The whole process was bizarre. 1st interview followed by a 2nd interview with the other owner, followed by an on the job interview.
The process started with email ping pong. The owners didnt seem to have a handle on their diary & changed the 1st interview three times. I felt obliged to accommodate.
The 1st interview was uncomfortable. It was clear that the owner had back to back interviews as he was ushering his previous interviewee out of the building as he was greeting me.
The interview had nothing to do with my skills and abilities, but more an overly curious line of questioning about my wife , family planning, diet and workout regime.
The interviewer seemed very arrogant and self righteous, his questions had nothing to do with my abilities. I could not imagine that we would have a good employer/employee relationship. Nonetheless, I entertained his interview style. On exiting the building, I noticed a young lady sat nervously... I can only assume she was the next victim of his interrogation.
I was invited back for a 2nd interview, however the email ping pong hadn’t stopped. The owners seem to have no idea of how to plan a diary and changed my interview date &time twice this time.
I gave them the benefit of the doubt.
The second interview was in a small room, perhaps 2x4m. I was asked to sit on a chair which was also used to prop the door open. Awkward, as anyone walking past could heard & see everything. Pathetic planning & the interview wasn’t any better. This interview was less questioning and more a lecturing me about how the DVCC promote an agnostic approach to diets and that I SHOULD NOT ever mention that I am a vegan.
It was evident the DVCC allow for people to continue their poor diets. This makes perfect sense as most fitness instructors know that by cleaning up a diet, one can get into better shape much quicker... but why would the DVCC want anyone to get into better shape when they pay nearly £90/month. The DVCC is more concerned with generating revenue. I was constantly attacked about my beliefs. Why are you vegan? We don’t want preachy vegans here... massively offensive. Nonetheless, I was continually probed and provoked.
I was offered the job:
Thank you for your commitment to our interview process.
I'm sure you can tell we take hiring the right person for DVCC extremely seriously, and it is not a quick process.
Stephen and I have discussed you, and the possibility of you joining DVCC at length.
You presented very well, but we have been wrestling with the fact you don't really have any experience in our industry, and also face to face sales.
However we do think you have the personality and presentation to be successful with DVCC.
Due to this fact we want to extend an offer to you a paid trial onboarding.
Your salary will be £22,000 initially.
You will be a covering assessor (new client sales) for the first 2/3 weeks. Based at Milton Keynes.
You would then move into the lead sales for 2 weeks, based at Bedford.
You will then move into the sales account manager role at Bedford, which will include being front of house with our new recovery bar (designed to increase nutrition sales, lead sales, renewals etc), and gradually be trained into the required specialities.
Once your training is complete, which could be up to 6 months, your salary would move to £27,000, with a substantial bonus incentive.
Your role would be starting from this coming Monday.
Please let me know if you wish to accept this.
Many thanks,
Mark
I was infuriated as the job advertised was paying between £25k - £32k and I thoroughly believe I was worth more than the minimum advertised. I replied with an email outlining my skills and abilities. In addition I stated that the job advert posted says pay between £25-£32k.
I got the impression that the owners were much more interested in cutting costs where possible and were not prepared to invest in quality staff.
I received a short email after this with words to the effect of “we are not interested”.
The whole process was a painful, cringy and pointless experience. The staff seem suppressed and under pressure. The owners were pompous and have fabricated a training style based on basic concepts. This is simply a new name for an old method. Really nothing new here and I am deeply sympathetic toward members at the DVCC.
I may have dodged a bullet
