Merck Beyond the Job Description – West Point
Interviews for Top Jobs at West Point
Financial Professional Interview
The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at West Point (Indianapolis, IN) in Nov 2011
Interview
I applied through my school’s career services website and they contacted me for an interview. They have great hiring managers. They really try to get to know you and see if you will fit with the company and the position. It’s very much a two-way street.
- Are you comfortable talking on the phone?
Administrative Interview
I applied online. The process took 4 months. I interviewed at West Point
Interview
It was a brief process asking background questions and typical interview questions. Nothing out of left field. However, the position described did not work out to be as described.
- Typical
Assistant Track Coach Interview
I applied through an employee referral. I interviewed at West Point
Interview
Job Interviews by Sports Supervisor, Head Coach and Team Captains followed by interviews by the Strength and Conditioning Coach and Master Of the Sword (Head of the Department of Physical Development)
- Sports Philosophy Questions
Interviews for Top Jobs at Merck
Global Data Operation Interview
I applied online. I interviewed at Merck (West Point, PA) in Dec 2020
Interview
Interview with 2 people from the department, very friendly and no technical questions. One person mainly asked the questions and the other supervised. Interview lasted for around 30 minutes. Received offer letter in a month.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Project Specialist Interview
I applied through a recruiter. The process took 5 days. I interviewed at Merck (West Point, PA) in Oct 2021
Interview
The process overall was convenient and quick. I was really hopeful and excited at first. Working at Merck would be a dream come true to me. Had a phone interview and a few days later I got a second and final interview. Some more in-depth questions were asked during the final interview, but overall it was a standard interview. One down side was my interviewer firmly told m he would get back to me mid next week after interviewing other candidates but never got back. He gave me specifics on the hiring process and said he anticipated for me to start early in November. I prefer for someone to say they will be in touch but not give a specific time if they don’t follow-through. I understand they have other many things to worry about besides me but my time valueable too. Not being transparent with people even if there is no interest in the candidate at all is unethical and unprofessional. What a company permits they promote.
- Tell me about your background?
West Point Admissions Interview Questions – Rating Criteria
Candidates are rated on a scale of 1 (strongly agree) to 5 (disagree strongly).
Candidates will be evaluated throughout the interview in the following areas:
- Full and intended to engage/inform the interviewer? Or, brief and hoping to get through the interview?
- Good handshake/greeting? Did the interviewer get the sense that the candidate wanted to be there and to impress?
Learn How To Prepare For Interviews
Army officers are going to be put in situations where there will be adversity and challenges. Officers must have “grit” and resilience to overcome challenges and come out stronger on the other side. America’s soldiers count on their officers to be able to lead them through challenges.
The idea of “grit” was developed by Angela Duckworth and outlined in her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (year). She collected data on over 11,000 cadets at West Point to determine cadets’ “grit” scale and whether this predicted success at West Point. She found that the higher the grit, the more likely the cadet would graduate. This question gets at this idea of grit.
Typical Question: Can you give me an example of when you had too much to do and were under pressure? How did you react? How did you resolve the conflicts in your schedule? How did you establish priorities for your efforts?
Sample above average answer: Yes, I can. I really got in over my head spring of my junior year. I was taking mostly IB classes, playing soccer, and working two evenings a week. My grades began to suffer and I was not sleeping enough. I felt out of control. So, I stepped back and asked myself what was important to me. The answer was my family and school since they would determine my future. So, I gave up soccer and talked to my boss about working only on Saturdays. Then I cut out wasted time watching TV and closed down my Facebook account to make the most of the time I scheduled to study. It was a great experience. It helped me figure out what is really important to me, gave me some tools to use when I need to re-orient my priorities, and gave me some good study habits for when I go away to college.
West Point interview questions will center on the following areas:
The path to an Army officer’s commission through West Point is challenging. A cadet has to complete a rigorous undergraduate program while they are learning the distinctly military elements of their chosen career. Success takes drive and motivation. Candidates for West Point need to understand why they are making the commitment to serve their country. These questions attempt to get at how much legwork the applicant did ahead of time to learn about West Point and the Army and what life would be like as an officer in the United States Army.
Typical Question: Why do you want to be an Army officer?
Sample above average answer: I believe that American values and our way of life are worth fighting for. One of the finest ways one can demonstrate this commitment is by becoming an officer in the United States Army. This commitment is not something to be taken lightly and I needed to explore what the duties and responsibilities of both a cadet and a lieutenant were. I had a plan.
I visited the Somerset Army National Guard unit near my home in New Jersey. There, I was introduced to a group of officers, non-commissioned officers, and ROTC cadets. I learned from my visit that officers lead by example and need to take care of their soldiers. Non-commissioned officers are the “backbone” of the Army and it is important that new lieutenants learn from their sergeants.
Once I become a lieutenant, I hope to deploy overseas. An important aspect is to understand the local culture in the execution of my duties as an officer. I hope that my intended major of international relations helps me gain a deeper understanding of the people I will be interacting with overseas.
Overall, through my experience in visiting a National Guard unit and talking to current Army officers, I understand what it takes to be an Army officer and I am prepared for this challenge.
FAQ
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