First "real" interview coming up, questions

[SarcasticDwarf]

I have my first interview for a 9-5, full time job out of college on Wednesday. It is for a purchasing position at a local company where a relative of mine happens to work.

The interview is three hours long with three different people (though one of them is HR with information). I already had a 58 minute phone interview with the HR person.


Me:
Graduating with a completely unrelated degree (Environmental Science), but the position does not require one
No experience in the field, but the position does not require it



My greatest disadvantage is that I do not have a business background, so during the interview I would not have a clue how to answer any specific questions. OTOH, I do have a relative working there that the interviewers know well and absolutely love. I believe that will result in them not asking questions they know I can't answer. While I do not have a business background, I AM very good at adapting to any situation, so I know that I would do very well in the position.


My biggest question is: What the HECK are we going to spend two hours doing? Also, any advice/thoughts you want to share would be appreciated.

 

[krunchykrome]

Why not get a job related to your major? I mean after all, you did go to school for four years...

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Why not get a job related to your major? I mean after all, you did go to school for four years...

Long, long story short:

Finding employment is difficult in the field to begin with. Being colorblind also does not help. Add in a recent injury which would prevent me from working outdoors at all and finding employment is near impossible.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

........................?

 

[eakers]

find out as much as you can about the company and position and what is related to it.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: eakers
find out as much as you can about the company and position and what is related to it.

I have done that. Due to my relative being there I know far more about the company and what is going on there than anyone else.

That said, I am more curious about what I would be doing for that long.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Every industry has unique bid processes, product specifications, inventory and, stocking requirements. Lead times also play a major part in manufacturing environments. I'm surprised any company views a purchasing position as an entry level job.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Every industry has unique bid processes, product specifications, inventory and, stocking requirements. Lead times also play a major part in manufacturing environments. I'm surprised any company views a purchasing position as an entry level job.

Well you *do* have to start somewhere, and the pay for the position is relatively low (very low actually).

I should note that it is an MRO position, so not quite as critical as a normal purchasing position.

 

[HamSupLo]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Why not get a job related to your major? I mean after all, you did go to school for four years...

yeah you should be looking at environmental planning and civil engineering firms. There's a lot of jobs in your field in CA since we have all these crazy environmental regulations (CEQA/NEPA/etc).

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Every industry has unique bid processes, product specifications, inventory and, stocking requirements. Lead times also play a major part in manufacturing environments. I'm surprised any company views a purchasing position as an entry level job.

Well you *do* have to start somewhere, and the pay for the position is relatively low (very low actually).

I should note that it is an MRO position, so not quite as critical as a normal purchasing position.

You're right, you do have to start some where. I think a college graduate with no experience in purchasing is just right for a stocker position. What company thinks Maintenance, Repair and, Operations is less critical than a "normal purchasing position?"

 

[nonameo]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Why not get a job related to your major? I mean after all, you did go to school for four years...

Long, long story short:

Finding employment is difficult in the field to begin with. Being colorblind also does not help. Add in a recent injury which would prevent me from working outdoors at all and finding employment is near impossible.

Steven Colbert colorblind, or funny test with the colored dots and numbers colorblind?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: HamSupLo

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Why not get a job related to your major? I mean after all, you did go to school for four years...

yeah you should be looking at environmental planning and civil engineering firms. There's a lot of jobs in your field in CA since we have all these crazy environmental regulations (CEQA/NEPA/etc).

Unfortunately my degree did not deal too much with the technical aspects of anything. I do not have any kind of planning/engineering/hard science background, which rather limits me to the nonprofit sort of jobs.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: nonameo

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Why not get a job related to your major? I mean after all, you did go to school for four years...

Long, long story short:

Finding employment is difficult in the field to begin with. Being colorblind also does not help. Add in a recent injury which would prevent me from working outdoors at all and finding employment is near impossible.

Steven Colbert colorblind, or funny test with the colored dots and numbers colorblind?

Like, I can tell what the numbers are on about 15% of the cards colorblind.

 

[HamSupLo]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: HamSupLo

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Why not get a job related to your major? I mean after all, you did go to school for four years...

yeah you should be looking at environmental planning and civil engineering firms. There's a lot of jobs in your field in CA since we have all these crazy environmental regulations (CEQA/NEPA/etc).

Unfortunately my degree did not deal too much with the technical aspects of anything. I do not have any kind of planning/engineering/hard science background, which rather limits me to the nonprofit sort of jobs.

That's fine, NEPA/CEQA is all paperwork anyways. If you can understand regulations and write reports then you're good to go.

 

[Fenixgoon]

my advice: don't suck like i did.

seriously, i must have answered every question in the worst possible manner

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Every industry has unique bid processes, product specifications, inventory and, stocking requirements. Lead times also play a major part in manufacturing environments. I'm surprised any company views a purchasing position as an entry level job.

Well you *do* have to start somewhere, and the pay for the position is relatively low (very low actually).

I should note that it is an MRO position, so not quite as critical as a normal purchasing position.

You're right, you do have to start some where. I think a college graduate with no experience in purchasing is just right for a stocker position. What company thinks Maintenance, Repair and, Operations is less critical than a "normal purchasing position?"

I think it is just the unique position the company is in right now. It is not that they do not consider it a priority, just that it is not a higher priority than a normal buyer. An entry-level buyer position does not have much in the way or requirements, but there are many levels (I believe 4 at this company). There is only one level for MRO buyers.

If you read through Monster.com you will see that most companies have few requirements for MRO buyers.

Also, being a stocker has nothing to do with purchasing. Hell, I have that much experience. You have to get experience somewhere.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
my advice: don't suck like i did.

seriously, i must have answered every question in the worst possible manner

I'm pretty good until I get to those "tell me of a time..."

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
my advice: don't suck like i did.

seriously, i must have answered every question in the worst possible manner

I'm pretty good until I get to those "tell me of a time..."

i go tangent on those often in general conversation

 

[Furyline]

Since you are right out of college, they will probably ask you about your college career, and any classes that might relate to the job. So maybe think about your nonmajor classes that you took and how they might apply. Just a thought.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: Furyline
Since you are right out of college, they will probably ask you about your college career, and any classes that might relate to the job. So maybe think about your nonmajor classes that you took and how they might apply. Just a thought.

ah, thank you. Do you have any examples? There is only one nonmajor class that I can think of that would ever relate (Environmental Management, a business class).

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

anyone else?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: SarcasticDwarf

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
Every industry has unique bid processes, product specifications, inventory and, stocking requirements. Lead times also play a major part in manufacturing environments. I'm surprised any company views a purchasing position as an entry level job.

Well you *do* have to start somewhere, and the pay for the position is relatively low (very low actually).

I should note that it is an MRO position, so not quite as critical as a normal purchasing position.

You're right, you do have to start some where. I think a college graduate with no experience in purchasing is just right for a stocker position. What company thinks Maintenance, Repair and, Operations is less critical than a "normal purchasing position?"

I think it is just the unique position the company is in right now. It is not that they do not consider it a priority, just that it is not a higher priority than a normal buyer. An entry-level buyer position does not have much in the way or requirements, but there are many levels (I believe 4 at this company). There is only one level for MRO buyers.

If you read through Monster.com you will see that most companies have few requirements for MRO buyers.

Also, being a stocker has nothing to do with purchasing. Hell, I have that much experience. You have to get experience somewhere.

First, as you get a little more experienced you will find that there are a whole lot more poorly run companies out there than there are good ones. So, "most companies have few requirements for MRO buyers" is not a solid argument.

Second, The greatest single mistake anyone can make in purchasing is thinking it is all about the numbers. Purchasing, next to hiring the right people, has the gretest impact on the success and long term profitability of a company. Purchasing is all about quality and timing. I can think of few jobs that instill that knowledge and stress the importance of timeliness in purchasing better than being a stocker.

Third, even a company that has survived a long time doing business a particular way does not necessarily mean that they are doing business the best way. It merely demonstrates that throwing away truly significant amounts of money requires as much talent as earing it.

Finally, while paying the bills is important, choosing a good match for your talents is key to satisfaction and reaching your goals. I sincerely believe you should evaluate why this company feels even a lower level purchasing position is not worthy of better pay and a requirement for more experience.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
First, as you get a little more experienced you will find that there are a whole lot more poorly run companies out there than there are good ones. So, "most companies have few requirements for MRO buyers" is not a solid argument.

Second, The greatest single mistake anyone can make in purchasing is thinking it is all about the numbers. Purchasing, next to hiring the right people, has the gretest impact on the success and long term profitability of a company. Purchasing is all about quality and timing. I can think of few jobs that instill that knowledge and stress the importance of timeliness in purchasing better than being a stocker.

Third, even a company that has survived a long time doing business a particular way does not necessarily mean that they are doing business the best way. It merely demonstrates that throwing away truly significant amounts of money requires as much talent as earing it.

Finally, while paying the bills is important, choosing a good match for your talents is key to satisfaction and reaching your goals. I sincerely believe you should evaluate why this company feels even a lower level purchasing position is not worthy of better pay and a requirement for more experience.

Wow, thanks for all the comments. I did spend a summer working in a warehouse and do understand the basics.


The position is not one where I can see myself being for the rest of my life. That is both good and bad. I know that I could be in a much higher level position in the future, but because this is a position with a really low turnover they want someone who will stay there. So they will see a candidate with great potential that they want to hire, but are likely to see me as (intellectually?) overqualified.