On-Site Visit

“The Second Interview”

MICHIGAN TECH CAREER SERVICES PARTNERS

MICHIGAN TECH CAREER SERVICES PARTNERS

On-site Visit

Tips for second interviews and understanding benefit

packages

The Second Interview aka “The Plant Trip”

Purpose of plant trips

• Company has more time for in-depth assessment of you

• You can decide if this is the right organization and location for your next job

Preparing For Your Visit

• Review initial interview notes• Employer’s web site• Annual report • Promotional material• Industry/business publications• Alumni or contacts within company

Resources for Company Information

• Dun & Bradstreet (dnb.com)• Directory of Executive Recruiters• Bizweb.com• Hoover's Online• LexisNexis• People

Additional Resources

• S&P’s Register of Corporations, Directors, & Executives

• Fortune’s 500 biggest U.S. co.• Bus. Week’s 100 best small U.S.

companies• Inc. list of 500 fastest-growing U.S.

companies• Forbes’ list of best small companies in

America• Career Services*• Faculty and Staff*

Understand Your Travel Arrangements

Using email is preferred for communication• A detailed itinerary • Who makes travel / hotel arrangements• Is the company financing your travel

• Pre-paid or reimbursed• Keep all receipts

• Married…will your spouse accompany you

Details about your trip

Important details• Directions to the company• Dates/times and places you are

expected to meet • Recommended route from airport to

hotel or company (shuttle, limo, cab)• Expected dress code• Required materials you should bring

What to take ?

• ID, passport, credit cards, some cash• Resumes, transcripts, other

supporting materials• Appropriate clothing and shoes• Professional binder with

note pad and pens• Briefcase vs. backpack

Arrival and Hotel Details

• Use hotel alarm clock and wake up call

• Set your cell phone alarm• Avoid room charges oLocal calls, room service . . .

Movies???• Do not bill long distance calls to your

room

BIG Hint

• You are being evaluated during EVERY part of your trip

• Everyone from receptionists, staff assistants to janitors may communicate with your prospective employer if they were negatively or positively impressed

The Interview Day

• May need to check out of the hotel that morning

• Don’t trash the hotel room• Know how you will get to the facility• The day is usually filled with interviews,

no breaks• Two types of plant trips

• Individual• Group visits

Individual Interviews

• Average 3 to 5 one-on-one interviews with people from various levels such as:•Potential supervisors•Department managers•VP or plant managers

• Be knowledgeable about the company’s products, services and competition

• Ask appropriate questions•Avoid questions about pay, benefits,

etc

Individual Interviews

• May be asked the same question many times• Remain upbeat and energetic• Don’t worry about repeating your answers

• Dining with the company• You are always being evaluated

Business & Dining Etiquette Dinner Wednesday, October 14

Group Interviews

• Usually 20 – 40 candidates• May have one-on-one interview time• Company will observe your behavior

in a group setting:• Who asks questions• Who communicates easily with others• Who dominates conversations• Who hides in the corners, etc

Testing

•Skills•Psychological profile inventory•Aptitude test•Drug test (hair or urine)

After your trip

• Write a thank you note to your main contact

• Send brief notes to others who had significant meetings with you

The Waiting Game

• Find out when the company expects to make a decision

• No news yet• Contact the company a few days after

the deadline to see if any other information is needed

Negotiating the Offer

• You do not have to take the first offer• You may be given a week or more time

to make your decision

• How to delay a decision• Ask for more time—contact Career

Services for advice

• Consider all your options

Salary and Cost of Living Resources

• www.salary.com

• www.homefair.com/homefair/calc/salcalc.html Calculates cost of living comparisons between actual cities.

• www.quintcareers.com/salary_negotiation.html Lots of information about salary negotiation tips

• www.careerjournal.com(Click on the Salary and Hiring Information tab, then salary by title) Wall Street Journal data

• www.monster.com(Click on Career Advice tab, then targeted advice, then salary center) Can get free basic salary report or pay for more detailed report.

Provides salary data specific to materials engineers of varying degrees and experience levels

Salary and Cost of Living Resources

• Career Services' Salary Information at www.career.mtu.edu• Salary Survey with recent grad data

• Remember to fill out a job offer form on Career Services' web site

The Value of Benefits

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