Year after year, millions of candidates seek out coveted positions at America’s top companies, but only a lucky few get a shot at an interview. Fortune 500 companies and tech giants are notorious for having some of the most grueling interview processes to ensure they hire only the best of the best. These processes are so selective, you actually have a better chance of getting into Harvard (5.2 percent acceptance rate) than you do at getting a job at Goldman Sachs (3 percent), Walmart HQ (2.6 percent) or Google (0.2 percent).
Even if you’re not applying to these selective companies, there’s a lot to learn from their interview processes. These organizations use reliable methods like structured interviewing mixed in with some oddball questions used to prove your ability to think on your feet. Even though hiring practices are becoming increasingly digitized and AI-based, the in-person interview continues to be one of the most important deciding factors.
We decided to look at the interview processes of some of the country's most well-known tech giants to see what they can teach job seekers. What methods and best practices do the HR experts at these types of organizations follow? If you can draw insights from companies like Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Netflix and Twitter, you might feel more equipped for anything an interviewer might throw your way.
Every interview process is different, and there will never be a foolproof way to set yourself up for success. On the bright side, a challenging interview is usually a sign that an organization takes their employees seriously and dedicates itself to investing in quality talent. Google probably wouldn’t have such a rigorous process if it wasn’t a top-notch company that receives about 3 million applications a year.
Recruiters and hiring managers are continuously improving their interview processes to assess candidates as thoroughly and authentically as possible. There is a method to the madness of these extremely competitive interviews. After you’ve spent the energy perfecting your resume and cover letter to earn the interview, why not maximize your chances of acing it? Hopefully, you can use some helpful takeaways to help you with your personal job application journey.
Sources:
Glassdoor | Fast Company | Business Insider | Forbes | The Harvard Crimson | SHRM | CNBC - Amazon | CNBC - Microsoft | CNBC - Google
