FLDP (Financial Leadership Development Program) Interview

[brownsuga1]

Hope everyone is well. I was wondering if anyone had any experiences of having an interview with a company regarding their FLDP Program.

I have one coming up with an aerospace/defense company and was wondering if anyone had any advice or actual hands on experience. What kind of questions should I expect?

This is the second and last phase of the process. It's a two day thing at their headquarters and I'm not sure what to expect. Any advice would help. Thanks a bunch.

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

Which company is this?

Booze Allen, Boeing, Lockheed, Raytheonn, SAIC?



This sounds like the private sectors equivalent of the Federal Career Intern Programs. If so, I've been through a couple.

 

[brownsuga1]

It's for BAE Systems.

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

Is it a panel interview or one on one?



Regardless, I have interviewed with a lot of defense contractors and Government agencies. GSA, DLA, DCMA, FEMA......CACI, Deloitte, Spectrum, Northrop.



It is usually the standard 8-10 open ended questions.


"Tell me about a time you were forced to stop working on something and complete an urgent task?"

"Tell me about a time you overcame a conflict that was encountered on the job?"

"Tell me about a time you had to plan and complete a large scale project?"



There is usually some brief introduction period where you can state where you went school and what you have been doing up to this point.



Definitely do some research on BAE Systems. Know some of the contracts they hold and who some of their customers are so you can make small talk with your interviewers and come off as genuinely interested/informed. Ask a few questions at the end about the position and scope of your work/duties/etc. Don't ask questions about salary and the hours or flexibility in schedule.


If you have gotten this far they usually already deem you a qualified candidate, this is more of a formality and personality test to see how you are to work with.



Congrats and good luck.

 

[brownsuga1]

I appreciate the advice, really some good info you posted. I was just wondering, are there any technical questions they've asked at these interviews? i'm pretty comfortable with the behaviorial type questions but was worried a little about technical questions.

 

[jesusshuttlesworth34]

I appreciate the advice, really some good info you posted. I was just wondering, are there any technical questions they've asked at these interviews? i'm pretty comfortable with the behaviorial type questions but was worried a little about technical questions.

Whatever job or position I was inerviewing for usually had most of the technical areas listed in the position description. Any skills, systems or specific task that were required......I would make sure I was familiar with them if I hadn't done them at previous jobs.


My first Intern Program Interview I went into was when I was fresh out of college. I had no idea about the world of Government Contracts and didn't really understand what DLA did or how they operated, and this was after doing research on them. They didn't ask me anything too technical, it was more of a Q&A on what the position was, what I would be doing and if I were interested in that line of work.


I made sure I could relate to the interviewer and still came across as an intelligent person who could get up to speed rather quickly.


Don't overthink yourself and get too worked up. I do interviews now and some people just talk themselves out of a job or seem to overprepare and are too desperate. Confidence is a good thing.

 

[antidope]

I had one of these for Kellogg at their headquarters in Battle Creek. It wasnt that bad honestly. If its anything like mine theyre going to send someone from the program down to talk to you for a while and ask you a few questions, his sole purpose seems to be determining whether or not the rest of the team will like you and if you will be a good fit. Then comes the actual interview, mine was actually a bit different; I had to create a powerpoint presentation to convince them why they should hire me as opposed to the other people who interviewed for the group. Panel interviews in general are not my thing I do not like them, the powerpoint made it a bit easier though. At the end they will stay around and let you ask a few questions and from there on standard interview procedures apply. I had zero technical questions whatsoever, they never seem to be included in panel interviews IDK why, therye just way more focused on the behavioral ones from my experience interviewing.

The thing I will say about these kinds of programs is that the interview process isnt the same as an interview for a sole position where they have no set track for you. They want to you to show leadership qualities above all else, because in three years time, they expect you to be in charge of a group of people which is the point of the program in the first place. That wasnt something that honestly dawned on me until later, I did not get the job at Kelloggs.

Honestly I wanted to work there it was so dope, when I was there, I saw a guy running around the building in the sugar smacks frog costume and there was this extremely cute girl who was interviewing for one of the spots and I'm sure she got it cause I saw how the director of finance was looking at her.

One thing I will tell you that I tell anyone who has questions about this sort of thing is to not underestimate good interview skills, they will make or break you and thats the honest truth. My interview skills are honestly terrible and its cost me so many jobs that I have wanted.