6 Reasons that Kept Me from Accepting a Job

Laurie Lane
Aug 24, 2017 · 6 min read
Photo by Andy Beales on Unsplash

Having recently moved back to the United States, I decided to apply for a full time position with a company called Votion.

They’re an up and coming in-store marketing agency and they’re looking to build a team of account managers for the clients they have.

After the first interview with the President of the office, they called me back for a second interview. I was pleased by how the woman who interviewed me listened to my answers and asked the right questions.

I was invited back for a second interview the next day. Not only was I given a glimpse into what my day-to-day tasks would be, but I saw how my energy would be used, spent, and taxed all for someone else’s dream.

I want to share my reasons for declining their job offer in hopes that you will do the same if you’re experiencing the same warning signs I did during an interview for any position.

1. The Shift Hours

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Although they were willing to provide a 40 hour work week, they only gave you one day off a week. If I’m scheduled to work 8 hour day shifts, how is it that I only have 1 day off?

I should have asked for clarification, but the sales manager kept talking over me declaring that he still has time to run several businesses on the side while working for Votion.

If you’ve ever worked 6 days a week, you know your only day off is spent catching up on the errands you couldn’t get done. There’s no way I could meet with potential clients for my side web dev projects if my shift is from 11am-7pm.

Key point: Don’t accept a job if it’s going to consume almost every waking hour of your life unless you’re passionate about the work you do.

2. The Money

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Having worked in a previous sales position, I always received a commission for whatever I sold.

Here at Votion, they worked a little bit differently. At the Portland location, you were given a base pay of $12/hour. If you booked an appointment, you received $100…but at the end of the week you had to give the Votion office $500.

Why is this? Oh, because they need it for office fees and that’s what the Votion Portland Office takes back, etc. Doesn’t matter how they phrased it because it was clear to me that they were just taking back the money they paid you hourly and then some ($12/hr x 40 = $480/week).

“Even though you have to give $500 back, you will always keep your base pay. So if you book 8 appointments each week, you’ll get a $300 bonus on top of the $480!”

the phoney sales manager explained to me, as if I couldn’t see through this business model. If you’re not going to give your employees a fair commission, tell it to them upfront.

Key point: I would prefer to work somewhere with a company that’s more transparent…and one that gives a fair commission.

3. The Manager I would be working for

Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash

People don’t quit their jobs, they quit their bosses. And this was definitely a boss who would not effectively lead me. In fact, I lost trust in him the more and more he talked.

He kept saying how great this company was and he tried to launch several businesses in the past but they didn’t succeed. He wished he would have found out about this company sooner because of how easy it is to climb up the ladder, etc, etc.

He spilled his life story to me in a matter of minutes. His saga was saturated with tragedies and inconsistencies. It was the typical personal story you’re taught to build in order to sell an idea. I knew I wouldn’t be able to trust someone I could tell was lying to me.

Key point: If you’re not going to get along with your future boss and you can detect this immediately, it’s best to walk away from the offer.

4. The Manager’s Lack of Listening Skills

Photo by Jonathan Simcoe on Unsplash

We’ve all come across the pushy and overly chatty sales person. This was the sales personality of the manager to a tee. I had to cut him off just to ask questions, I eventually gave up and let him blab on to listen to all the fluff he was trying to pitch (he was giving me quite a pitch, literally).

Not only did he talk a lot, he didn’t ask me any questions and when he did, I could tell he wasn’t listening.

These are awful characteristics in a sales person because the most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said. I knew I couldn’t get down with the sales tactics he would want to train me to do because I’m a strategic sales person, not a pushy one.

Key point: If you feel as though your way of doing things is going to be frowned upon, chances are, you’re not going to like your job.

5. Treating my interview as a sales transaction

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After his declaration of true love for Votion (which sounded like a sales pitch) he hinted about hiring me to be a part of the team. He had only asked me about one thing on my resume before considering me to join. It was clear that he was pushing me to accept this “extraordinary opportunity” and he kept talking and talking the more my face grew weary.

It was clear that this company was vulnerable for employees. If you didn’t match their sales pipeline goals, I’m sure they quickly fire you without a second chance. Either way, I didn’t get the best feelings about the position the more the guy talked.

Key point: When you detect warning signs, go with them.

6. What I’m ultimately looking for

Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash

Although I’m desperate to get a job that’s better than the one I have now, I’m ultimately looking to work for myself.

Not necessarily in a selfish way, but more in an entrepreneurial spirit. I don’t want to burn myself out for a company that’s ultimately going to set me ablaze for not building their pyramid scheme.

I want a job that will align with my goals. Moving up in a corporate company is not my dream. It’s not a terrible dream either, in fact at times, I wish that was my aspiration. I admire my friends who seek to find a position in a company where they can keep climbing past the ceiling. Yet, my life goals are a tad unconventional and knowing me, it’s not what I’m looking for.

If any of this has resonated with you, just know that you are not alone. There are plenty of opportunities out there waiting to be pursued and discovered! Don’t settle for your first callback if it doesn’t feel entirely right.

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Laurie Lane

Written by

Real estate agent by day/Travel adventurer by trade/Author in the making

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