After a successful half hour interview I was invited to attend the final interview. They paid for a round trip ticket (Southwest or Delta), hotel (Marriott Courtyard), taxi ($50), and meal ($35).
The shuttle (really a minivan taxi) takes you and the other candidates to the Headquarters which is literally 2 minutes away. It is a good idea to introduce yourself to the other candidates applying for your position in the hotel lobby or in the taxi because you will be with half of them for a large portion of the day. Once we arrived there were others who we met in the hallway that took the earlier shuttle over or were local candidates who drove there themselves.
At this point 2 hosts come out to greet you, one for the Associate adjusters and one for the Associate managers. Then you check in with security (think about how to hang your ID beforehand). They take you up to drop off your luggage in a random cubicle.
You walk outside to the basic cafeteria for drink and food. The host will then sit with the group and start by saying that she has no influence on the decision (don't trust him/her when they say this!). The host will ask you some personal type questions like "What shows do you watch on TV", "What sports teams do you like", "What are your plans for the weekend", "Where did you eat last night", etc.
We were taken to the training room and talked to a few who were in the program. This time is irrelevant to the hiring process.
After this they take you to speak with 2 execs (20+ yrs exp) and 1 mid manager (~10 yrs exp). The final interviews consist of three 40 minute interviews or three 30 minutes for the Associate Adjuster. This is really your time to shine - this is the moment where you need to put all your EFFORT into it - especially with the 2 senior execs; it is their decisions alone that decide if you get hired.
Only the mid level exec asked me the typical behavioral questions. One executive was as an introvert and the other an extrovert. They are looking for pure extroverts. I blew it with the extrovert because he started off talking about hunting, fishing, and dogs (sorry can't relate). He talked a lot about himself in long monologues. It appeared that he wanted me to cut in with my own monologues about myself, but I was too polite to do so. He asked about high school, extra curriculars, etc. He didn't care much about my actual accomplishments and internal drivers - he was just looking for someone that he wouldn't mind hanging out with later.
The introvert really did his homework by studying my application, resume, and 1st interview. The other candidates thought they were tough questions, but I really appreciated this because they end up asking some really great, in depth, thoughtful questions that no one else has asked me on an interview before.
Try to fake smile a lot, pretend to be cool like a frat boy, sit up straight (they will judge you on all types of little things even though they pretend to be friendly), laugh, tell jokes, be witty. Ask them about themselves not the company.
Between interviews they take you to a couch and coffee table area where you need to show off your mingle skills. Yes, they will judge you on your mingle skills.
They don't really you with super hard questions; they are judging you mainly on people skills than the answers you give. The whole interview process seemed superficial. They just wanted selfish people that love to talk. They want you to say that external drivers influence your decision to want to work there. It did seem like a lot of shallow people in that place who hide behind smiles and hellos, it fools some people but I see straight through it. However on the flip side there were a lot of great, intelligent, more balanced people who I'd love to be my mentor there. It does seem like this place lacks a soul and heart. It doesn’t seem at the top especially, anyone has an internal spiritual inclination in the slightest at this place.
The interviews ran a little over, and we were hurried to the restaurant on the top floor with a beautiful view next to the boardroom. Make sure to order only a $5 entree and water or you will be judged negatively.
Then we picked up our luggage met the other group and took the shuttle back to the airport. By this time you are really friendly with the others in the group. The place was pretty with nice buildings and views and cubicles. You leave feeling good about the place, but I realize now that it's all just a facade.
The president of Bryant University is a board member here. Amica owns the career center at Bryant. It is a huge feeder school.
Your chances of getting hired: There were about 18 people in the training class, they train 3 times per year, and interview about 3 candidates per week. I'd say unscientifically you have about a 50/50 shot of being hired at the final interview. Even less if you are not from Bryant or don't have an employee referral.
