DataCorrupter profile picture
DataCorrupter profile picture

DataCorrupter

Account Executive

Politicker
Valued Contributor
Executive
+6

Culture red flag or nah?

Fellow Savages,

I've been interviewing with a company right in my IEP (ideal employer profile). The recruiter has been great, very prompt with follow up, transparent, likes me, is championing for me to get the role. Ideal recruiter experience.

The hiring manager had me go through a mock sales meeting. Standard stuff. I performed well and I got some feedback. The manager liked a lot of what/how I did, felt genuinely impressed and mentioned things I did that he liked...but then the list of things I didn't do was an absolutely laundry list. Very long. Mind you, I ran the call with intro, agenda setting, general discovery, short slide show, Q&A, close/next steps. Standard stuff. I thought some of the stuff he dinged me on only the current sellers would know, i.e. not common knowledge. I closed him and he passed me to the next step. Left the mock call feeling like I did well, but wasn't receiving positive vibes from manager. Talked to recruiter, feedback was very positive. Huge difference between what hiring manager told the recruiter and what he gave me on the call.

The VP interview, next up, was for a "culture fit". The guy was weird. He wanted to dig very deep into my upbringing, family, etc. Therapy level shit. Wanted to understand what motived me. I answered, he didn't seem to get it, I answered again in a different way, he still didn't seem satisfied. Asked some regular questions too, strengths/weaknesses... etc. I was an open book and explained not only what but why. He asked so many questions that we didn't have time for any of mine. I tried to close and he pushed me off. Didn't say a positive thing to end the call. The culture seems to put reps through their paces and give not much positive feedback. It's really got me thinking about whether I'd want to accept an offer here...

These red flags or nah? Anyone had an interview like this? Seen a culture like this? How'd that experience turn out? Did the leader end up being cool or a total psycho? Looking for whatever anecdotes/thoughts the War Room has.

Culture red flag or nah?

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🏹 War Room
🤝 Interviewing/Offer
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25 comments

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jefe
Arsonist
11
🍁
If it's like this before they have their claws in you, that's not a good sign. Upbringing and family can be casually discussed, maybe, but this is fucking weird.
Tread carefully.
DataCorrupter
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Damn, your right. This is the stuff I worry about, is it going to get better and be a blip on the radar or a sign of overly-controlling culture?
jefe
Arsonist
2
🍁
TBH I don't think any signs point to it getting better... But that's a call you have to make.
Are you currently working or off? That makes a BIG difference in your decision.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
7
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Is the VP in the reporting line for the role?
As for the feedback, some managers don't feel as though they're doing a good job unless they give thorough feedback and find something for the person to work on. Or things. It's entirely possible you did impress him, but he will always have feedback. Lots of feedback. If you can live with feedback and never having anything perfect, it's not necessarily a red flag. Some managers are like that, it's not career killing, it makes them feel as though they are managing.
DataCorrupter
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Yeah, you got it right, it’s the VP I’d be rolling up to in the org chart. I personally like getting feedback, I always want to get better, but the amount of feedback felt weird. Like 15 items to work on, but all small stuff, not fundamental sales skills. Fair point on how it makes some managers feel needed.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
0
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
He sounds needier than most, but if it stops at constructive criticism that he delivers and then moves on from, it wouldn't be the end of the world. It's that VP that sounds the most alarming.
poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
5
☕️
This is some wild HubSpot sounding shit. I’d withdraw after the VP shit.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
Thank them for their time and respectfully take yourself out of the candidacy. Could you imagine the fresh hell that awaits for you as an employee? Fuck dem kids.
Phillip_J_Fry
Opinionated
3
Director of Revenue
The culture fit questions seems odd, but maybe he's just an odd guy? Did he give any insight into what their culture looks like?
I'd maybe hit up some of the current AE's at the org and see if you can get their opinion on the company.
DataCorrupter
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Not really, it was the other interviews that gave me context on culture. He just wanted to dig in and know me at a super deep level. My worry is that it’s not a good faith get-to-know-you gesture but a way to know what buttons to push down the line.
wolfofmiami
Opinionated
2
🐺
maybe he's a scientologist and was trying to audit you
Kosta_Konfucius
Politicker
1
Sales Rep
I would back channel to see what the culture is really like.
I have interviewed places where it was like that, especially the interview with the VP. Where they harped on a couple of things and didnt give much positive reinforcement, however that was just how they interviewed but are great leaders
HVACexpert
Politicker
1
sales engineer
If this is the person that is making final decisions on strategy and personnel, not sure if I would join
pirate
Big Shot
1
🦜☠️ Account Executive
Depends, sales is about drive and ambition. I never had a lot growing up so I kind of use it as a story in the interviews on how I started from nothing and look at me know... But then if it's too deep into upbringing that's not great. Also so many interviews I wish they told me what was wrong... here they do. Seems interesting and different. Wouldn't say bad necessarily.
slaydie
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
Sounds like you're not a match. I'd say if this is how the VP acted in an interview, you certainly won't be getting the positive encouraging words you are looking for when you join. Some people do this naturally others don't. My advice would be to move on and find another company which you jive with.
coletrain
Politicker
1
Account Executive
The hiring manager while tough I think is not necessarily a red flag but something that could become that.
VP sounds like he lives on Red Square, I'd withdraw from that alone. Culture fit typically is with a fellow rep from my experience
youngsmoky
Celebrated Contributor
1
Senior Account Executive
I had an interview that went pretty deep - who is in your support network, how do you deal with stress, etc. Turns out the job was stressful as fuck and they needed to make sure people wouldn’t crack under the pressure. They only checked in with me during the interview and a few months down the road when they were sure I was going to quit.

Big red flag.
SaaStronaut
Executive
1
AE
I think vibes matter. Good vibes in interview process doesn't necessarily mean good vibes once you start, but bad vibes in an interview process almost always (in my experience) mean bad vibes down the line.
Unless this company is some uniquely differentiated rocket shit (Rippling or Ramp come to mind) I'd pass. Esp if your Manager (!) didn't make you feel comfortable/excited. Just my $.02
lilhunter
Good Citizen
1
independent sales consultant
Find an ex-employee on LinkedIn and ask them for the real story. It's the only way.
Pachacuti
Politicker
0
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
That's a weird interview practice. He may just do that to everyone. I would circle back to the recruiter and the manager ASAP to talk it out - ask if he's like that with everyone, if its standard practice to ask family/upbringing questions, etc. It may be and if it weirded you out, it may not be a place for you.
But maybe they think of themselves as a big ol' family and they're intrusive like that.

Regardless, the recruiter should know about the odd questions.
0
Retired Sales Professional
Only if you could deal with that type of culture and aren't wigged out by it, is it not a red flag, but it seems it has according to your question. The question about family is to see how stable of a personal life you have. Someone who not stable can become a liability instead of an asset no matter how good your sales pitch may be. In his mind he is looking to see how stable you will be working for the company. If he asked you about hobbies and sports then he actually wanted to see what you are interested in. For example if your a reader then you like to learn which means personal development and for sports looking for competitiveness. So in actuality the ideal person would be someone who is reliable, likes PD and is competitive.
Justatitle
Big Shot
0
Account Executive
As the bretheren of NSYNC would say "Bye,Bye,Bye"
GDO
Politicker
0
BDM
Yeah 🚩
Shocker
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Run. Fast. And don't look back. You dodged a bullet on this one.
TheHypnotist
Executive
0
Sales Manager
sounds like someone was trying to find a reason not to hire you.

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