I applied online. The process took 5 days. I interviewed at Schulman Ronca (Fort Myers, FL)
Interview
Hiring is done on-line. Advertises on Craigslist.org. If one can spell ok and can work on a computer, you're almost guaranteed being hired. Training involves sessions of 3-5 days. Once in the field, you are on probation for 30 days where you have to get permission from a supervisor to enter certain things on your computer. Workers are constantly bored in the job and seek to go on cell phones, read, or talk to neighbors, all forbidden. Many eat at their desks, including supervisors (also forbidden) Smoking breaks are ignored as a break.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Call dispositions. Each call is to be categorized (ans. machine, no answer, etc) but some categories are ill defined and are difficult to categorize.
I applied online. The process took 3 days. I interviewed at Schulman Ronca (West Long Branch, NJ) in Jan 2013
Interview
The interview was a mix of basic skills (in order to do the job) and open-ended questions. It was pretty simple and any professional level person should do just fine.
I would characterize the interview as very informal, but if I was going to interview for this job again, I would learn as much about the position as possible and decide which skills in my history were a match for the position. For example, since the position for which I applied was a telephone research interview position, I would highlight those jobs in my career history with an emphasis on sales skills, or outright sales. While the Research Associate position is not itself sales, I noticed that many of the skills are the same, as in piquing someone's interest, keeping them on the phone, and selling them on the importance of the call.
Following a short phone screen and an in-person interview, there's a paid training that lasts for a couple of days. I mention it since it is understood that successfully completing the training is a part of the interview and hiring process. There is a written test, but most professionals should have no trouble learning the requisite skills and information and passing the test.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
They asked me to read a sample script, like the kind research associates have to read when conducting a research interview. Also, I was asked to spell a few words along with some other basic skills.