CHAPTER 6 -- Interview 5 (Victor - Sales)
I don't want to say that my life flashed before my eyes. But the memory that did pop into my already anxious mind was the scary story that Nicole told me this morning. She labeled it the worst experience she has ever had in this role. While her experience included 5 guys and the situation in front of me only had 3, I still had some fear.
Victor put his hand on the small of my back and pointed me to the living room to join the other guys. 'Stay confident Megan,' I told myself as I started walking.
Frank introduced himself first. I assessed him as we shook hands. He was not much taller than I was and appeared to be in decent shape. His clean-shaven round face was shaped by dark brown curly hair and a million dollar smile complete with deep dimples.
Arthur was next. He reminded me of a classic nerd or scientist. He was tall, thin, and wore an awkward set of glasses. He was young and mildly attractive with a clean-shaven face and a big smile.
Victor was the last to formally welcome me. I hoped my anxiety did not show through. The living room had a sofa where Frank and Arthur sat with a single chair on opposing sides of a coffee table. Frank took the one closest to the door. I took the one opposite next to the window.
Once we were settled Victor kicked the conversation off. "I am delighted you made it this far Megan. If you don't know how this works, you don't make it to the next person without getting the okay from the previous ones. So everyone you have seen today has approved you to move forward. You are either lucky or good to have made it to me."
Without being conscious about it, I sat up straighter and took a deep breath. I was trying very hard not to be intimidated by the situation. Aside from whatever interview questions they were going to ask, my mind fast-forwarded to having sex with three guys at once. I could feel my heart beating in my chest. My body temperature was heating up. I was afraid I was going to start sweating.
Victor continued, "I am a very straight forward person Megan. I hope you appreciate that. As a sales guy, I care about making money. Making money for the company helps me make money. Making money for the company makes Frank or Arthur money. It could also make you money."
I assumed he was talking about what Nicole described to me earlier specifically about me going on sales calls and entertaining prospects to win business.
"I want to ask you a series of questions and I want you to be honest with me. Don't bullshit me and tell me you will do something and then you don't. Okay? I'd rather save both of us the heartache."
I nodded my agreement. I tried to psych myself out. 'Mindset Megan. Get it together.'
"Key word here is interested. Not just willing but interested. Are you interested in accompanying me and my team on critical sales visits to prospects and supporting the sales process?"
I responded, "Aside from whether I am willing or interested I am concerned that I do not know the company or the products well enough to add any value there. Is that not a concern for you?"
"This is a challenge for anyone who fills this role to be honest. However, we can teach you anything you need to know about the products and our company and even the prospect to prepare you to do what you need to do there. It is a matter of what you are interested in learning."
"I am interested in learning. If I am fortunate enough to get this internship, I will do everything I can to learn everything I need to help make this company successful."
"And what about your bedside manner for lack of a better description. Are you comfortable socializing with random people, especially older men?"
"I pride myself on being able to hold my own in any conversation with anybody. That does not mean that I would not be nervous, but I would do my best to work through it."
"Are you nervous now, here with us?"
I looked across the room at Frank and Arthur. Even though my heart was beating fast in my chest, I tried to portray confidence. "What do you think? Do you think I am nervous?"
Victor smiled. "I'd be very surprised if an 18 year old young woman, who is interviewing for a life changing internship, and sitting in a corporate apartment with three men she knows are going to fuck her brains out soon, would not be nervous. I will say that you seem to be holding it together just fine."
Little did he know I was having a hard time keeping it together. My palms felt sweaty, my heart was beating fast, and I was having trouble stabilizing my breathing. It helped to concentrate on my posture and my facial expressions. I had Nicole's advice on repeat in my brain.
Victor continued, "So now that we have established your confidence in being able to learn what you need to learn and socialize to the level you need to support our sales efforts. What about the rest of it?"
"I got an overview from Nicole, but I would like to hear from you what your expectations are of me for the rest of it."
He replied, "It is not a set menu. It is more like a buffet. I don't know until we get there and experience it ourselves. We have to play it by ear and react to what we see. What I want from you in this role is that when you recognize an opportunity, I want you to grab it."
I pressed further. "Can you give me some examples?"
"One example is you join us on a trip to a prospect. On the way there you read up on what we are pitching him, what his company is about, etc. We have dinner with the guy and you laugh at his jokes and flirt with him and make him feel good about us. He signs the deal. We all get some money."
I nodded.
"Another example is we do all of that and he suggests that he wants to spend some more time with you and you oblige. By that I might mean you give him a handjob or a blowjob or have sex with him. You need to feel your way through it and be willing to do what it takes to make him happy and sign the deal."
I expected that. I nodded my understanding. "And what if it is not just one guy?"
Aggressively he responded, "Then you will fuck them all if that's what it takes. We are there to build relationships and to get signatures on contracts"
While I was a little shocked by his brazen response, I replied, "And what if they don't sign the deal, even after I show them a good time?"