I applied for a sales management position at a marketing agency. I have plenty of experience in sales and leadership, but none in marketing. However, it’s an intangible service just like insurance, and it is a very similar sale.
The boss called me back about the management position and we set up an interview, but when I get there he tells me that no one starts as a manager but everyone can work their way up and prove themselves.
I have had the “management/promotion dream” dangled in front of my face at shitty corporations many a time, and the fact that he misled me from the beginning of the application process but then proceeded to sell me a dream is a huge red flag for me.
He just called me back for a second interview, but I am not sure how to proceed.
Should I politely decline? Should I call him out on his immediate manipulation and how can I go about it diplomatically and professionally?
I am normally pretty blunt so my first instinct is to say something like, “hey I can see you already set an expectation that you abandoned and went back on, why should I expect any difference as an employee? And why should I overlook this red flag and go make your company money?”
Is this insulting? Can I do better?