airdisaster.info

Well, I just got a call from a Boeing recruiter asking me if I were still interested in an internship in St. Louis. They want to do a phone interview with me on Friday morning. My last phone interview was with Rolls Royce a few months ago and I didn't feel like I did very well on it (didn't get the position, if that's any indication), so I want to make sure I really do well on this one. Any advice on answering questions like "Why do you think you're good for this job?" "Why do you want to work for Boeing?" I just don't feel very confident trying to sell myself to an employer (I've only interviewed a couple of times before). I'm normally very quiet and not forward, so I'm never really sure what to jump out and say when given the opportunity. For example, with the Rolls Royce interview as we were closing out, he asked if there was anything I'd like to add. I was completely unprepared for this and just mumbled something about really wanting the job.

Also, so I can sound somewhat knowledgeable and prepared... What exactly does Boeing do in St. Louis? I think they still make C-17 components there. Anything else of significance?

Some thoughts...

1) What you really want to do with any interview is make a list of the 3-5 points about yourself that you really want to make sure you get across. Think about what the interviewer is likely looking for in a candidate and how your background likely fits. You can almost certainly weave those 3-5 points into any questions that are asked as you almost always get an open-ended question or two about your skills.

2) Always be prepared for these four questions: 1) Your greatest weakness (and don't give the hackneyed answer of "I love XXX so much that sometimes it can turn my strength into a weakness...") ; 2) Why you want the job; 3) Why they should hire you; 4) Do you have anything else to add. (yep, it sounds like Rolce Royce caught you on a classic interview closer. you can always use this to get across a final point if you only got 4 of your 5 in or, if you really have nothing else to add, don't be afraid to recap your most important points, just be brief and direct).

3) Selling yourself is important, but you absolutely must come aross as genuine. For example, always answer the question that was asked, even if you use it as a jumping off point to get in one of your top 3-5 points about you.

4) Research, research, research everything you can about the company that's interviewing you and the job they are hiring you for. The latter is harder with internships but as you get out in the real world you'd be amazed how few people do their homework. You can get a real leg up if you have the facts. (it's a great sign that you're already thinking about this as it relates to Boeing's St. Louis operation -- don't let go of that inclination and research the hell out of them).

Finally, telephone interviews aren't as effective as in-person, but they do allow you to keep notes in front of you, which can really help if you're not feeling confident. Just be very, very wary of it coming across as if you're reading rather than talking. I also advise people being interviewed by telephone to stand up during the interview. One's voice usually sounds better that way and it keeps you alert.

One other thought: another really common question is to ask what you want to do after graduation and how this internship would fit into your future career. My advice is not to say, "work for Boeing," unless that is absolutely your top choice. They probably don't give a rats ass whether you come to work for them in the future, but they do want to think that you've thought about the job and aren't just fishing for anything you can get. It shouldn't be too hard to connect this position with whatever your future goals are, but you should definitely think about it before the interview.

Also, if you're not feeling confident, remember this: you've already beaten out a lot of the competition just to get an interview. They are interested in you.

Boeing makes F-15s and F-18s in St. Louis.

Boeing conducts something called a Structured Interview with people they are looking to hire permanently, and I assume they do this with interns as well. The interviewers (usually 2 to 3) have a set of scripted questions that they ask everyone who is applying for that particular position. So everyone interviewing for the job gets asked exactly the same questions. The interviewers have some leeway in the types of follow-up questions they can ask, which they do to help coax answers out of the interviewee.

You will find that they ask you questions in which they want you to provide specific examples of things you have done. They might say something like, "Have you ever witnessed someone cheating in class, and how did you act on it." The temptation for many people is to respond in general terms: "Well, if I ever saw someone cheating I would blah blah blah...." That's not what the interviewers want to hear. Be specific. "Back in high school, I saw a guy looking at someone else's paper during a test. Being a 16 year old, I acted upon it by shooting a spitwad at the back of his head to let him know that I knew what he was doing...." Or whatever.

Try not to ramble. You can buy time by asking them to repeat the question. The expectations for an intern's previous work experience are not high, obviously. So you can cite examples from school, your job flipping burgers, or wherever, as long as your answer is germane to the question.

One other tip. When your phone rings at the agreed upon time, answer the damn thing.

and dont forget to name drop airdisaster.info

and dont forget to name drop airdisaster.info

Bingo. The obvious answer to why he wants to work for Boeing is because it's so damn interesting when their planes crash!

All good suggestions (except for mentioning a certain website). I'd also recommend having a couple of questions ready to ask them toward the end. While it isn't out of line to ask what sort of activities they have in mind for interns, the question should demonstrate your knowledge and interst in the industry.

St Louis is the home of Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems. IDS is one of the major Business units along with Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Capital Corp. Boeing got the St Louis facilities when they took over the McDonnell Douglas Corp. (McDonnell was based in St Louis while Douglas was out in Long Beach CA). As Verbal pointed out, St Louis has the F-15 and F/A-18 facilities in massive buildings on the northeast side of St Louis Lambert International and it's not uncommon at all to see them landing and departing from there. The major road on that north side of the airport is McDonnell Blvd. There is also a plant in nearby St Charles MO that produces Harpoon antiship missiles for the Navy. Here is a good website for Boeing IDS that lists their various programs and products , though much of this work is done at other facilities around the US.

As others have mentioned, take the time to know something about the company....just as you would want a prospective employer to want to get to know you, the employer wants to see that you have some interest in the company. Further, while I agree with the others that it is very important prepare for key questions, you want to avoid coming off as scripted and you have to believe in what you're saying...in other words, don't just give answers that you think they "want to hear". That kind of rote memorization and regurgitation of disengenuous answers is easy to spot.

Most employers are generally looking for four things...that you're qualified for the work (not necessaily applicable to an internship), that you're interested and enthusiastic about the work, that you are hard working, and that you are enjoyable to work with. If you're enthusiastic about aviation or high tech in defense systems, let that show. You can demonstrate your diligence through your grades, any awards you might have received, extracurricular activities, or your ability to juggle school, getting your flying certificates and perhaps holding down a part time job all at the same time. Lastly, show them that you would be a good person to work with...let your personality through.

Good Luck....that would be a good internship for a number of reasons.

I would agree with HalfBottle.
Although I am not experienced in American style interviewing, I guess the baseline is similar. As you Americans tend to do, I guess you can put some more glamour on past experiences (in Germany it is very formal, sometimes more like an examination, no water-boarding though). I had a 30 minute phone interview for an EADS job in March, in English (with Irish touch), I can tell you I needed a shower afterwards [speaking foreign language on the phone and still performing well is serious business].

Anyways, I would underline Halfie's points: get prepared for the typical questions, and get yourself one or two decent weaknesses! I know that is very hard, as your true weaknesses are sometimes not that popular with employers. I for example are not a genuine team-player, which is always seemingly top priority for all employers (although it's bull shit, they just use it to sound smart).
You don't have to pretend you are in a love affair with the company. And, as Halfie stated, you get extra credit if you can show that your career up to now follows a certain plan. Maybe you shouldn't start with your first airshow visit at age 9, but your choice for your University, your pilot license, your choice of classes.
For an interviewer it shouldn't look as if your choice was purely random, that's it.
These kind of questions are not intended to really get your strengths and weaknesses, it is to check your type of character.

I for example are not a genuine team-player, which is always seemingly top priority for all employers (although it's bull shit, they just use it to sound smart).

There is something in that, but I think the desire for employers to see reasonably effective "team-players" is genuine on the whole. The nature of corporate organization these days is to have flatter management structures and shorter chains of command. Problem solving skills in a group environment are important.

Excellent thread.

A memorable quote of how to answer on an interview (from the movie "Stripes"), specially when trying to get a job in an army supplies related factory:



Recruiter: Now, are either of you homosexuals?
John Winger: [John and Russell look at each other] You mean, like, flaming, or...
Recruiter: Well, it's a standard question we have to ask.
Russell Ziskey: No, we're not homosexual, but we are *willing to learn*.

I for example are not a genuine team-player, which is always seemingly top priority for all employers (although it's bull shit, they just use it to sound smart).

There is something in that, but I think the desire for employers to see reasonably effective "team-players" is genuine on the whole. The nature of corporate organization these days is to have flatter management structures and shorter chains of command. Problem solving skills in a group environment are important.

Excellent thread.

Fortunately, the terminus "team-player" is not well defined, I actually never understood what exactly characterizes a good "team player". So, that is a very good option to show a weakness and further show your actions to remedy the issue. I have the feeling some people mistake it as the willingness to waste time in endless meetings.

To put some confusion into PP's mind.... The only thing I am looking at in prospective employees is the general impression he/she leaves with me. I wouldn't conduct telephone interviews, though, other than for the purpose for checking up on some facts.

Fortunately, the terminus "team-player" is not well defined, I actually never understood what exactly characterizes a good "team player". So, that is a very good option to show a weakness and further show your actions to remedy the issue. I have the feeling some people mistake it as the willingness to waste time in endless meetings.

Terminus ?? Anyway, the issue of endless meetings is a whole other thing, and a very important one too. However, "team player" can imply a whole mix of meanings and is just a fashionable label, so I wouldn't get too hung up on it. However, it doesn't mean that the qualities inherent in being a "team player" are to be under-valued, since they are very useful in most current corporate cultures. Unless you have the brilliance of an Einstein or an Oppenheimer, individualism rarely brings home the bacon.

Concur. The world is filled with brilliant but unfocused people. If they are working for you and they don't stay pointed at the same target as the rest of the team, they're not much good to you. Hence the need for "team players".

Thank you all for your advice and insights. I will probably spend the rest of this evening thinking up potential questions and answers to them, and I'll get my roommate to help me practice some of them.

How did it go?

I just got off the phone with a nice lady from Boeing and I got the internship!!!

Interview went well. Thanks for all your help, everyone!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!

Were there any Cal-Poly students in the running for this internship?

Were there any Cal-Poly students in the running for this internship?

No, they weren't even considered.

Were there any Cal-Poly students in the running for this internship?

No, they weren't even considered.

Its because we run the entire operation and due to diversity regulations we must leave a few slots open for Purdue Puppy mill churn outs!

Seriously... Congrats Brad!!!

I just got off the phone with a nice lady from Boeing and I got the internship!!!

Interview went well. Thanks for all your help, everyone!!!!!!

Well done and good luck. P&P always pays.
Per

Nice one, I hope this is the start of a long and rewarding career for you at Boeing.














PS Do you think the 787 will fly before you retire?

Congrats, Brad! Now you have to become a Cardinals fan.