So I don't forget how crazy this was
So I'm pretty sure I have a job (95% of the people who get to the final round get an offer) in CT in an executive-track rotational operations program for a large aerospace/industrial congolmerate, which was the job I wanted. But it was total hell getting there.
Round 1: 45 minute phone interview with the program director
Round 2: 4 powerpoint slides identifying an operations problem at the company and outlining short/long term solutions +1 slide creative intro to yourself
Round 3: 4-part online personality assessment
Round 4: Two day gauntlet. At 5pm on the second day you are either recommended to the program or not.
Round 5: Immediately after being recommended to the program and you think it's the end, they tell you that before you can get an offer, you have to interview with the Director of Operations for the entire $55B company.
Highlights of the process include
1. Writing a parody of Twas the Night Before Christmas for my creative introduction presentation (which was the only time I'll likely ever receive applause in an interview, and was asked afterwards if I was a writer, and I said no but that I host two big parties every year where the invitations often include poem parodies. One executive asked where the party was because he wanted to go)
2. During the business meeting simulation our side was accused by the executives of not paying the 500K that they were owed, and some guy on my team said we didn't know anything about it and we'd try to get it to them within a month. I said "Wait, wouldn't Jim know that? If it's alright with you I'll go give him a call" then I walked out of the room, came back inside 30 seconds later and said "Sorry for the confusion. Jim's found a problem with the billing data and he'll get you the money before close of business today" (which was the only time I'll likely ever make shit up in an interview and walk out of the room)
3. Being interviewed by this major executive after 9 hours of pure stress on 3 hours of sleep. He was stone-faced, impossible to read, and asked tough questions one after another like a machine gun. "Why should I hire you? What is your ultimate career goal? What are your leadership weaknesses? What was your GPA? What do you like about this company? How did you hear about this program? You aren't an engineer, why do you think you're qualified? " for 20 minutes.
4. At the airport afterwards getting extra strong drinks from the bartender after I told him excitedly that I got a job!
Round 1: 45 minute phone interview with the program director
Round 2: 4 powerpoint slides identifying an operations problem at the company and outlining short/long term solutions +1 slide creative intro to yourself
Round 3: 4-part online personality assessment
Round 4: Two day gauntlet. At 5pm on the second day you are either recommended to the program or not.
- A: Dinner with the program director and 4 other candidates, after which she provides a case, two transparencies, and two markers. You have from 8:30PM until 8AM the next morning to create one transparency identifying the critical issues in the case, outlining short/long term solutions. The other transparency is for a creative intro to yourself
- B: Presenting your creative intro to 4 executives and the other candidates
- C: Presenting your case solution to 4 executives and the other candidates
- D: 30 minutes with the other candidates (while the executives observe) to work together and come up with a group solution to the case
- E: Business meeting simulation regarding the case, where the executives represent a supplier and the candidates represent a customer
- F: Informal lunch interview with a new executive who wasn't part of the morning's activities
- G: One on one interview with executive #1 from the morning
- H: One on one interview with executive #2 from the morning
- I: One on one interview with executive #3 from the morning
- J: One on one interview with executive #4 from the morning
Round 5: Immediately after being recommended to the program and you think it's the end, they tell you that before you can get an offer, you have to interview with the Director of Operations for the entire $55B company.
Highlights of the process include
1. Writing a parody of Twas the Night Before Christmas for my creative introduction presentation (which was the only time I'll likely ever receive applause in an interview, and was asked afterwards if I was a writer, and I said no but that I host two big parties every year where the invitations often include poem parodies. One executive asked where the party was because he wanted to go)
2. During the business meeting simulation our side was accused by the executives of not paying the 500K that they were owed, and some guy on my team said we didn't know anything about it and we'd try to get it to them within a month. I said "Wait, wouldn't Jim know that? If it's alright with you I'll go give him a call" then I walked out of the room, came back inside 30 seconds later and said "Sorry for the confusion. Jim's found a problem with the billing data and he'll get you the money before close of business today" (which was the only time I'll likely ever make shit up in an interview and walk out of the room)
3. Being interviewed by this major executive after 9 hours of pure stress on 3 hours of sleep. He was stone-faced, impossible to read, and asked tough questions one after another like a machine gun. "Why should I hire you? What is your ultimate career goal? What are your leadership weaknesses? What was your GPA? What do you like about this company? How did you hear about this program? You aren't an engineer, why do you think you're qualified? " for 20 minutes.
4. At the airport afterwards getting extra strong drinks from the bartender after I told him excitedly that I got a job!