So uh, people with real jobs...chime in.

[HAULN-SS]

So, I'm going throuhg the riggors of trying to find a real job lately, since I'll graduate in December. I interviewed with Northrop Grumman on Thursday, and I heard back from them via email and they want me to come to a second interview at their headquarters in Chantilly. Since I'm new at this sort of thing..just wondering what you think happens at a second interview? Is it a "if you dont say anything stupid, you get the job?" Is there potential to talk about compensation/benefits/vacation..blah blah blah all that stuff? Help me out here, I have no idea what to expect, seeing as how this was the first place I applied anyway

[JackoliciousLegs]

Compensation/benefits is something you talk about with the offer... not during any interviews (imho). They're just going to talk to you for a bit longer. That's all.

[ScottyB]

what Jack said. don't bring up pay/comp/vacation/benefits or anything really final until they extend you an offer.

typically, in the second interview they will ask more detailed questions beyond just your background education and what you are looking for in the job.

its kind of difficult for me to help since my profession is alot different than many of yours, but in one situation i was put through 4 interviews for one company alone. they interviewed me to no end, wanted to look over my portfolio, and they even had me do a test where i had to draft up a concept rendering for a item they came up with for me. i would have gone back for a fifth interview had they not told me the "scope of the position has changed" which in corporate-speak meant the accountants said, "lets try to combine this job with another position to save pennies."

you shouldn't have to worry about 4 interviews though. good luck with the hunt dude.

[Maengelito]

yeah, dont discuss any of the benefits and the likes until you get an offer in writing. a second interview isnt necessarily a "dont F up and you get the job" sorta situation, but its definitely good that you got a second interview. i know northrup grumman does a shit ton of stuff in all sorts of different fields, but know about which position you applied for and if there is no specific position, then know what you want to do within the company and research the company as much as possible. aside from that, dress nice, be polite and dont kiss ass too much, but dont be an asshole or an evan

ha!

[John]

To be honest, with bigger companies, there's less wiggle room with benefits as they have stardardized labor tiers based on your experience / education that establishes parameters on your salary and vacation.

[Evan]

Compensation/benefits is something you talk about with the offer... not during any interviews (imho).

what Jack said. don't bring up pay/comp/vacation/benefits or anything really final until they extend you an offer.

while that is the "proper" business etiquite way of doing things, unfortunately it isnt really the way things are done anymore. More often than not, one of the first things a recruiter asks me is my target salary, or even worse, what I make now (so they can give me just a little more)
They want to see how cheap they can get me for before even bringing me in for an interview. But you should definately not bring up salary or benefits until the offer, or until they do.

As far as 2nd interview goes, it really depends on the company. Sometimes the first interview is just weeding out the boneheads, and the 2nd interview is the real interview. For some the real interview is the first, and the 2nd is a more in depth introduction to the company, and the people you will be working with.
In my expereience though, the first case is more rare so if you get the 2nd interview you have a great shot at an offer.

[HAULN-SS]

Cool, that's what I'm hoping since I'd really like to work for them. It's a summer job with a hiring after I graduate. Anyone got a place in Nova near Northrop I can stay at for the summer if I get the job?

[JohnC]

My first "real" job, with Booz Allen, we didn't talk salary until I rejected their first offer 8) That was after 2 interviews.

In my current position, I had a great first interview, and it ended with me and the program manager chatting about my salary expectations. Then I got a lowball offer, and it took a few weeks of email/phone negotiations to get it up to what I wanted (which was exactly what I asked for in the first place).

Evan is right, these places want to lock you in to as low a salary as you'll agree to - anything more is $$$ off their bottom line. They'll bill the gov't the same rate (within a certain skill/experience level) regardless of what you actually get paid.

[Maengelito]

In my current position, I had a great first interview, and it ended with me and the program manager chatting

[Feersty]

No matter how good an interview goes, don't assume you are going to get the job. Just take things as they come and don't get too excited.

[Dragon]

Considering you're interviewing with my company I can give you some insight on what this 2nd interview will consist of. Typically it involves bringing in several managers that you will potentially work for as well as more task specific questions. Like many large companies, Northrop is a matrix org, so while you may technically have one manager, you actually have 4 or 5 people you work for that are managers. They'll want you to meet with each of them so they can get an idea of who they will have working for them. If you remember, PM me the name of the people you've already talked to.

[.RJ]

Northrop is a matrix org, so while you may technically have one manager, you actually have 4 or 5 people you work for that are managers

I have 8 bosses Bob. Pardon me? 8 Bosses. Eight? Eight Bob! That means that when I screw something up, I have to hear 8 different people tell me about it.



One of the benefits of a small company is that you dont have to put up with that crap I enjoy it alot better.

[Sijray21]

like Matt said, the second interview is usually has the program managers for the projects they think you would fit best. I know i had my third interview with my company and i interviewed with who i now know as my Program Manager (head honcho - high level/non technical), a smaller manager that is more interactive (technically savy) with the lower-level employees and a separate manager that is on a separate project.

Just be real with them. They want to know if they can get along with you and that you can work well together. They might go into off tangent conversations not relating to work as well.

Just an example:
second phone interview - we ended up talking about Motorsports and cars for about 40 minutes (he owns an e30 m3 that he brings to the track sometimes). Don't expect this though - we did talk a lot about my technical capability and experiences in school.

[HAULN-SS]

Thanks guys, this is what I was looking for....i'll let ya know if it pans out

[white_2kgt]

Considering you're interviewing with my company I can give you some insight on what this 2nd interview will consist of. Typically it involves bringing in several managers that you will potentially work for as well as more task specific questions. Like many large companies, Northrop is a matrix org, so while you may technically have one manager, you actually have 4 or 5 people you work for that are managers. They'll want you to meet with each of them so they can get an idea of who they will have working for them. If you remember, PM me the name of the people you've already talked to.

That is exactly what LM does. I didn't interview on my 2nd one w/ the same org that I currently work for. I went up w/ 3 other people for the 2nd interview and I was the only one to get an offer letter. So no, you don't _have_ the job. Just be prepared to discuss WHAT you did to get the experience you have on your resume.

[John]

None of you can identify exactly what will happen during his 2nd interview as interview procedures vary greatly from office to office in larger companies - as an interviewer, I can attest to this. My best suggestion for HAULN-SS is to ask exactly who he will be interviewing with, and during that interview he ask questions about the team environment.

[.paul]

everyone does a 2nd interview different. my 2nd interview at my last job was this.

Welcome back Paul, glad you came. we have a series of questions and that will be all. If a space ship landed outside would you go on it? and If it could take you anywhere where would you go and why.

and i answered with the quickness and then they extended me an offer.

every place is different, i dont think you can ever properly prepare for a interview anymore. just go in looking confident and know what you know and act confident

best of luck