Monstano Interview Tips

EnhancedFujita

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Something that has always helped me in interviews is to ask questions. Usually you'll run through the main interview and answer all of their standard questions, then they'll flip the table and ask you if you have any questions. Never say no. Be prepared ahead of time. Research the company and position some. This is your time to sell yourself. I always ask what the first projects are that I'd be working on. Then I use that as an opportunity to explain why my skills will help them with that project. Ask about strengths and weaknesses in the company or department, then describe how your skills will help the company improve their strengths and limit their weaknesses.
 

kingcy

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Tell them you don't think there is weed resistance issues out there and how great you think their corn borer event is holding up just fine and you will fit right in.
 

BoxsterCy

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I have an interview with Monsanto for a Field Research Assistant next week. I just graduated in December and this is my first real interview.

Do you guys have any tips or any first hand experience with Monsanto?

Thanks in advance.

Since they are the Evil Empire your avatar is appropriate. :skeptical:
 

JP4CY

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Be prepared for that internship to possibly "tight cast" you in the future employment world. A lot of companies hate Monsanto.
Be prepared for more meetings about working than actual working.
They also most likely have over the top safety retirements at sites. Be ready to follow all of those rules to a T.
 

bringmagicback

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Don't bring up Cheerios.
Actually wouldn't be a bad idea. Bring up how using science and facts they proved there is no difference between gmo Cheerios and non gmo Cheerios. Then make a joke about how stupid and uneducated people are that think gmo products are harmful when there have been over 2000 studies done all of them coming up with the same conclusion. Should make you look pretty smart and like you actually did some research.
 

bringmagicback

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Also a good answer for why do u want to work for Monsanto would be because you admire the work they've done to provide the world with a safe affordable food source and helped support millions of family farms in maintaining profitability as well as keeping our rural communities economies strong and growing.
 
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Rabbuk

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Don't go hungover or still drunk... I speak from experience on that one.
 

Cycsk

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Probably don't want to mention that you got your interview advice on CF, especially if being interviewed by a Hok. ISU grads do the work for Monsanto, but EIU grads might show up in HR.
 

bugs4cy

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Be prepared for that internship to possibly "tight cast" you in the future employment world. A lot of companies hate Monsanto.
Be prepared for more meetings about working than actual working.
They also most likely have over the top safety retirements at sites. Be ready to follow all of those rules to a T.

I work with many seed companies in Iowa - small and large.

I disagree that many hate Monsanto - when talking about those who work in the industry. If a smaller seed company wants to stay in business, they have to license/use traits developed by there/the large companies that develop them. The heads of companies may not love the stipulations of the technology/trait contracts but I do not see that hate boil over so that they hate the people that work there. Again, I'm talking about the people that do the day-to-day work of developing lines and traits for market. I do not see them get all hyped up about other companies. They pretty much came from the same programs at the same universities and know each other from 'way back'. They hire from each other's employees pools all the time. I never see anyone stand around an complain about the competition. They're too busy working.

Salesmen, that's where I may see the competition boil over and the bad mouthing of one another take root. But what do you expect - they're all fighting for marketshare.

Yep, many meetings. As with most seed companies. As with most jobs.

Yep, lots of safety requirements. As with many seed companies. But if you're going to get drug down by the fact that you have to wear safety glasses then you're going to get drug down in life by lots of little things. Monsanto is not the most over-the-top on safety. Another seed company has a no-cellphone-policy when driving, whether you're driving during work or off-the-clock time. Immediate fireable offense. I have a permanent visitors badge so I can get into buildings without an escort. Turns out, by having that badge I am subject to all their employee safety edicts. Someone called in my license plate because I was sitting in my car, talking on my phone, waiting for their employee so we could start a fumigation. Security went nuts - ordered me to return the badge. I'M NOT EVEN THEIR EMPLOYEE. Okay, you can have your badge. But your company is going to personally bring everything to my office that needs export certification. Viola. Badge reinstated. I'm now careful to not be on my phone on their property to avoid doing this again. And yes, they watch for safety offenses, like running stop signs on their campus, on the security cameras strung up everywhere.
 

brianhos

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Ask them if each employee gets their own senator or is that more of a shared service among all employees.
 

Turn2

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They love to hire young, cheap and foreign. Be prepared to give examples of how strongly pro-diversity you are.
 

kickout

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I work with many seed companies in Iowa - small and large.

I disagree that many hate Monsanto - when talking about those who work in the industry. If a smaller seed company wants to stay in business, they have to license/use traits developed by there/the large companies that develop them. The heads of companies may not love the stipulations of the technology/trait contracts but I do not see that hate boil over so that they hate the people that work there. Again, I'm talking about the people that do the day-to-day work of developing lines and traits for market. I do not see them get all hyped up about other companies. They pretty much came from the same programs at the same universities and know each other from 'way back'. They hire from each other's employees pools all the time. I never see anyone stand around an complain about the competition. They're too busy working.

Salesmen, that's where I may see the competition boil over and the bad mouthing of one another take root. But what do you expect - they're all fighting for marketshare.

Yep, many meetings. As with most seed companies. As with most jobs.

Yep, lots of safety requirements. As with many seed companies. But if you're going to get drug down by the fact that you have to wear safety glasses then you're going to get drug down in life by lots of little things. Monsanto is not the most over-the-top on safety. Another seed company has a no-cellphone-policy when driving, whether you're driving during work or off-the-clock time. Immediate fireable offense. I have a permanent visitors badge so I can get into buildings without an escort. Turns out, by having that badge I am subject to all their employee safety edicts. Someone called in my license plate because I was sitting in my car, talking on my phone, waiting for their employee so we could start a fumigation. Security went nuts - ordered me to return the badge. I'M NOT EVEN THEIR EMPLOYEE. Okay, you can have your badge. But your company is going to personally bring everything to my office that needs export certification. Viola. Badge reinstated. I'm now careful to not be on my phone on their property to avoid doing this again. And yes, they watch for safety offenses, like running stop signs on their campus, on the security cameras strung up everywhere.

Are you a phyto inspector?
 

Klonz

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Be prepared to answer the question - "Why Monsanto?"... why do you want to work for Monsanto more than any other company. Go to their website and read up. Be prepared for at least a couple really good questions, more the better. Know your resume` inside and out. Also, you might get asked something to the effect of - "tell me what is not on the resume`" - basically be able to talk about what other skills you have, projects you've worked on, etc. Good Luck. Great company and yes - safety is paramount.
 

bringmagicback

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Do not reveal that you are related to Percy Schmeiser or any of the other 145 individual farmers who have been sued by them.
But if u happen to be related to one of those poor poor victims, relate to the hiring manager that you agree with them. A thief is a thief whether he steals from Walmart or whether he steals from a company that's spent billions developing their tech and traits amd those thieves shouldn't play the victim card because they did in fact steal. Then hi five the guy and accept your position.