This was by far the worst trickery I've ever seen. I was contacted by a partner and went into the office for an interview, which started out as your standard interview. Some questions were a little odd, like, "I bet at your workplace when you say jump, people say how high". I am a warm, strong, personality but that is not my technique. OK, so we proceeded, but I was not allowed to discuss income until the next appointment, which I will not be keeping.
You have to bring in 200 people, family and friends, etc., and you have to be "willing to become a little bit famous in (my town)". At the end of the interview I was walked to a wall, where I was shown agents and rookies of the quarter, their names, and amounts of money earned so far. Then, here's the kicker...I was told to go take a personallity test, and no matter what, "answer all 4s and 5s". He must have repreated this three times. So I went home and took the personality test, and despite a "little voice" that said this didn't feel right, I answered all 4s and 5s. I was told the next day by email that because of my answers on the personality test, I was not up for consideration at this time, or words to that effect. He wants me to reapply in 90 days and start studying for my licenses. Right...I'll run right out and do that. Truthfully, you won't see any money for at least a year, more like three. There is absolutely no up front salary. I'm seriously thinking of running this by my attorney, and I have a message in to the agent. Why, after doing exactly what he said, was I rejected?
I would say two thumbs down on this particular company. It is not publicly traded, and you cannot easily get into financial advising. They want you to sell life insurance, period. The beginning of the interview (to backtrack) was odd, because this partner said "I don't read resumes". That's funny, because when he called me he said, "I came across your resume and wanted to talk with you".
My advice is not to deal with New York Life if you are looking for an employer to shoot straight, and not play games. If I fail on my own merits, that's ok, but not at the hands of a partner's bad (purposefully bad?) advice. The office was very unfriendly. I must have walked by ten people. I smiled and said hello, and goit zero in return. I am not sure if it's legal to be set up for that personality test. I have free will, and I could have gone against his advice, but why would I? Stay away.
If anyone out there knows of a financial services company who will train you with a base salary, I have been a very successful sales manager for some time, and would love that opportunity.
