5/1 update: 3 rounds of interviews - wtf is going to happen in the 3rd round?

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
So I had my first of 3 interviews today. It was with the hiring managers. They asked me a TON of questions about my technical knowledge and hypothetical management questions (ie "How would you motivate your team?").

I presume tomorrow's interview with HR will be to briefly talk about my background and my salary requirements.

WTH is going to happen in the 3rd round? The 3rd interview is with the 2 VP's of the department. Is it just going to be a rehash of today's interviews with hypothetical management questions or what?

//edit

If it matters, I'm an internal applicant.

5/1 update

They offered me a supervisor position instead. It would be a ~12% bump from my base hourly rate to go to salary. My W2 last year was higher than the salary they offered me this year. I had to resist the urge to decline the offer on the spot.

Guess you really do have to jump companies to get the good numbers.

5/3 update

So I just had a 45 minute conversation with VP of HR. Basically, I was not qualified for the original position so they downgraded it 1 level so I could get it. I once again reiterated that's nice and all, but it's not what I applied for and my life would be a lot easier if it would have been a yes/no decision.

I'm at a crossroads between life in IT or Finance. He did his best to persuade me as to why the supervisor role in finance would be better; I got it and understood his point.

Here's where things get fucked up:

Bigwigs have taken an interest in my career, which is the only reason we are having this conversation instead of me simply being rejected. If I hold out now, or turn down the offer, I may be burning a huge bridge, as people have gone out of their way to take an interest in my career.

Once again, I understood his point loud and clear, so I told him I was willing to come down a bit from my wants, but they gotta come up a little too. At the end of the conversation after some jabs back and forth, I dropped the lowest number I was willing to accept. I understand that people have interest in my career and want to see me succeed, but I have wants too and we gotta meet somewhere in the middle.

They originally offered me 13.4% increase (hourly -> salary). At the end of the conversation, we settled at 17.6% increase, take it or leave it. I understand it's not a lot of money on a weekly basis, but it's the principle of the matter (to me).

I'll know by Monday my fate.

5/3 4pm update:

They met my asking price and I signed on the dotted line.
 
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OverVolt

Lifer
Aug 31, 2002
14,278
89
91
They give you a basic green T-shirt and say give your best sales pitch.

If you say "Um its green... and a shirt" they take the other guy :awe:
 

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
68
91
VPs are too busy and important to interview you with everyone else.
They need special separate meetings.
 

etrigan420

Golden Member
Oct 30, 2007
1,723
1
81
I think the third one is where they give you the "Sandwich Artist" name badge and the cool visor.
 

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
2,670
1
81
the last time I did a 3rd interview, the hiring manager was in there to help provide information to the VP about who I was. In that job, the VP made the final decision.

I always view interviews as gates. I guess I failed at the last gate. Not that it mattered, I was already working somewhere else by the time they told me.
 

PenguinPower

Platinum Member
Apr 15, 2002
2,538
15
81
Analyst
Sr Analyst
Supervisor
Mgr <-----this level
Director
E Director
VP
SVP

They're just going to make sure you're not crazy, that you have a personality and you'll be able to play the politics. It won't seem like that's what they're doing, but it is.
 

StinkyPinky

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2002
6,981
1,277
126
I've always only done two?

The first is just to meet you and make sure you're not crazy.
The second is the real one where you get grilled.
 

shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,081
136
I've never had a 3 round. Only 2.

Either HR and then engineers, or an engineer and then HR, sometimes the lead tech is thrown in. But never 3 rounds.
 

vi edit

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 28, 1999
62,484
8,345
126
1st round for us is HR screening to weed out the riff raff.
2nd round is other managers doing peer based review.
3rd round you move up to either director level and maybe the CIO and get the final blessing.
 

Jaepheth

Platinum Member
Apr 29, 2006
2,572
25
91
deer-table.png
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
I see about 5 levels of superfluous management in that hierarchy. It's no wonder why we waste so much money in corporate america.

That's 8 layers from SVP to the most junior person. Add 2 more on top (CEO then CXO), and you have 10. That's a bit much, but it really depends on the size of his organization.

For big companies, 7 or 8 layers from top to bottom is a good mark to strive for.
 

sze5003

Lifer
Aug 18, 2012
14,319
682
126
First round was with hr, second with a manager of one team, third was with a senior supervisor who tells those managers what to do. For me it was half technical and half psychological, ex how do you handle team work, how do you motivate the team, what would you do in situation x.

If they like you give it 2-3 weeks for an answer. By the time Lockheed martin wanted me to come in for interviews, which I had applied months and months before I had this job, I was already say 4 months in my role.

Some places take forever. My friend is in the process of the background check and its been 6 months already. He can't wait to leave his current job.
 

mikegg

Golden Member
Jan 30, 2010
1,976
577
136
I had an interview for a manager position recently. First interview was with recruiter on phone. Then with hiring manager on phone. Then live interviews with 4 others totaling 3 hours. Came back for live interview with VP and the CEO.

So I guess I went through 4 rounds?
 

Peter Nixeus

Senior member
Aug 27, 2012
365
1
81
www.nixeus.com
Usually when you get to round 3 you are almost good to go... they might test you a bit further... most people don't get that far. Round 3 is when they test funny things to see if you have potential to grow and stay with the company - even though they indirectly say it. Because one day you may become THEIR boss or take over their positions and they want to make sure you are a cool person.

Good luck! And may the odds be ever in your favor! :D:thumbsup:
 

sze5003

Lifer
Aug 18, 2012
14,319
682
126
I had an interview for a manager position recently. First interview was with recruiter on phone. Then with hiring manager on phone. Then live interviews with 4 others totaling 3 hours. Came back for live interview with VP and the CEO.

So I guess I went through 4 rounds?

Yeah I've had the same happen to me before. But they didn't get back to me until later asking if I was still interested in the position. This was because of miscommunication between recruiter and the company. Someone had gone on vacation and forgot they needed to hire a person. Then I had other offers because recruiter kept screwing around..which is why I hate recruiters.

I'll only go interview with them if they call and say the company reps are there and want to talk. I hate when they call in and want you to interview with the recruiter, I guess they need to try and sell you somehow. Not sure how companies handle negotiations with them either. That's the part that tripped me up was negotiating my salary because they tell you one thing then go talk to the company and tell you another thing.
 

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
Usually when you get to round 3 you are almost good to go... they might test you a bit further... most people don't get that far. Round 3 is when they test funny things to see if you have potential to grow and stay with the company - even though they indirectly say it. Because one day you may become THEIR boss or take over their positions and they want to make sure you are a cool person.

Good luck! And may the odds be ever in your favor! :D:thumbsup:

I'm an internal applicant so I'm not sure how much this applies to me. They slotted all 3 interviews this week before I even took the first one.

...and I just saw that movie over the weekend so I actually understood the reference lol