 |
» |
|
|
|
|
Intern Advice
for HP Scholars
What is HP’s work environment like?
Work Schedule
Your work schedule should be discussed with your
manager. A standard work day is eight hours which does
not include lunchtime. As a non-exempt employee you must
comply with break and lunch requirements at your
location.
Work Attire
Work attire depends on who you interact with and your
position. In a typical research and development or
manufacturing environment employees wear a polo shirt
with jeans or khakis, or other business casual attire.
In some locations, such as a fabrication area, you may
be required to wear special garb and equipment. If you
interact with customers, or work in a sales environment,
you may wear dress slacks, a dress shirt, tie, or other
more formal business clothing.
What should I expect in relocating?
Costs
A predetermined location package will be available once
you accept your job offer.
Transportation
All HP Scholars are required to find their own method of
transportation to and from work. Find out if HP offers
discounts for public transportation near your site.
Housing Options
All HP Scholars are responsible for finding their own
housing arrangements. The three main options are: intern
shared housing, HP employee family housing, or searching
classified ads or web sites. Once an offer is accepted,
additional housing information will be forthcoming from
HP’s external relocation vendor.
Weather
Plan ahead for what the weather will be like during your
summer internship. Make sure you have the appropriate
clothing packed for the weather at work and during your
recreational pursuits.
Site / Location Information
For more information about your intern work location you
can contact the intern coordinator for that site, visit
the Chamber of Commerce and other websites about that
location, and contact current or past scholars who have
worked at that site previously.
| Possible places to intern |
Back To Top
|
Building Your
Resources
Activity 1 – Get Connected to On-Campus Resources and Networks
If you attended a summer bridge program at your
school, you’re probably already plugged into resources
and student groups on campus. Become engaged with and
participate in HP Scholar activities on your campus.
Interview older students; ask the Minority Engineering
Program staff and others for groups to get involved in.
Look for student groups like the Society of Hispanic
Engineers (SHPE), Society of Women Engineers (SWE),
National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), etc.
Identify tutoring resources and places where students
can get assistance with class work and projects. Ask for
advice about starting a study group and what workshops
are available. Find out when major career fairs take
place.
Activity 2 – Volunteer On Campus
During your freshman year, you’re probably focusing
on general education courses and are not yet heavily
into technical projects. However, there are creative
ways to use and build technical skills that will provide
great resume content. Meet with your on campus advisor
to develop ideas about what clubs, technical activities
or contests might be available. Determine if there are
ways you might help the K-12 outreach by helping them
design or update a web page, trouble shoot computers, or
teach young students how to use a computer.
Activity 3 – Practice a Phone Interview
Take advantage of mock interview sessions, even as a
freshman. Conduct a practice interview session with a
fellow scholar, your advisor, or someone from the career
counseling office. Interviewing for a professional
position may be new and intimidating. Practicing in a
more non-stressful situation will polish your skills and
ease your anxiety.
Activity 4 – Build Up Your Interviewing Confidence
Work together to practice answering typical interview
questions. Develop strong communication skills and work
to eliminate “uh, like, and you know” from your
responses. Be prepared to answer questions such as, “why
did you choose your university?” and “what’s an HP
Scholar?” You may want to discuss the difficulties in
selling yourself as a topic at one of your HP Scholar
activities.
Back To Top
|
Preparing Your
Resume
Activity 1 – Gathering Content for Your Resume
Brainstorm a list of items that should be included in
your resume. List all of your prior work experience,
education, awards and honors, special skills,
activities, etc. Don’t worry about formatting yet, just
focus on gathering your resume contents and then begin
prioritizing what should be included in the resume.
Activity 2 – Review your Academic Achievement
Make a list of specific coursework relevant to your
major. List the titles of the specific technical classes
you have completed, or anticipate completing by the time
of your internship (not the course numbers). Be sure to
include any programming languages you have experience or
exposure to. If your GPA is above 3.0 be sure to include
it.
Activity 3 – Formatting and Publishing Your Resume
Now it is time to create a real resume. A
sample resume is located on the HP Scholars
website. In addition, there are many resources available
with excellent examples, such as CollegeGrad.com/resumes.
Make sure you use simple fonts to ensure they can be
scanned. Form your resume in both Word and PDF formats
and keep it to one page. Be absolutely sure that the
addresses, phone numbers, voicemail message, and email
information is up to date, accurate, and appropriate for
business. These should all be checked daily for
potential messages from hiring managers.
Activity 4 – Resume review and posting
Take advantage of utilizing your on campus advisor or
Resume Writing Workshops at your school. The HP Scholar
Program manager will send out messages in the fall term
requesting that you submit a copy of your resume,
normally by about December 15th. Your resume will be
reviewed and you may be contacted to make edits, and or
changes. The final copy of your resume will be posted
and available to hiring managers on the internal HP
Scholar links. It will also be utilized to help market
you for potential openings throughout the HP recruiting
season. In addition, you MUST visit the
http://www.hp.com/go/jobs website to complete your
profile and post your resume there as well.
Back To Top
|
The
Job Search
Activity 1 – Enter Profile and Resume at the HP Job Website
HP Scholars must go to
http://www.hp.com/go/jobs and input their complete
profile and post their resume. Become familiar with the
features and search capabilities of this website.
Activity 2 – HP Jobs and Internships
The HP Scholar will review the
http://www.hp.com/go/jobs web site every few days.
In addition, the scholar should determine when HP
Recruiters and/or the HP Scholar Program manager will be
on-campus by contacting your HP Scholar advisor and
career center.
Activity 3 – Put Your Application In
Apply for any intern position you may have an
interest in even if you feel you may not be completely
qualified. Notify the HP Scholar Program Manager via
email listing the positions and the requisition number
you have applied for.
Activity 4 – Research HP Company Information
Gathering information about the company will help you
be prepared for an on-campus or phone interview, or an
HP presentation. The HP company web site (http://www.hp.com)
has a wealth of information. Check out HP’s Annual
Report. Learn about HP history, products, locations, and
press releases. Ask other scholars which HP
organizations they have worked for and what sort of
products and services those organizations develop. Ask
which HP locations they worked at and find out how the
different locations compare and which were their
favorites.
Activity 5 – Informational Interview
Speaking with a manager at HP helps you understand
the company better, and builds a network for you within
the company. Your fellow scholars are a great source of
potential leads. If you are seeking an informational
interview here is an example of an email request.
Hello, my name is Jane Smith:
I am an HP Scholar majoring in Electrical Engineering at
Morgan State University. One of my fellow HP Scholars
indicated that you have previously hired EE interns for
the summer in your work group. I would really enjoy
exploring what EE interns might be involved with at HP
and to learn if you know of any upcoming intern
opportunities over the phone. My resume is attached, my
email is xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx, and my phone number is
yyy-yyy-yyyy. I hope to hear from you soon.
Jane Smith
HP Scholar
Activity 6 – Thanking HP People You Meet
One of the easiest ways to leave a strong,
professional impression is to follow up with a quick
e-mail to any HP person who you meet or speak with
during your search for an internship. Here is one
example. Dear (first name of the interviewer)
I wanted to send my thanks for taking time to meet with
me. It was a beneficial interview for me, as it really
was my first experience with the professional
interviewing process. I would certainly appreciate your
feedback in terms of my performance at the interview,
areas in which I did well, and areas in which I could
improve.
Once again, thank you for your time and information.
Bill Kidd
HP Scholar
Your email and school phone
Back To Top
|
The
Interview Process
Selection Process Overview
While you’re busy studying at school, we’re busy
sending information about you to all hiring managers who
have job openings. We encourage them to contact those of
you who they’d like to interview via phone. HP managers
have been very excited about the idea of being able to
hire HP Scholars who will return to school with a
scholarship. Many are modifying their internship plans
to be able to include freshman students – HP typically
hires only students completing their junior year. You
may be contacted by a few different hiring managers from
different HP sites. Usually the process will go
something like this:
- Either a hiring manager contacts you, or you
contact a hiring manager expressing interest in
their job and they respond. The first step is simply
to make contact to see if there’s a mutual interest
and potential match between their job and your
background/interests.
- You schedule a phone interview with the hiring
manager. Send an email to Howard Templeton to let
him know the hiring manager’s name and that you’ve
got a phone interview.
- It’s VERY RARE, but a few managers might invite
you to visit the HP site for a day of interviews
(they’ll pay to fly you there and put you up in a
hotel nearby and will host you for a day to meet
their team and have additional interviews.)
- The hiring manager will make a FORMAL JOB OFFER
– probably a verbal offer via phone with salary
information etc. Then you’ll receive an official
LETTER indicating the salary you’ll be hired at,
forms to be filled out with employment information,
an EMPLOYMENT ACCEPTANCE FORM to mail back, etc.
They’ll usually indicate that they’d like you to
accept or decline the offer by a certain date. Send
an email to Howard Templeton to let him know you’ve
received a formal offer letter and whether you will
be accepting the position.
- If you’re accepting the job, call the manager
and let him/her know that you’d like to accept the
job. Fill out the acceptance forms and mail them to
the address designated.
- The site’s intern coordinator will be the person
who will have all sorts of specific information and
help regarding housing and transportation options
for the summer. You will also receive a package of
information with housing and transportation options.
Every intern has successfully worked out local
housing and transportation, so don’t sweat over that
until you’ve accepted a particular job. There are
usually options to share housing with HP employees,
other summer interns, live on-campus at a local
university, etc. A listing of HP Scholars and the
sites they will be working at also gets distributed
several times during the recruiting season to help
with potential housing matches.
On Campus Interview
You might be contacted by an HP Hiring
Manager or recruiter who will be on campus. Make
sure you write down their name, phone number,
email, the date, time, and location of the
interview. Come to the interview well prepared
including having done your research, having a
fresh copy of your resume, and also a pad and
pen to write with. Also be sure to have a couple
of questions prepared to ask the interviewer.
When the interview is complete be sure to shake
hands and thank the interviewer for their time.
Your resume and interviewer’s notes will now be
in the HP national summer internship applicant
database. Following the interview you may
receive a phone call or an email requesting to
make arrangements for a follow up interview.
The Phone Interview
Interviews of prospective interns are most
often completed by a phone interview by the
actual hiring manager or their designate. There
will likely be an initial communication to set
up the time for the extended phone interview
either through phone or email. This means you
must be sure that you always answer the phone in
a professional manner, and that your voicemail
greeting and instructions are both appropriately
professional and clear. Be sure to respond to
all phone calls or emails the same day. If you
need to leave a message, make sure you clearly
speak your name and why you are calling – you
may even spell your name to eliminate confusion.
In addition, speak slowly and clearly when
leaving your phone number and the time you will
be available. When you do speak with an HP
person, be sure to write down their name, phone
number and email. Because the HP person may be
in a different time zone, be very clear at what
time you are actually setting up the interview
for. If the interview will be at 9am, make sure
you are both clear that you are describing 9am
Pacific Time, which would be noon in the Eastern
Time zone, for example. Never miss an
appointment unless it is an emergency. If it is
an emergency, contact the interviewer as soon as
possible. Finally, always thank the interviewer
for their time.
Back To Top
|
Interview Tips
Timing
Everyone knows not to be late for an interview. But
don’t be too early and “hover” either. If it is an
“in-person” interview arrive about five minutes early.
If it is a phone interview, be prepared for the call
five minutes before the appointed time.
Greeting
For a phone interview, be prepared with a short
professional response. Answer with something similar to
, “Hello, this is John Jones at Purdue University”. If
the interview is in person, remain standing, you don’t
want the first thing the interviewer to see is you
getting your things in order and adjusting your
clothing.
Impression
Sociolinguistists at Stanford University have
discovered that what we say accounts for a mere 7
percent of a person’s first impression of us, while our
body language constitutes 55 percent. So, hold your
briefcase or folder in your left hand and keep the right
one hanging loosely at your hip, ready to shake hands.
This also applies to your voice on the phone. Speak very
clearly in your most professional voice. Eliminate
“like” from your vocabulary and stay clear of street
jargon.
Logistics
Be prepared for the awkward moment when you and the
recruiter walk into a conference room for the interview
and there are more than two chairs. If he/she hasn’t
taken a seat, rest your hand on one of the chairs and
ask, “Is this a good place for me to sit?” If the
interviewer has already set up shop, choose the seat
directly across from them.
Introduction
During the crucial opening minutes, whether in person
or on the phone, the interviewer is sizing you up as a
person, as opposed to a faceless resume. Your ability to
engage and be at ease are at a premium. If you are still
talking about the weather after five minutes have gone
by, steer the conversation back to the interview.
The Dreaded Lead-Off Question
The interviewer may actually start of with, “Tell me
about yourself”. If they do, tell them, but your best
move is to resist the urge to dump it all at once.
Rehearse a 60 second commercial spot that summarizes
your past work experience, or your responsibilities at
your last internship. Also, include something about your
school, your major, and studies, and maybe your reasons
for pursuing this position.
Do Your Homework
Research the company and know what the top business
goals are. Know what the top priorities are for the firm
and be able to articulate how your skills will help
achieve them.
The Fit
The interviewer will assess how your experience and
background fit the company’s needs. Offer answers the
provide clues that you understand the company’s business
and culture. Comment on something recent you researched
that the company is involved in.
Have a Plan and Tell Your Story
What is the story you want to tell about yourself
through the interview. What strengths to you want to
make sure get succinctly communicated in your answers?
Have a game plan to steer the conversation where you
want it to go? I want you to know that I am these three
things…...
Obey the Rule of Three
Have three points to drive home and an anecdote to
support each one. For example, if you are applying for a
software position maybe the points are: “I interned with
a development group at HP last summer, I recently
completed a class in C++, and I utilized that knowledge
in a project last semester.”
Drawing a Blank
If you should you draw a complete blank, ask the
interviewer to rephrase the question. People are scared
to ask this, because they think they’ll look stupid. But
that’s not true. You may really not understand the
question, and it will give you a moment to collect your
thoughts while they rephrase it.
Rambling
There’s a time in every person’s interviewing process
when they’re rambling along and they suddenly realize,
“I have no idea where I’m going with this.” Pause. Check
in, and say, “Have I answered your question?”
Be a Closer
When the interviewer utters these five words, “Do you
have any questions?” be sure you have two good questions
about the position or the company – the answers to which
cannot be found on the website. A great final question
leaves a great final impression. Take a business card.
Obvious, right? The worst mistake candidates often make
when sending thank-you notes is misspelling the name of
the interviewer.
Remember
Always remember, it’s not about what they’re giving
you but what you’re giving them. Also, leave a great
lasting impression. The interviewer may interview 20
people during a trip, what can you do to have them
remember you specifically?
Back To Top
|
Prepare for
Your Internship
Get Connected To Your New Community
Most major sites have an Intern Coordinator. They
will be a great source of all sorts of specific
information regarding housing, transportation, events,
dining, and recreation. They will contact you prior to
your arrival at the site, and a listing of the
coordinators is distributed in the spring to all of the
scholars along with other resources. Surf the web about
your new location and the surrounding areas. You will
learn a great deal about everything from bus routes, to
movie theaters, to concerts, etc. Getting a map of the
area and identifying the location of the HP site would
be a good first step.
Getting to Work
Interns use a wide variety of options to get to work.
Some drive to their intern location and have their own
personal vehicle available. Others have leased a car for
a period of time through their parents. Many either take
public transportation or lease a bicycle for the summer.
Still others form car pools with other interns or
employees.
Engage with Employee Networks
There are employee networks and groups at many HP
locations. In addition, there are usually a variety of
sport teams, and recreational groups active throughout
the summer. Check them out. They can be a great source
of building your network in the company and can connect
you with some new and exciting “off-work” opportunities.
Research Your HP Division or Organization
Use the
HP website to discover what your work group is all
about. Ask your hiring manager or mentor to send you
some additional information. If you are working for a
division with retail products, visit a store and get
acquainted with them.
First Year Orientation
For those scholars who have not experienced an
internship with a large corporation, HP will have them
attend a three day orientation. This may occur either
immediately prior to the scholar arriving at their work
location, or soon after. The travel and lodging
arrangements will be made by the external vendors who
facilitate the session.
Back To Top
|
Experiences of Past HP Scholars
What was your internship like? I had a great
time with my internship. I interned in Roseville,
California. Although I was the only engineer that got
placed into HR, I was able to make the most out of my
internship. If you don't like the project that gets
assigned to you, ask around your team if there is any
extra work that needs to be done that may better fit
your interests (with manager approval). Interning with
HP for a summer was a great way to meet other students
interested in the same field and to network with HP
employees.
~Chris Heygood, UW The HP Scholar program has provided
me with three unique internships over the course of the
last three years. My current internship has me working
in Corvallis, Oregon in Thermal Inkjet Product
Engineering. I have had the opportunity to use what I've
learned from my electrical engineering classes and apply
it to my work. This summer I've been involved in
characterizing various components on silicon inkjet
wafers under different conditions. This data has helped
to model how a thermal inkjet resistor behaves when it
is operating in a consumer printer. These internships
give you the opportunity to meet new, fascinating people
while figuring out what really interests you.
~Louis Draghi, UW
My internship in Cupertino was great. I had a large
amount of hands on experience, and had multiple
opportunities to code with a freshly graduated engineer!
This summer was one of the most valuable experiences I
have ever had. I was praised for my performance, and I
definitely enhanced my skills. This is without a doubt,
the most valuable resource offered by the HP Scholar
Program, and you can quote me on that!
~Charlie Henry, SJSU
Back To Top
|
|
Printable version
