The Trade Group interview questions

Amazing people and amazing place. Had a few rounds but they were super communicative. The first round was a phone call, the second one was also a phone call or over zoom but normally would be in person. The last one was in person for me. Overall I can't speak higher about the experience.

• Initially Contacted by a recruiter for a supervisor position. • I had my first meeting with the Operations Manager, which lasted a good hour and a half. My background showed better suited to taking another position in another department possibly replacing a current employee, instead of the position that I was actually brought in for, I was told. Potentially, I would work in another department until such time as I could transition over. They weren't sure yet. • After the meeting and walkthrough which went very well, I was given instructions to fulfill a 2 hour online IQ and Personality test. This was quite extensive and unlike any test I have taken previous. • I was then scheduled for a 2nd meeting now with the Vice President . It was and excellent meeting lasting well over an hour and it was said that everything was moving forward. It looked to be a mutually beneficial relationship. • I was told by the recruiter to turn in a list of several managerial references for verification and as well reasons for leaving previous employers and wait for next steps. • I was now contacted directly by HR and asked to be flexible and instead of working the regular business hours as we had discussed (7-3:30), “maybe come in initially 10 to 7 as a Manager in training” as to give me applicable time to learn the systems and take some pressure off of the department while preparing to take over a different role. I told them yes I would do this, but only for a short time and would really like to see all of this in writing to know where I stood. • I was then asked to have yet a 3rd meeting, now with the manager of the department...? The paperwork had now been written up and they just wanted to get this formality meeting out of the way before they handed the offer letter and description over. It didn’t matter what was said, as the deal was set and signed off on I was told. With nothing in writing whatsoever, I still didn’t fully understand the scope or monetary offer yet to be given. • I would receive all information Monday or Tuesday from HR with steps for a background check and drug test following my set Friday meeting. • I then hesitantly met with only the department head. It was just the 2 of us as the HR manager for some reason declined to take part in the meeting at the last minute. I played the mental gymnastics head game of what to say and what not to say, trying to be flexible and as truthful as possible given the circumstances. Throughout the conversation I could feel my answers gradually being interpreted with an understandable paranoia. Leading questions of how a manager is coming in doing work they are so clearly overqualified for. Remember, given the unusual request for a meeting, I was not groomed on specifically what was known or what I should say in certain scenarios. I was in the dark myself • This person asked of salary range, something I had only discussed with the recruiter, ( what if I said a number that was more than their salary). I was asked about my flexibility to work in the night shift doing miscellaneous work. They thought that would however be pretty hard for me since I had young children. Their impression is that I am the subordinate at their disposal, meanwhile in fact, the opposite was true and I was caught in the middle). What do you say when you don’t know what is truth and what isn’t?..... If I say yes, do I now come in and work nightshift as to appease this person initially?... • As a candidate for a role at this company I was asked to jump through hoops for weeks, to be flexible and then be put into a position to essentially lie about everything to ensure my place at the company. • I was then contacted by the recruiter who was in near tears over the situation (wasting 6 weeks of time/ and no commission). She said the company made a terrible mistake with the way they have handled the situation and they feel it wouldn’t be fair to bring me into a now hostile work environment and they don’t want anything slipping through the cracks in a transition period so they find it best to figure out how to work with what they have until such time in the future. • I have called and left messages only to be ignored. They do not have the common courtesy of having a conversation with me given how much time and energy was invested and be accountable and own up to their mistake. I'm sure they just want this to go away, but I think it should be known what can be expected of you as a candidate. For me, It is appalling and shows you what kind of character you are dealing with. Would you want to work at a company just to shadily be let go one day after unknowingly meeting your replacement or would you prefer to be hired on under the guise of something you are not? • To The Trade Group – An acknowledgement of accountability could have saved you this review.