I am not the typical applicant. Not from the most established school in the area, was not recruited or screened or interviewed at my school. Originally applied/sent Resume to company months prior to interviews. Got me on their email list for students. Was seeking internship in Fall for Spring semester. Called office for recruiters info/how to apply. Gave me email of recruiter at local office. Linked me to application. Applied originally for internship online. Did not receive call for interview until I followed up with Recruiter who linked me to application, about 3 weeks later. Interviewed Next day with Senior Manager. Overqualified for internship - Asked me to 2nd interview for Associate. Next week went in for event-type interview. Had introduction with myself and approx. 25 or so more applicants. Got small tour of local office. Then did 2 30-minute interviews - 1 with Senior Manager, 1 with manager. Then sat in on 45 to hour long PP presentation about company. Mostly, corporate stuff about benefits, opportunities, reach of company, etc. Then went to lunch with Manager and 2 other applicants. Closing was with Senior Manager describing the next steps: Thank you, hear from us no matter what within 2-3 weeks. Overall event was roughly 5 hours long. Rec'd call from Senior Manager that I would be getting sent an offer via UPS.
To prepare: Went online searching for event name for the Company, researched similar situations, but mostly in different markets than mine. Asking questions was main focus that managers had advised for us to do. Wrote up questions before hand to ask people in interviews or any other situation. Tried to think of some experiences I had in regards to working with others, dealing with others, hardships gone through, decision making experiences, etc. Best to try to come up with stories you have gone through that you had a problem and had to make a decision, and how you handled it. Be enthusiastic and ask questions. Having questions allows interviews and conversations to keep going and leads to maybe a more personal connection with interviewer. ALWAYS stay on point. During the entire event, no matter what the situation, remembering I was on an interview helped. Therefore, I asked questions or became outspoken at all opportunities and with all staff - even if I was just waiting for my interviewer to come grab me for interview. During lunch, remain focused on the interview, but a little more relaxed, personable. Do not swear, no matter how comfortable I felt. Try to keep yourself in conversation. Ask questions. I asked the same questions I think to at least 2 different managers.
Since office is not in major market, I felt it was very comfortable, not too pressing, although the office was very nice and sterile looking, so it could be intimidating. Interviewers were never pressing and nice. Did not grill me hard, at least the ones I spoke to. They pushed that work/life balance is becoming a priority to them but also at 1 point, an interviewer was drawing out that I would be working roughly an average of 50 hours a week.