So, I'm getting an internship - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SiNai · 10-14-2004, 07:31 PM

Okay, full story I suppose:

A few weeks ago, I got an email that State Farm will be here (my university) to give a presentation on the night before the Career Fair. Now, prior to this, I was planning on going to the Career Fair and possibly talking about what to take, make a few connections, get some pointers, etc. Well, I go to the presentation and ask a few questions about my major, resume, State Farm's internship system, etc..

So, on Career Fair day, I talk with them again, and they decided they were willing to interview me the next day. This is more than I expected, awesome, but I was unprepared for this.. I hadn't even brought up nice clothes except for two shirts and two ties that I had found at bargain price at the JC Penny's back at home. I fix a few things on the resume, tomorrow rolls around.. I wear my other set of dress clothes..

The interview goes pretty well, there were about 1000 questions, but I at least had an answer for them all. I was informed that after a few weeks, they would pick a few people and lead them around corporate in what they called a "Campus Day". Well, I didn't think it was going to pan out.. Side story here: I had wanted to foreign exchange to New Zealand this spring, and wasn't really waiting on State Farm. So.. I keep doing my paperwork for this..

Then just 3 or 4 days ago, I get an email from them, telling me that they wanted to come on over for Campus Day, that they were planning on putting me up at the Radisson no less for the night, taking me out to eat to talk about State Farm the night before, letting me tour the town, and most importantly: interviewing with Systems.

Soooo.. I'm wondering what to expect. The first interview was with their HR department. The programming that I will be doing, to my knowledge, is in Java, but mostly they will train me on site. I know Java fairly well, but haven't used it in a while. Should I brush up? Refresh myself with the terminology of Java/OOP? My position while I intern is called "Systems Analyst", but I don't even really know what this means.

One thing I have done is bought some new dress clothes

I now have an expensive suit..

Anyways! Give me advice!

SiNai · 10-14-2004, 07:34 PM

Oh, also, do you think I'm pretty much in? Should I worry about not getting it, even though they are going through all this with me?

schnable · 10-14-2004, 09:18 PM

Sounds like your foot is firmly wedged in the door. One thing you may want to be prepared for is a written quiz on programming. This is very common for programmer jobs, I'm not exactly sure was "system analyst" means these days.

Where I used to intern, programming was primarily in C++ and they made me reverse a character array on paper during the onsite interview. If you know you going to be programming in Java, there probably won't be a question like this, but if your not sure you may want to prepare. This is a VERY common test question for job interviews.

This same company later made a more elaborate test with some object-oriented questions involving inheritence, function overriding, etc. This would be more applicable to java.

Also, be prepared to sound knowledgable on technical issues. And don't be afraid to ask questions about their systems, if you sound liek you know what you're talking about and are interested in learning, this is a good thing.

Anyway, it sounds like they like you. You just need to make a final impression. good luck!

SiNai · 10-15-2004, 01:39 PM

Thanks for the advice! I am trying to look through my Java books to refresh my memory on syntax, it's going pretty well.. Anyone else?

SiNai · 10-24-2004, 04:18 PM

I think it went pretty well.

I was interviewed by two of the Systems managers, who definitely wanted to know more about my so-called "soft" skills rather than coding knowledge- like, how I solve a problem. They asked me 8 questions, and I had at least a decent answer for every one. One question, "Tell us what you know about our company".. I could tell them the current CEO, founder, amt of people who work there, and mission statement.. but still felt lacking. Live and learn I guess, next time I will research the company more I suppose..

As for questions, I thought of a few good ones and managed to allow them to brag about their company for a while, seemed like they enjoyed that enough

Anyway, I learn next week how much of an impression I made, but I have a feeling that I probably made it! Thanks for the advice, my one reply..

DDDDave · 10-24-2004, 08:01 PM

Congrats man....

Let us know if you end up getting the job.

10-14-2004, 07:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
SiNai Dreams In Digital Location: Iowa	So, I'm getting an internship Okay, full story I suppose: A few weeks ago, I got an email that State Farm will be here (my university) to give a presentation on the night before the Career Fair. Now, prior to this, I was planning on going to the Career Fair and possibly talking about what to take, make a few connections, get some pointers, etc. Well, I go to the presentation and ask a few questions about my major, resume, State Farm's internship system, etc.. So, on Career Fair day, I talk with them again, and they decided they were willing to interview me the next day. This is more than I expected, awesome, but I was unprepared for this.. I hadn't even brought up nice clothes except for two shirts and two ties that I had found at bargain price at the JC Penny's back at home. I fix a few things on the resume, tomorrow rolls around.. I wear my other set of dress clothes.. The interview goes pretty well, there were about 1000 questions, but I at least had an answer for them all. I was informed that after a few weeks, they would pick a few people and lead them around corporate in what they called a "Campus Day". Well, I didn't think it was going to pan out.. Side story here: I had wanted to foreign exchange to New Zealand this spring, and wasn't really waiting on State Farm. So.. I keep doing my paperwork for this.. Then just 3 or 4 days ago, I get an email from them, telling me that they wanted to come on over for Campus Day, that they were planning on putting me up at the Radisson no less for the night, taking me out to eat to talk about State Farm the night before, letting me tour the town, and most importantly: interviewing with Systems. Soooo.. I'm wondering what to expect. The first interview was with their HR department. The programming that I will be doing, to my knowledge, is in Java, but mostly they will train me on site. I know Java fairly well, but haven't used it in a while. Should I brush up? Refresh myself with the terminology of Java/OOP? My position while I intern is called "Systems Analyst", but I don't even really know what this means. One thing I have done is bought some new dress clothes I now have an expensive suit.. Anyways! Give me advice! __________________ I can't seem to remember now What it was like- to live life, before you.. symbiont

10-14-2004, 07:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
SiNai Dreams In Digital Location: Iowa	Oh, also, do you think I'm pretty much in? Should I worry about not getting it, even though they are going through all this with me? __________________ I can't seem to remember now What it was like- to live life, before you.. symbiont

10-15-2004, 01:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
SiNai Dreams In Digital Location: Iowa	Thanks for the advice! I am trying to look through my Java books to refresh my memory on syntax, it's going pretty well.. Anyone else? __________________ I can't seem to remember now What it was like- to live life, before you.. symbiont

10-24-2004, 04:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
SiNai Dreams In Digital Location: Iowa	I think it went pretty well. I was interviewed by two of the Systems managers, who definitely wanted to know more about my so-called "soft" skills rather than coding knowledge- like, how I solve a problem. They asked me 8 questions, and I had at least a decent answer for every one. One question, "Tell us what you know about our company".. I could tell them the current CEO, founder, amt of people who work there, and mission statement.. but still felt lacking. Live and learn I guess, next time I will research the company more I suppose.. As for questions, I thought of a few good ones and managed to allow them to brag about their company for a while, seemed like they enjoyed that enough Anyway, I learn next week how much of an impression I made, but I have a feeling that I probably made it! Thanks for the advice, my one reply.. __________________ I can't seem to remember now What it was like- to live life, before you.. symbiont

10-24-2004, 08:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
DDDDave Addict Location: Sarasota	Congrats man.... Let us know if you end up getting the job. __________________ I am just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe... "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." - Thoreau "Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm" - Emerson

10-14-2004, 09:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
schnable Upright	Sounds like your foot is firmly wedged in the door. One thing you may want to be prepared for is a written quiz on programming. This is very common for programmer jobs, I'm not exactly sure was "system analyst" means these days. Where I used to intern, programming was primarily in C++ and they made me reverse a character array on paper during the onsite interview. If you know you going to be programming in Java, there probably won't be a question like this, but if your not sure you may want to prepare. This is a VERY common test question for job interviews. This same company later made a more elaborate test with some object-oriented questions involving inheritence, function overriding, etc. This would be more applicable to java. Also, be prepared to sound knowledgable on technical issues. And don't be afraid to ask questions about their systems, if you sound liek you know what you're talking about and are interested in learning, this is a good thing. Anyway, it sounds like they like you. You just need to make a final impression. good luck!