When I was first exploring jobs at TQL i figured the position i was applying for involved having a sales talent and personality. When I brought this up in the interview, the branch manager corrected me. "Talent really has nothing to do with it. We're looking for effort."
Alright. Moving on.
"You'll be working an expected 60 hours a week. You'll be working saturdays. You'll be on call 24/7/365. You'll be doing all this for a whopping $35k a year (while we exploit the **** out of you.)"
Hmm..
"You look more like a guy who'd be out MAKING sales, doing real estate. Not someone stuck at his desk 12 hours a day..."
(Swear to God this was said.) It took me off guard... "Well, although that would be optimal... your., job.. sounds.. good.. too..."
By the end I dont think either of us were entertaining any ideas of working with the other.
Other notable parts of the interview:
They'll show you a video of sales calls in which NONE off the callers succeed. it takes about 20 minutes and show some sweet early 90's graphics. Not sure what they were striving for here. Also for that lofty 26 weeks of training they offer, the callers sound like the could be on high-school work release programs.
The interviewers all seem very careerist and plastic. After telling one of the recruiters how they were really going to enjoy living in Austin passively on the way out (new branch) she answered "OK then, that sounds terrific, thank you so much."
i guess it fit the rest of the experience.
Also there's a question about fair labor laws with the exempt status there putting you in at $35K while requiring 60+ hour weeks etc.
Bottom line: There are predatory companies that will exploit you because of the desperation to find work out there, and TQL is one of them. Nothing appears to be in your favor as an employee.
Keep looking.