Yes I did. They had an opening for someone in my profession at their proving grounds in the Mojave Desert (I have the specs.), where there's a patch of the desert, fenced off with 7.5 mile oval track, 5 mile windy road, 200' skid pad, 20 & 30% slopes; outdoor motocross and SX tracks, a desert trail, dirt road and gravel road all within. The facilities include a multipump gas station with 6 storage tanks (US, Americas, Asian and Euro fuels; Rich: ya listening?), auto car wash, weather stations, auto shop with lifts and alignment racks. Oh: and a cafeteria.
The advertisement requested a civil engineer, but others diciplines would be considered. I thought it was a long shop, but my wife encouraged me to apply. And lo and behold, they showed interest.
Now for the drama: The initial interview in Torrance.
It was a group format where it was four of them verses me, and though my experiences with this format are sour it went quite well - perhaps they have been watching the Apprentice and decided to tone it down a bit? The one doing the most talking was the plant manager, another the lead of Facilities Maintenance, and two from Human Resources - and one of those looked like a Japanese national though spoke very good English (or American, for Marcus.)
It started off with a presentation of who they are and where the work site would be, at the proving grounds in Cantil, between Mojave and Ridgecrest. Wow - can you say an opportunity of a lifetime? I recognized a dry lake bed on the photo and impressed the plant manager by recalling its name (Koehn). He went and explained the different testing tracks and areas. It has a full-service garage, car wash, gas station; and is self-contained from an infrastructure standpoint other than electricity. Impressive.
They each took turns at asking me questions, of which most were answered satisfactorily from what I could tell. One remarkable question was when the HR guy asked what I know about Honda. One small part of my reply was re: the Acura NSX being the first mass-produced sports car I liked. He asked what I liked about it to which I said the package, especially having *not* an overwhelming, high-HP engine (a la Ford GT), six-speed trans, and, oh: the sheet metal (aluminum, in reality) - very Le Mans like - I preferred it over a
Ferrari! (gimme one in red.) Someone mentioned motorcycles, and the plant manager asked me about dirt bikes - he had to know what exact displacement, model, year and make I owned, all the while during this exchange he had
this grin - was he a rider or involved in riding? Additionally he asked what autos I owned, and again the exact models. Finally I remember being asked if I work on my own things and of course the answer was yes, then they asked what, so I answered brakes, routine maintenance, etc.
After the question session I had an opportunity to ask mine, which lasted about as long as there's, to a similar depth.
At the close a benefit summary was given, and I thanked them for the interview, looking forward to meeting again for the next stage.
Well I must of done okay as they asked me back for a second interview a few weeks later:
We left San Luis after 7am, and stopped in Tehachapi to get a local paper and some misc. makeup for me. Yes, me! My wife gives me a minor makeover to subtract a few years from my aged appearance. Normally I wouldn't let her touch me with that stuff, but I am willing to go through the minor humiliation to gain any advantage over any other candidates.
We then made our way to the Jawbone Visitor Center and parked, going inside to say hello to the volunteers and rangers @ my wife's request. The lady at the counter was happy for me and wished me well; she knew the Honda plant manager and some others who donated time and goods for the upcoming Moose Anderson Days (April 30 - May 1) where they cleanup the Jawbone Canyon area with volunteers like you and me and friends.
The lady said I could change into my interview clothing using their change/rest room, and after donning my power gear my wife fixed my face and hands up real purdy for the interview.
Getting through the first gate of the facility was no problem, and after a mile or so we came to the guard shack; they were expecting me and told us where to park, and to go into the lobby.
The maintenance lead-supervisor came out to greet me, and with that I was escorted into a large conference room. After some chat about the weather we were joined by the site manager.
They had 8-10 behavioral questions for me, and then when it came to my time to ask; I did not have any to speak of, since I used those up a few weeks ago and have already made up my mind of what I wanted to do. As it turns out the reason why the plant manager had a smile on his face when he
asked me about my bikes is that he is a former rider; the XR600R on permanent display at the Jawbone Visitor Center was his! But I do no think he is that much into it as he thought it was a 500.
At the conclusion of the interview they took me for a walk within and around of the main buildings. We went through a low-partitioned office bay, then outside to a car wash, gas station with overhang, a (electrical) switchgear building, nine or so fuel tanks (gasoline types from around the world?) - including one for euro-car diesel, an array of tires and wheels,
some vehicles I have never seen before (nothing exotic, just different and foreign), and a high-bay area with auto lifts, and a cafeteria. There was one building I did not go into nor see much of other than the metallic siding; secret stuff contained within?
Just as we were rounding the building wifey comes by and says she needed to use the rest room. I introduced her to the two gentlemen, and she told one in particular not to worry: she was born nearby - he went to the same high school but thought she was much younger than he.
We ended up at the same conference room, and asked why I wanted the job. I told them it was a good match, between the philosophy of Honda and my own - it would be mutually beneficial, and my general enthusiasm about helping
bring a quality product to the public.
The plant manager said it would be two or three weeks before I hear from them - oh the suspense! But I'm learning that's their way, not to show their cards. When asked if this was the last series of interviews or if there were more, he said it may or may not be...
They called me today to say they went with another candidate. I'm not terribly disappointed although it did sound like a reasonable position, besides the benefits, plus an opportunity to move beyond the typical industries I've been involved with in my career.
Speaking of benefits, up to today I could not (presumptuously, after all) decide whether I wanted their new pickup or not; they come well loaded - 4wd, 4 full doors/passenger compatible, certainly impressive though as a package a bit over/beyond my style, better suited for those with bigger needs than your's truly. A simple stick Civic or even a low-ball Accord would have sufficed for the work week commute, saving my mule Toyota Pickup for outings to the dez.
Then there's the two wheel question - gotta be the company man, after all! Enduro-ize a CR250? Low estimates for the conversion-only clad the way I like-em: $1500, with the high coming in at $2500 for the deluxe, fully-shod version. Ouch. An alternative would have been with a higher
maintenance albeit lower initial outlay CRF250X (alphabet soup!) Although the latter truly doesn't have a heart for the desert; mountains? perhaps.
In the end they made the decisions easy.
The advertisement requested a civil engineer, but others diciplines would be considered. I thought it was a long shop, but my wife encouraged me to apply. And lo and behold, they showed interest.
Now for the drama: The initial interview in Torrance.
It was a group format where it was four of them verses me, and though my experiences with this format are sour it went quite well - perhaps they have been watching the Apprentice and decided to tone it down a bit? The one doing the most talking was the plant manager, another the lead of Facilities Maintenance, and two from Human Resources - and one of those looked like a Japanese national though spoke very good English (or American, for Marcus.)
It started off with a presentation of who they are and where the work site would be, at the proving grounds in Cantil, between Mojave and Ridgecrest. Wow - can you say an opportunity of a lifetime? I recognized a dry lake bed on the photo and impressed the plant manager by recalling its name (Koehn). He went and explained the different testing tracks and areas. It has a full-service garage, car wash, gas station; and is self-contained from an infrastructure standpoint other than electricity. Impressive.
They each took turns at asking me questions, of which most were answered satisfactorily from what I could tell. One remarkable question was when the HR guy asked what I know about Honda. One small part of my reply was re: the Acura NSX being the first mass-produced sports car I liked. He asked what I liked about it to which I said the package, especially having *not* an overwhelming, high-HP engine (a la Ford GT), six-speed trans, and, oh: the sheet metal (aluminum, in reality) - very Le Mans like - I preferred it over a
Ferrari! (gimme one in red.) Someone mentioned motorcycles, and the plant manager asked me about dirt bikes - he had to know what exact displacement, model, year and make I owned, all the while during this exchange he had
this grin - was he a rider or involved in riding? Additionally he asked what autos I owned, and again the exact models. Finally I remember being asked if I work on my own things and of course the answer was yes, then they asked what, so I answered brakes, routine maintenance, etc.
After the question session I had an opportunity to ask mine, which lasted about as long as there's, to a similar depth.
At the close a benefit summary was given, and I thanked them for the interview, looking forward to meeting again for the next stage.
Well I must of done okay as they asked me back for a second interview a few weeks later:
We left San Luis after 7am, and stopped in Tehachapi to get a local paper and some misc. makeup for me. Yes, me! My wife gives me a minor makeover to subtract a few years from my aged appearance. Normally I wouldn't let her touch me with that stuff, but I am willing to go through the minor humiliation to gain any advantage over any other candidates.
We then made our way to the Jawbone Visitor Center and parked, going inside to say hello to the volunteers and rangers @ my wife's request. The lady at the counter was happy for me and wished me well; she knew the Honda plant manager and some others who donated time and goods for the upcoming Moose Anderson Days (April 30 - May 1) where they cleanup the Jawbone Canyon area with volunteers like you and me and friends.
The lady said I could change into my interview clothing using their change/rest room, and after donning my power gear my wife fixed my face and hands up real purdy for the interview.
Getting through the first gate of the facility was no problem, and after a mile or so we came to the guard shack; they were expecting me and told us where to park, and to go into the lobby.
The maintenance lead-supervisor came out to greet me, and with that I was escorted into a large conference room. After some chat about the weather we were joined by the site manager.
They had 8-10 behavioral questions for me, and then when it came to my time to ask; I did not have any to speak of, since I used those up a few weeks ago and have already made up my mind of what I wanted to do. As it turns out the reason why the plant manager had a smile on his face when he
asked me about my bikes is that he is a former rider; the XR600R on permanent display at the Jawbone Visitor Center was his! But I do no think he is that much into it as he thought it was a 500.
At the conclusion of the interview they took me for a walk within and around of the main buildings. We went through a low-partitioned office bay, then outside to a car wash, gas station with overhang, a (electrical) switchgear building, nine or so fuel tanks (gasoline types from around the world?) - including one for euro-car diesel, an array of tires and wheels,
some vehicles I have never seen before (nothing exotic, just different and foreign), and a high-bay area with auto lifts, and a cafeteria. There was one building I did not go into nor see much of other than the metallic siding; secret stuff contained within?
Just as we were rounding the building wifey comes by and says she needed to use the rest room. I introduced her to the two gentlemen, and she told one in particular not to worry: she was born nearby - he went to the same high school but thought she was much younger than he.
We ended up at the same conference room, and asked why I wanted the job. I told them it was a good match, between the philosophy of Honda and my own - it would be mutually beneficial, and my general enthusiasm about helping
bring a quality product to the public.
The plant manager said it would be two or three weeks before I hear from them - oh the suspense! But I'm learning that's their way, not to show their cards. When asked if this was the last series of interviews or if there were more, he said it may or may not be...
They called me today to say they went with another candidate. I'm not terribly disappointed although it did sound like a reasonable position, besides the benefits, plus an opportunity to move beyond the typical industries I've been involved with in my career.
Speaking of benefits, up to today I could not (presumptuously, after all) decide whether I wanted their new pickup or not; they come well loaded - 4wd, 4 full doors/passenger compatible, certainly impressive though as a package a bit over/beyond my style, better suited for those with bigger needs than your's truly. A simple stick Civic or even a low-ball Accord would have sufficed for the work week commute, saving my mule Toyota Pickup for outings to the dez.
Then there's the two wheel question - gotta be the company man, after all! Enduro-ize a CR250? Low estimates for the conversion-only clad the way I like-em: $1500, with the high coming in at $2500 for the deluxe, fully-shod version. Ouch. An alternative would have been with a higher
maintenance albeit lower initial outlay CRF250X (alphabet soup!) Although the latter truly doesn't have a heart for the desert; mountains? perhaps.
In the end they made the decisions easy.
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