I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at Volvo Group
Interview
Was approached by a recruitment firm for an opening as a Manufacturing Engineer with Volvo Group in Hagerstown, MD. Upon my first phone interview with the Volvo team, the engineering manager was immediately upfront about the position being a contract position with the contract not going any longer than 2 years with a 6 month minimum. The manager asked if I was comfortable with that and I shared my concern and voiced that I would prefer an permanent opportunity with Volvo and that if there was no chance in this occurring that it would be best to not waste their or my time. However I was pushed to carry on with the interview as he and his team felt I possessed the skills and knowledge they were looking for and there would possibly be the potential of full time employment post contract. Needless to say the phone interview lasted 45 minutes during which time I became much more open to the opportunity/contract position. During closing discussion, I was directed by the manager to begin discussion with the recruitment firm on my required benefit package as he and his team felt me to be an excellent fit and wanted to extend an offer as well as getting me on-site to meet the team and tour the facility.
I was notified days later that they would be pursing an alternate candidate as it was directly mentioned this candidate had less experience and a yet to be developed skill set as related to manufacturing engineering - basically, I was over qualified. Also, it was shared that my reluctance at the start of the phone interview to accept a contract position in pursuit of a permanent position with Volvo was taken as negative (all though I was pushed by the interviewing engineering manger to continue on).
It appears to me as if this engineering manager is unsure himself in what his organization and team needs to better grow themselves and Volvo Group at this location. It was stressed to me during the recruitment phase that he required specific skills and knowledge and that the engineering manager was "sensitive" and "tired of falsities and lies" being stated in candidates resumes - that he wanted to find a genuine candidate, committed to the role and to Volvo that possessed the needed skills.......
.... I was that candidate, I have those skills, I expressed that commitment to your team and to Volvo - but I'm over qualified and negative in wanting to develop a lengthy career with your organization.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Are you comfortable with this being a contracted 6 month to 2 year position with a minimal chance of full time employment?
Two Step Interview, with two of the hiring managers. Interview was about 30 minutes long, nothing too difficult. Questions were not very technical, simple behavioral questions. If you prepare well, you will definitely do well on the interview.
I applied online. I interviewed at Volvo Group (Dublin, VA) in May 2021
Interview
Bit technical and more questions from the job description provided. Tries to compare your skills with the job description. Make sure you have your resume studied. Described about their plant operations and your role in the position.
I applied online. The process took 6 weeks. I interviewed at Volvo Group (Shippensburg, PA)
Interview
1 hour phone interview, followed by in-person interview 3 weeks later. Whole process took about 5-6 weeks after job posting closed. Phone interview was with hiring manager - went very well. In-person interview started with a panel interview with 5 different managers from around the plant dealing with operations and the ME director. Was about an hour. Very in-depth on my skills and experiences, lots of typical questions that I've never been asked before. After that was lunch with other engineers, then plant tour.
Interview questions [5]
Question 1
What is your biggest strength? What is your biggest weakness?