case study-an interview with shell oil company
the shell oil company is well known for its human resource assessment methodology, which has proven successful in the identification and selection of candidates for its global operations. its approach and assessment criteria have been adopted by some government agencies for selecting scholars and public officials. while it is not a financial institution, the experience documented below is the first-hand real life experience of one of the authors that has applicability and relevance on interviewing with global financial institutions.
case study-the shell oil company interview experience
殼牌石油公司以其人事評估方法著稱，該方法成功地爲其在全世界的機構選拔了大量優秀人才。它的方法和評估標準已經被全世界很多政府機構採用，以選擇獎學金得主和政府官員。儘管它不屬於金融機構，但以下案例是本書作者之一的親身經歷，相信對參加金融機構應聘的人士，也是有所裨益的。
案例分析——殼牌石油公司 面試 經歷
the second largest global oil giant and a fortune 500 company, shell is known for its stringent selection criteria when it comes to executive hiring. the interview process of this world-class company is very thorough and demands a lot out of a candidate. the whole experience is exhausting (it lasts approximately 6 hours including lunch) and one has to be very well prepared mentally to perform well.
the setting is as such: the candidate, along with 5-6 other short-listed candidates, is invited to a local hotel/resort/country club for a day. the panel that will be interviewing you consists of senior managers from different divisions of the company.
one point to note for perspective: through this thorough interview process, the company seeks to employ candidates who can eventually progress to a general management position in one of the company’s numerous divisions. the various stages of the long process include:
作爲全球第二大石油公司和財富500強企業，殼牌公司在挑選人才方面極爲嚴格。這個世界級大公司的 面試 過程非常全面、非常挑剔。整個過程是很耗費精力的(包括午飯大約需要6個小時)，你必須作好心理準備，爭取良好表現。
整個“佈景”是：你和其他幾個經過篩選的候選人一同受邀去當地的飯店/風景區/鄉村俱樂部過一天。即將 面試 你們的面試評審團成員包括公司各部門進階經理。
要注意一個前提：公司需要招募的是一個最後能晉升到部門經理的人選。冗長的面試過程具體如下：
1. panel interview. candidates are first put through an interview regarding one''s personal and education background, career objectives, achievements, extra curricular activities, etc. the panel usually consists of senior management from different divisions of the company. some of the questions asked featured in the “frequently asked questions?section above.
2. panel discussion cadidates discuss with the rest of the short listed candidates. the human resource personnel will normally chair this session. topics are typically general in nature and the key here is to assess how each candidate engages in the discussion process, how nimble is their thought process and their grasp of current issues outside of the normal textbook environment. (keeping silent and not engaging in the process would be an absolute disaster)
3. lunch with the interviewers. though a free lunch, it comes with a purpose. this session is used to gauge the social and dinning etiquette of a candidate. how he behaves, conducts conversions over lunch, and the obvious table manners. try not to slurp loudly and stuff yourself too full, as the afternoon sessions are even more demanding and a full stomach will only dull your thought process.
4. presentation to interviewers and rest of candidates. one is asked to give a short 5 minutes speech/presentation on a topic of one’s choice, and to take some questions following that. (there will definitely be some from the interviewers). the purpose of this is to test your presentation skills and presence.
1. 面試小組面試：首輪面試將包括對應聘者的個人資料、教育背景、職業目標、已有成就、社會活動經歷等的瞭解。面試人員是來自公司各部門的進階經理，面試問題多爲前面章節的'“面試常見問題”。
2. 集體討論：和其他侯選人一起進行集體討論。通常由人事部門人員主持，討論話題一般比較普通，關鍵是評判應聘者參與小組討論的能力，看他們如何脫離書本、抓住問題的核心、靈活進行思考。(保持沉默或不積極參與絕對是個下策)。
3. 和麪試人員午餐：看似一頓輕鬆自由的午餐，其實是用來評估應聘者的社交禮儀和餐桌禮節。觀察他用餐時的舉止以及在餐桌上交談的禮節。 用餐時切記不可發出很大聲響或者吃得過飽。下午的面試回合要求會更高，吃得過飽會讓你反應遲鈍。
4. 向面試人員自我陳述：應聘者被要求對自選的題目做大約5分鐘的演講/陳述，之後接受面試評審團或其他面試者的提問。(其中大部分問題由面試官提出。)考察的是應聘者的陳述能力和風度。
5. in-tray exercise. candidate is sited behind a desk and asked to review various memos, e-mails that are in his in-tray. issues cut across the various functions, marketing, sales, finance, audit, control and human resource. the candidates were asked how they would act and why in every one of the highlighted issues. it is a vigorous and demanding exercise. they focus on how you react under the different circumstances, the decisions made on every issue and your thought process when arriving at the decision. they do not expect the candidates to have full understanding of the various operations, thus it is also a test of how one copes under pressure and in new/unfamiliar situations. (this exercise displays the “helicopter”qualities of the person, whether he has the maturity and qualities to make a good manager)
6. cocktails. top management would typically join the candidates and the interviewers for cocktails at the end of the day. though it is a time to finally relax and get to know each one better, it is also an excellent opportunity to reinforce one''s strengths and qualities. this is the best opportunity to make an impression on top management, thus prepare the right questions and be ready to engage.
given that only the most highly qualified graduates are short listed for shell’s job interviews, the company, by carrying out the above intensive interview process, aims to select the candidates who clearly stand out amongst the group. candidates who are further short-listed after this process will still have to go through more interviews before being hired.
5. 實際業務演練：要求應聘者瀏覽內容五花八門的會議記錄和電子郵件，涉及市場、銷售、財務、審計、管理和人事。應聘者必須作出迴應，並告知評判人員理由。這是要求很高的測試。主要考察應聘者在不同環境下，如何處理問題、作出決策。面試官並不期望應聘者能夠完全理解自己面臨的問題，所以這也可以考驗應聘者在新的或者不熟悉的環境下如何揹負壓力進行工作。(該測試考驗應聘者處於“懸空狀態”時的工作能力。看他是否成熟，是否具備成爲一個優秀管理人才的素質。)
6. 雞尾酒會：在這一天即將結束時，高層管理人員會和麪試人選一起參加雞尾酒會。雖然經過了緊張的一天，你需要放鬆一下，並加深彼此的瞭解，但別忘了這也是強化你個人優勢和資質的大好機會。而且你也可以藉此機會，讓高層管理人員對你留下好印象，所以準備好合適的問題，適時發問。
以上案例分析只是針對經過篩選、已入圍的應聘者。殼牌石油公司希望透過如此精挑細選的面試，選拔出真正的佼佼者。透過這輪選拔的應聘者在被錄用之前還要進行更高要求的篩選。