this role. Oh well, on to the next one. I'm am now interviewing for another company.