Recruitment Advice From HR Manager

by Sophie Overstreet

January 23, 2022

The search for internships and jobs is still ongoing for many SWE members. With covid changing the way students are hired, this process can be stressful. Whether you're looking for a summer internship, co-op, job, or want to see a behind-the-scenes look at the recruiting process, this is the place for you! I had the chance to talk with Haleigh McPeek. She is an HR Manager at IDEX Corporation, a Fortune 500 company.

To start with, let’s demystify the process. What are the typical steps of the interview process and their purpose?

1. Round One Interview

This interview is typically done with the initial recruiter. They can be from inside or outside of the company, and the goal of the call is to make sure you meet the basic requirements for the job.

“If you get on a call with an initial recruiter, think about them as a gatekeeper. They are trying to get the basic information from candidates to pass you along with the next steps of the interview process.”

1. Round Two Interview

The second interview will typically be done with the hiring manager. It will focus on your ability to do the job and determine if you’re a good cultural fit for the company.

“If it’s the Hiring manager…it’s more so technical ability strain and then also culture.”

During this process, it’s important to remember that while the company is evaluating you, you should be evaluating it. Is this the type of culture I’m looking for? How are employees treated? One way to do this is doing your online research (public website, LinkedIn, Glassdoor) before meeting with the company. You can then verify what the company stands for while talking to people within the organization. This is McPeek’s advice for determining if a company is a right fit for you.

“As you go further in, you can get a clearer picture [of the culture]... A great place to get a feel for it is… meeting with the team or others [within the organization]. You can always ask for that.”

McPeek emphasized the importance of learning about the company during the interview process. “Always ask questions.” It can be seen as a red flag otherwise, and it shows you’ve done your homework on the company. “As a recruiter, it is more concerning if someone doesn’t ask questions.”

Some students have other considerations when determining if a company is a good fit. If you have a disability, finding a supportive workplace can be especially difficult. McPeek has dyslexia and ADHD, so she has gone through the process of evaluating if a company will support her. Here is her advice for students worried about disclosing a disability during the recruitment process.

“Understanding yourself and how you work best and asking some of those questions and if there aren’t accommodations or considerations…if people don’t think it’s not a value add, then that’s not the right company…You need to find a place that’s empowering.”

The most important thing to remember during the hiring process is your value. You have a lot to add to companies, and the interview process is a two-way street. Do your best to find a company with the right value, culture, and purpose for you.