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 Interview advice needed. (currently 412 views) |
| Avar |
| Posted on: Thursday, June 5th, 2014, 8:03:42am |
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Hi all, looking for some advice please.
I've an informal interview with a small, niche potentially exclusive car manufacturer in a couple of weeks and want to ensure I do my best to ensure any possible job opportunities.
The company is local to me and makes only one model as far as I can tell which is a hybrid almost entirely made of carbon composite's, upon searching the brand and the owners on LinkedIn in can see the companies aims are very high but realistic and have some fairly big hitters as directors with at least one coming from hi up in land rover and a fair few with serious motoring degree's and qualifications.
During one of my weekly job hunts I found this company on Google and sent them a nice email with a basic resume attached expressing how I would like to change from my heavily construction orientated background to the motor industry and more importantly the manufacturing of something special and unique. Now bearing in mind I have no serious degree's or letters after my name and that they don't currently have any placements to offer they still replied asking if I would like to pop in for an informal interview on the basis that should some of the possible contracts they have in the pipeline become fruit full, there may be spaces available.
Now the question is how do these type of interviews go? I'm approaching 39 now and to date have never had a job interview as most of my jobs have either been working for family or jobs that I have just fell into, some of which have been pretty amazing and what I would call character building. They have asked for me to bring in a couple of carbon products I have made which isn't a problem as I can spend the next week or so getting some 100% perfect bits together. But things like attire considering my penchant to wear cargo's (mainly camo) and polo shirts and other items to bring I am totally clueless on.
Can anyone give some helpful advice on things like dress code, manner and anything else they feel I need to equip myself with to get a 100% interview score.
Cheers in advance. |
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| Pepito |
| Posted on: Thursday, June 5th, 2014, 9:24:57am |
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Im trying to think who they might be...but anyway.
I have just secured an automotive engineering graduate job so Im still pretty fresh on this haha! Even though they say it is informal still treat it as a formal interview so a suit or other smart attire, trousers and shirt, would be best. Engineering interviews usually have a part which is of a technical nature just to gauge your understanding and they may push to see how you would work things out for things you may not know (might just be for graduates though, but just in case), am i imagine you could throw in some of your experience working with carbon too. Then there is a typical HR type questions, like why you want to work for us, what are your best characteristics, how would you deal in x situation etc etc. They may show you round the company which is always interesting but maybe not the confidential stuff.
That is basically it, technical questions and usual interview type questions. I hope this helps, and good luck with it! |
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| lord |
| Posted on: Thursday, June 5th, 2014, 11:30:48am |
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I would dress funky smart suited and booted but maybe with a Ferrari shirt or some Motorsport shirt and looks like you live and breath Motorsport maybe?
I would do some research into carbon fibre and different methods of production. Do your research I would say |
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| fuzz573 |
| Posted on: Thursday, June 5th, 2014, 4:53:15pm |
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Quoted from lord, posted Thursday, June 5th, 2014, 11:30:48am at here |
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I would dress funky smart suited and booted but maybe with a Ferrari shirt or some Motorsport shirt and looks like you live and breath Motorsport maybe?
I would do some research into carbon fibre and different methods of production. Do your research I would say
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No don't wear a Ferrari shirt  , go professional with a shirt and smart trousers or suit, clean shaven, hair cut etc.
Good luck with it and let us know how you get on |
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| ken_parsons |
| Posted on: Thursday, June 5th, 2014, 9:24:36pm |
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| I agree with Donna this sort of firm is not looking for enthusiasts they are looking for professionals. Try to make the interview as two way as possible ask them the questions you want answering and don't be afraid to ask for the things that you want out of the job. Try to come up with a list of questions, there is nothing worse than thinking of something after the interview. Good luck. |
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| Avar |
| Posted on: Tuesday, June 24th, 2014, 7:43:31pm |
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Well interview done last Friday, considering it was my first ever job interview I think it went really well, took the super smart approach and also ensured that the cappo was spotless and polished.
Must've taken about 1hr 45min in total which is promising with about 45mins in the interview room, about 15mins looking at a few things I've done on the car (cleaning and polishing time well spent) and another 45 mins looking at some really cool things in the main production area. There were the three cars they have made, one with a registration, one without and another which looked like a show / expo car with panels and doors missing to see the build etc. Next to these however was the main attractions, the first thing I saw was a caterham shell, which it turns out is an exact replica of a caterham shell but with a major difference, every structural member of the chassis was made of carbon not metal. I understand they were approached to make one not with the intentions of getting it lighter (doesn't really need that) but to remove any possibility of chassis twist. I recon however that they achieved both. The final item was probably the most eye opening, although the name of the car manufacturer cannot be named they approached this company to come up with a design of a carbon structural cell for a family saloon / hatch. It was like nothing I had seen before and when I asked about the weight saving I was told that the people who approached them to make it estimate a 75% reduction in weight. When asked what that meant in the real world I was asked to go round the front while the carbon guru went round the back and we both lifted this shell and no kidding it weighed about 50% the weight of a fully stripped down cappo, I was pretty gobsmacked. I was even shown some resin systems that are beyond anything seen before with infusion to de mould times as fast as 90 seconds.
I was pretty chuffed with just the chance to see some of this and I think they could tell I had the enthusiasm so hopefully something cool will come of it, bearing in mind at first contact I was told there were no roles at the time and then at the interview It turns out they've just taken on a big contract and need to be hiring soon. So I think I sent that email at just the right moment.
Interestingly enough I've just had an email saying could I confirm my mobile number as they wish to speak to me tomorrow.
Cool. |
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| fuzz573 |
| Posted on: Tuesday, June 24th, 2014, 9:51:32pm |
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That sounds really promising, you must have impressed them!
Good luck and keep us informed |
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| japtaxi |
| Posted on: Wednesday, June 25th, 2014, 10:57:53am |
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sounds awesome Kei, hope that one day you get to make carbon cappo shell?  |
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| lord |
| Posted on: Wednesday, June 25th, 2014, 12:03:12pm |
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wow read this... sounds goood......good look Marc!!! Keep us posted...
Next thing you know you're working in formula 1 ha ha |
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| Pepito |
| Posted on: Thursday, June 26th, 2014, 2:03:08pm |
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| Well done Marc! Sounds like a really cool company especially with the things they do. Hope something comes out of it for you! |
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| Avar |
| Posted on: Thursday, June 26th, 2014, 4:52:07pm |
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Well they're putting a package together and will let me see it on Monday, its going to be on a junior basis ATM but if I can make it work, i'll go for it. Gotta start somewhere and this is an industry I really want to get into. They even said they'd try to tweak the times a little so that I can commute out of rush hours, they must've been impressed
So fingers crossed for a decent offer. |
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| Ricou |
| Posted on: Thursday, June 26th, 2014, 10:26:06pm |
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| Wow, that's really nice. Hope it works out ! |
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| fuzz573 |
| Posted on: Friday, June 27th, 2014, 10:45:59am |
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| If it's something you really want to do its worth starting at the bottom, yea slightly less money than you would probably hope for but you have to remember it could get you where you want to be, they are obviously impressed so far so keep the same enthusiasm and manner and you could go far with them |
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| humbles |
| Posted on: Friday, September 5th, 2014, 9:13:19pm |
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Hi Kie.
Use you experience of what you know what works .Carbon fibre.Special glues .In my experience.Gone are the days of heavy nuts and bolts.I started as a bus engineer .People laugh when I tell them most panels these days are held on using double sided tape. I now no longer work on buses, in fact I don't even work on vehicles . Most of my days are now spent looking at wireless networking products as well as fibre optic . Keep an open mind on all you see and learn . Do not ever be put off if your co worker has a degree. They might have a degree today but modern technology is moving so fast .Two years today at the front end of technology is like twenty five years ago . Modern materials are at the forefront today. I wish you well.Hope it all works out well for you. |
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| Avar |
| Posted on: Friday, September 5th, 2014, 9:44:50pm |
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Cheers
Well its been 5 weeks now working for this company and although those in the "art dept" have numerous degree's etc the four of us on the shop floor don't, two of which are apprentices then there's myself and the composites guru, whose been doing this type of thing for years and spent a large amount of time working for lola.
The company doesn't so much do production stuff I'd say about all the work is currently R & D with some of the past 5 weeks spent making suspension components for a future production car. But a lot of time has been spent creating huge fibreglass molds of a big project and developing techniques to actually infuse carbon items from them, I recon personally I've done 8 different approaches to create an immensely strong beam trying to satisfy not only technical reqs but also visual as the first batch of items need to be show quality for the NEC in a few months.
Trouble with carbon is that you cant assume it can actually replace a metal component / panel as a direct swap, you almost have to go back to basics and create something totally different as its properties can vary hugely compared to steel. So its still a big learning curve for me but at least I can say my fibre glassing is now up to par. Still some cappo items are being considered and I find myself looking at my car for long periods while having lunch seeing what can be done. I'm toying with the idea of sorting out my bumper which has seen its best and casting a mold off it with the view to adapting it a lil to make it even more aggressive and incorporating carbon and a different resin to give it flex but serious amounts of impact resistance. Unfortunately it wont be everybody's cup of coffee and wont fit cars without the take off fenders and probably cost quite a bit, but I feel its something my car needs |
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Cappuccino Owners Club › Non-Cappuccino Related › Off Topic › Interview advice needed. (Moderators: )
