Got hired just from phone interview

[invidia]

Ok, so I applied to a large defense company and went through the normal phone screening and then a phone interview. After the phone interview, I received an offer for 67k/year. I decided to accept it based on the fact that it's 2x what I make now and a huge step up for my career. I've been told that I will be going through a security clearance later.

I didn't even get a chance to meet the people I will be working with or even the exact site I will be working at. All I know is that a recruiter did the hiring and that it's in an area 4 hours away from where I live. Has anyone gotten a job just from a phone interview? Or is this normal for very large companies/defense companies.

 

[Cuda1447]

Does seem odd to me.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Congrats, good luck on the security check

 

[KillerCharlie]

I work for a large aerospace company and I was hired as an intern by phone interview... all of the interns are hired by phone and you're pretty much guaranteed a full-time job after that.

All of my coworkers who weren't interns had a big phone interview, then flew out for an in-person interview. When they flew out they were basically already guaranteed the job - the in-person interview was just to check things out and seal the deal.

 

[guyver01]

it's in an area 4 hours away from where I live.

each way? or round trip?

that's a long drive.

 

[invidia]

each way? or round trip?

that's a long drive.

One way, so about 7-8 hours round trip. But I'm moving up there if I get a start date set.


Not an intern though, just some entry level programmer with 1.5 years of experience and a Masters in comp engineering. I thought it as odd and stranger to offer anyone a job just from a phone interview.

 

[duragezic]

Pretty unusual I think. Normally, they have an idea of your skills and experience from the phone interview, and want to meet in person to see if you will fit in with the company culture and team.

What position at what company? I was laid off from a defense contractor as a software engineer and still looking for another position, hopefully in aerospace as that's where my exp is.

 

[invidia]

Pretty unusual I think. Normally, they have an idea of your skills and experience from the phone interview, and want to meet in person to see if you will fit in with the company culture and team.

What position at what company? I was laid off from a defense contractor as a software engineer and still looking for another position, hopefully in aerospace as that's where my exp is.

Level 2 Programmer at Lockheed.

 

[Jadow]

Congrats! Good luck and work hard for them!

 

[Key West]

Did they bother to check your references?

If not, they must've asked you really specific competency questions over the phone.. right?

 

[invidia]

Did they bother to check your references?

If not, they must've asked you really specific competency questions over the phone.. right?

My references were contacted after I got the offer. They only asked very general database/programming questions and my experience with certain technologies.

 

[AmerDoux]

My son was recently hired via telephone interview. He was in S. Korea and close to exiting the Army. A government contractor got in touch with him, interviewed him over the phone, and hired him. He now works in Arlington, VA, starting at 75k per year.

/proud mom

I should add, job was pending his passing a polygraph on the first day he showed up (which he did).

 

[KillerCharlie]

Did they bother to check your references?

If not, they must've asked you really specific competency questions over the phone.. right?

I interviewed with the following companies:
Lockheed
Boeing
Rolls Royce
USAF (civilian, Wright-Patterson engineering stuff)
Spirit Aero
Gulfstream
Cessna
ATK
NASA (JSC)
Northrop

NONE of them asked me technical competency questions. They can get a really good idea of how good you are based on your previous experience.

 

[duragezic]

Level 2 Programmer at Lockheed.

Cool. Congrats! I've applied to a couple of LM positions (they do have tons posted) but most all require a clearance which I'm sure is given preference to those who have one than to wait for 3-6 months for someone to get one.

But it sounds like they hired you with the expectation of waiting till you are cleared. I have a BS in computer engineering and 18 months of exp, so maybe I'll have to check out LM jobs again. Level 2 positions usually start around 2-3 years exp, but I would think I have an edge on a fresh grad so I've been looking at level 1 and 2 positions.

 

[invidia]

Cool. Congrats! I've applied to a couple of LM positions (they do have tons posted) but most all require a clearance which I'm sure is given preference to those who have one than to wait for 3-6 months for someone to get one.

But it sounds like they hired you with the expectation of waiting till you are cleared. I have a BS in computer engineering and 18 months of exp, so maybe I'll have to check out LM jobs again. Level 2 positions usually start around 2-3 years exp, but I would think I have an edge on a fresh grad so I've been looking at level 1 and 2 positions.

I don't have much experience, just a little over 16 months. The Masters probably helped. The job didn't require a clearance, just the ability to get one. I am assuming that's just the basic U.S. citizen requirement.

NONE of them asked me technical competency questions. They can get a really good idea of how good you are based on your previous experience.

Same here. Any technical questions were very broad and general. Nothing specific and there were maybe 3-4 of them. The guy who did the interview was a SE manager/recruiter.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Send them your social security number and bank account numbers...what's the worst that could happen?

 

[Gothgar]

Send them your social security number and bank account numbers...what's the worst that could happen?

better yet, post em here!!!! :awe:

 

[guyver01]

The job didn't require a clearance, just the ability to get one. I am assuming that's just the basic U.S. citizen requirement.

Nope... security clearance is different from US Citizenship.

Can non-US citizens obtain security clearances?
No. Non-US citizens can not obtain a security clearance; however, they may be granted a Limited Access Authorization (LAA). LAAs are grant in those rare circumstances where the non-US citizen possesses unique or unusual skill or expertise that is urgently needed to support a specific US Government contract involving access to specified classified information (no higher than Secret), and a cleared or clearable US citizen is not readily available.​

What are the steps to getting a Personnel Clearance (PCL)?
A cleared contractor identifies an employee with a need to have access to classified information (e.g., the employee will work on a classified contract). Once identified, the contractor’s Facility Security Officer (FSO) submits an investigation request through the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS) and ensures that the employee completes a clearance application in the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP). The FSO then reviews, approves, and forwards the completed e-QIP to the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) for their approval and release to Office of Personnel Management (OPM). OPM conducts an investigation and sends the results of the investigation to DISCO. DISCO either grants a clearance or forwards the investigation to Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA) for further adjudication.​

 

[invidia]

Send them your social security number and bank account numbers...what's the worst that could happen?

I already did D:.

 

[Gothgar]

I already did D:.

 

[alfa147x]

Congrats?

 

[Balt]

The job didn't require a clearance, just the ability to get one. I am assuming that's just the basic U.S. citizen requirement.

hehe, NOPE.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Very cool. Good luck.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Does seem odd to me.

What part, the hiring offer after a telephone interview, or because its employer's business scope and how they hired therein.

First, a lot of people I know got hired over a telephone interview. No big deal there. And I'm betting the employer trusts its ability to investigate new hires and the results therein over anything the new employee may offer as truth given at an in person interview.

By making the offer during a telephone interview, they undoubtedly got the new employees permission and SSN, which is all they need to investigate him or her. And it is nothing for them to fire said new hire shortly thereafter (probationary period).

 

[GaryJohnson]

This is how they hire spies.