*The definitive Territory Manager panel interview guide (final step)*
I didn't get the job - but I'm not bitter. I'm here to help you get it!
about 95% of people are cut prior to the final panel interview, so if you make it that far,
that's where the end of the road is. Don't make the mistakes I did- mainly, listening to the recruiters.
Applied online, completed questionnaire, phone interview, webcam interview (5 questions),
Day on The Trade (Ride along with current TM III & a District Manager.)
If you do well on all of these, they will contact you to setup a panel interview.
They will fly you to a panel interview. The week or so before your trip, you will have a coaching call with a recruiter. About 1/2 of the things the recruiter told me to do were a complete waste of time. For example - He said to prepare 6 resumes to provide @ the panel interview. This was unnecessary, they all already had my resume. He said to come up with 6 industry/market-related, thought provoking questions (not questions about the position, the company culture, or anything related to the job - Even the questions you find online that say "Ask These To Wow An Interviewer!!!"). I asked an Industry-related question @ the end of the interview & they looked @ me like I was out of my mind. The recruiter can definitely give you SOME tips - I'm just saying, they really have no idea how the panel interviews go... you know why??? They've NEVER BEEN TO ONE @ RJ REYNOLDS.
They will pay for your flight & hotel. They host panels in major cities every week. This is a super-easy job...There's just alot of responsibility that goes with the position, like 1) getting up & going to work everyday even though no one is making you; 2) maintaining a company vehicle & credit card; & 3) actually doing what you're supposed to be doing. So they have to make sure you are someone they can trust. At my panel interview, there were even 2 ex-NFL players interviewing. Everyone wants this job because it starts @ approx. $44,600 @ entry level. There are ALOT of people trying to get these jobs.
When you get to the city, you won't do anything the first day. Your interview will be in the morning on day 2. You & another candidate will meet a host, probably in the lobby of the hotel you are staying in, & the host will take you to a conference room in the hotel. The host will explain that there are 2 rooms, with 2 RJ employees in each room to interview you. Each candidate will visit one of the rooms for approx. 45 min, & then switch.
Room #1 focuses on 3 of the leadership dimensions - Strategy development, driving execution, & leading change. Now all of the panels are different, but my room #1 did not give any chance to introduce myself. They didnt start with the standard, "Tell me about yourself." They went straight into the behavioral questions. Things that don't even apply to this job. This room will call you out if something you say is contradictory, or if they disagree with you. At the end they may basically act like "Ok it's time for you to get up & go to the other room." You will have to speak up and provide a closing about why you want to work there, why you want to be a part of transforming tobacco, etc etc.
They never really MAKE you get up & go, so you can keep talking as much as you want.
Room # 2 focuses on the other 3 dimensions - credibility, trust, talent development.These questions are somewhat easier, just based on the sheer nature of the topics. Obviously they want specifics answered in the STAR format (Situation, Target, Action, Result.)
After you finish both rooms, you will meet back with the host, who will tell you that they will contact you within 48 hours to make an offer (phone call from recruiter) or give you the ol' "best of luck in your future endeavors" (email).
If you have no experience in tobacco, be ready to explain why you are "all of a sudden" passionate about working in the tobacco industry, & why you just recently developed that passion.
They want someone who they can trust to stay in the position for 4-6 years. Someone that they are sure will get up & go manage the stores in the territory every day. They didn't ask me or the candidate I was with any questions about mobility, family, to sell a pen, nothing like that...
