TFW I Spend Three Hours Prepping For A Phone Interview The Email Said Would be 45 Minutes, and The Call Lasts Eight Minutes

"SVTyler" (svtyler) 01/27/2018 at 19:50 • Filed to: None

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On the plus side Chrysler wanted to “move forward with the process” so I got that going for me, which is nice. Just wish they would’ve had a real interview and asked actual technical or engineering questions instead of the typical HR bullcrap.

E90M3 > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 19:54

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I was at lunch with a friend and got a phone call for an interview that I had no idea what time it was going to be at. They said it would be “at lunch time.” I took the call. He asked me bunch of technical questions and then ended the interview with “if that sounds good to you, we’ll make you an offer.”

SVTyler > E90M3 01/27/2018 at 20:01

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Is that kind of structure common in engineering interviews? Mine was scheduled and everything (7:15pm tonight) and the email was super-detailed about the format and topics of the interview and the dude interviewing me didn’t ask an actual question apart from like like “Can you work in the US?” and “Why would you be a good fit for our organization?” kind of things.

Flavien Vidal > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 20:01

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My first reaction to this was: “Wait... Chrysler still exist?”. Sorry I don’t live in North America anymore. I’m not really up to date with that stuff haha

lone_liberal > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 20:04

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I’m an IT person and I’ve had interviews that ranged from being like an oral final exam to those that were basically “tell us about yourself”. I never know which to expect so I always do a bunch of refresher studying which makes the latter kind of interview seem like a waste of time.

SVTyler > Flavien Vidal 01/27/2018 at 20:07

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They’re technically FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) now but most people I’ve talked to don’t know that so I just call them Chrysler because it’s easier than explaining they changed the name.

ranwhenparked > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 20:09

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Wow, congratulations for actually making it through CandidateCare.

E90M3 > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 20:13

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They’re all over the place. I spent 11 months unemployed and had a bunch of phone interviews. Sometimes the first interview is just the preliminary interview, just to make sure you’re able to take the job and things like that.

SVTyler > lone_liberal 01/27/2018 at 20:15

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That’s how I felt too, the FCA email mentioned it being a STAR interview (Situation, Task, Action, Result) so I had like four pages in Microsoft Word of answers to the kind of questions they’d probably ask and ended up not using a single one of them. At least we’re prepared I guess?

WilliamsSW > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 20:22

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Some of the best interviews I’ve had were very short. Sounds like this was a basic HR screen and you passed

That STAR prep you did will probably come in handy in the next round.

It’s also possible that someone else was supposed to talk to you today and got tied up or sick or something. I’ve had that happen too.

Good luck!

SVTyler > WilliamsSW 01/27/2018 at 20:26

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Thanks man!

SVTyler > E90M3 01/27/2018 at 20:32

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That’s what I assumed it would be, but considering the email mentioned the STAR format and the technical aspects of the job I didn’t imagine it would be that brief. Not necessarily complaining because I can use that prep for the future interview, but still.

E90M3 > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 20:37

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That’s fair enough.

I had an in person interview last Friday. I got a call from the plant manager this Friday. He started the call with “your background doesn’t really match what we do.” To which I’m thinking motherfucker. Then he proceeds to say “but everyone really liked you, so we want to offer you a job and we’ll find something for you.”

Life is strange at times.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Flavien Vidal 01/27/2018 at 20:37

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A lot of North Americans have the same response. They only make the 300 and the Pacifica, neither of which sell in huge numbers.

Flavien Vidal > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 20:54

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Yeah when thinking FCA, I think Dodge, Jeep and Fiat and totally omit Chrysler even though it’s literally in the name haha

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 21:53

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This could be a good thing. You’re still in school right? I’m assuming here that this is an entry-level engineering job. You probably have something on your resume - job experience or something you accomplished in school that already tells them you have your shit together enough for this opening. The STAR stuff is probably more important to sort out all of the nearly applicants that have mechanical engineering from a decent school with a 3.5 GPa and not much else to display.

SVTyler > E90M3 01/27/2018 at 22:04

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Oh dude congrats, that’s awesome. I’ve heard stories of getting hired like that but never heard it happening in engineers gigs. Iirc you’re ME, any idea what position they were thinking of?

SVTyler > FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com 01/27/2018 at 22:11

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Yep, graduating in May from Purdue. I’m one of the lead engineers on our Formula SAE team which, applying at an automotive company, is a huge plus over other candidates. I figured if the call was that short and they wanted to do an in-person interview it was a good thing, it was just kind of weird considering I was expecting an in-depth interview.

E90M3 > SVTyler 01/27/2018 at 22:46

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I’m a ChemE, they want an engineer in some capacity.