I applied online. The process took 1+ week. I interviewed at Sound Financial Group (Bothell, WA) in Jan 2014
Interview
There was an initial phone call that lasted roughly 20 minutes with the company recruiter. It was very simple and I was asked questions about my background. I was selected to come in for a group interview. There were 6-8 name tags, but I was only 1 of 2 people to show up.
The presentation was over an hour and they had a great way of presenting their retirement products. The president was very vocal about how much money he's made in the past and is looking at making more as the firm grows, and explained that there is unlimited earning potential with the company and many employees make well over $100K their first year with the firm. Once the impressive presentation was over, there were 2 representatives that came in and wanted to speak one-on-one. I set up a second interview one-on-one in a conference room and that's when all the details of their system came out. It essentially came down to a high pressure, commission based job that sold financial investments that encouraged asking friends and family members for their retirement. I was told I wouldn't make any money the first 90 days if not more, and would be in a situation where phone calling would be involved. The only income incentive they offered was that you came in with their "Project 300 Spreadsheet" with 20 contacts of friends and family members that potentially would invest with Sound Financial Group. If you came in with 20 contacts, you'd receive $1000.
They utilize their investments for clients on their "Living Balance Sheet" which breaks down debt, assets, income, taxes, and insurance and charts it on a bar graph. After the meeting I got a quick walk through the office. The cubicles were filled with very young people that were sitting at their computers and making phone calls. I was asked back for a third and final interview, however decided not to go since I didn't feel comfortable bothering friends and family members for money in regards to their retirement. Even though I "no call, no showed" for my final interview (I was double booked), I got 2 follow up phone calls and 2 emails asking me if I wanted to reschedule. I responded to the last phone call since the guy said his friend was looking for a sales rep for another company (ironic I know).
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Questions were easy and typically asked about my background. I think they are more interested in taking on people to get the contact info of 20 new people, similar to a MLM platform.