The interview process at IPM has a 3 phased approach; one being a phone interview, the second a face-to-face in the regional office, and the final, a group style interview at the corporate headquarters near Chicago, IL. The duration for the process was approximately 6 weeks, however not due to IPM. I had work commitments that had me out of town with little opportunity to get to Chicago for the final round. Without those commitments, I believe the process would have been completed in a matter of 2-3 weeks. I was offered the position only 2 business days following my final interview.
Each phase gets more intense as far as the interview process is concerned. The phone interview you will be asked some basic questions, the second takes a deeper dive into those answers and your experience level and personality traits. The final is long (6 hours), however it breezed by like it was a normal conversation. For the final group interview, I met with the COO, had lunch with a current PMC, had a panel presentation with 3 Sr. management team members, and the final with the founder and CEO, Mr. Panico (be forewarned, the interview with the CEO is NOT a traditional interview).
By far the most difficult task for me was the presentation, not because of the topic or audience, but it was geared towards the candidate essentially "bragging" on themselves. I struggle talking about myself and moreover, really struggle with speaking and boosting my own ego; there is a difference between confidence and arrogance. As far as the interviewees, they really made me feel comfortable and the energy they portrayed gave me a level of excitement about the organization. It was an extremely positive experience for me and helped me better understand the great company that I can now call my home.
