Had a phone interview conducted by the Executive Asst of the CEO who had no idea what she was doing and no business conducting a screening interview. I was actively interviewing with other companies and this interview stood out as amateurish and sloppy. Phone connection was poor so we were often talking over each other. Many questions centered around handling conflict in the workplace, and there was a lot of discussion around people fitting into the company's culture.

The day started with a plant tour. Next, I met I met with the hiring manager and executive VP in a group interview. We met in a small office that was cluttered with old engineering drawings and debris. Interview questions were arbitrary. Many dealt with conflict management and humility. I was invited to a second interview. When I arrived I was immediately instructed to visit a nearby clinic for a drug screen. The executive told me not to return if I failed. When I returned I was given three tests. The first involved a DOS-based order entry system. (Yes, NORMAC still uses DOS!) The second involved connecting a NORMAC flex pipe and a competing product to a test fixture and then commenting on the differences. The third test involved reviewing an Excel spreadsheet and suggesting improvements. During my second interview, the executive reprimanded the hiring manager in front of me for word choice in an email he wrote the day before. She went on to explain that this was an example of “humility”. At this point, I wanted no further involvement with NORMAC.