"How to get a job at:" is a series of interviews with hiring managers at companies in order to provide specific and useful insight into...well, how to get a job.
If you’re anything like me, working for a company that prides itself on taking group bike rides at lunch sounds like a dream. But at Trek Bikes, one of the largest bicycle retailers in the country, a passion for cycling isn’t the only prerequisite to getting hired. The team’s need for speed translates to the importance of collaboration and the company-wide philosophy of “GSDF” –– get stuff done fast. Trek, though, still finds time to celebrate the little things at work. Plus, working in an environment all about health, wellness, and adventure is a perk in itself.
In the first of a series on finding a job at some of the world’s most interesting companies, I sat down with Trek’s Talent Acquisition Manager, Jeremy Ryder, to find out how Trek employees roll and what 3 questions you better be able to answer if you want to work in bikes.
RB: Let's start with the basics — Trek makes bikes (and helmets and lights and all the accessories a biker could ever need). What’s the first thing you look for in a new hire? Does fitting in with an adventurous culture come above all?
JR: I’m sure it’s no surprise that many of us at Trek love cycling! But first and foremost, we all truly love the work that we do. Probably the most important thing to convey when applying to a position is being able to communicate why you want to work at the company. Whether you are passionate about the industry, riding bikes, or even just excited about doing a great job –– we need to hear about what fuels you and why you think you’d be a good fit here.
The Takeaway:Understand the why and communicate your passion.
RB:Before the right candidate even makes it to an interview, I’m sure they need to wow you with their resume. What are your biggest pieces of advice for creating the right resume that grabs a recruiter’s attention?
JR: No matter what role you’re applying for –– a retail associate position or your first engineering job –– the simplest way to start off on the right foot is maintaining a high level of professionalism in your resume. I’ve seen resumes with only two sentences about a candidate’s experience. We can’t truly learn anything about you from that. Even if you don’t have a lot of career experience, tell us what you’re doing, where you’ve been, and what you’ve learned in a comprehensive way.
Then, there are some folks who might write a great resume but don’t have the specifics to back it up. If you can’t be detailed about your experience right off the bat, that’s a red flag for us. Being prepared to speak to your experience and apply that to a new situations is a simple way to excel in an interview.
The Takeaway: Build a professional resume –– and be able to back up what you put on it with examples.
RB: You probably see hundreds of applicants for any given position, I’d guess. When a lucky candidate does get selected for an interview, what makes him or her stand out above the rest?
JR: The thing that stands out the most when we’re looking for the right candidate is always energy. If we’ve had eight phone interviews with different people and each one has a similar experience level, the differentiator comes down to being able to feel that energy. Someone who isn’t giving it their all won’t thrive here. The person that is animated and articulates their passions is who we’re excited to keep talking to.The Takeaway: Don’t be afraid to sell yourself.
RB: Let’s say I was the candidate you were interviewing for a position (watch out — maybe someday!). What would be your top three questions for me?
JR: We never fail to ask questions that show us about the way a candidate thinks. I love hearing about an example from their past jobs that reveals how they would respond to a certain situation. First, I’d ask about a time you had to influence someone more senior than yourself to make a decision, so I can see how you handle being challenged. I’d then ask about a time you had to deliver bad news, as it shows me how you would approach a difficult situation with tact and composure. Finally, I always love to hear about a project you’ve managed and dive into the details of how you took it from start to finish. It really let’s me see how you problem solve and what motivates you.
The Takeaway: Be prepared to answer the tough questions.
So if you’re a thrillseeker like the ones at Trek, make sure you know your experience backwards and forwards, so you’re able to speak to specific examples. Find the sweet spot in your resume by being honest about your experience while building upon what you know — even if outside a formal job position — so that you can show that you know your stuff. And most importantly, don’t be afraid to care. A passionate nature and high energy can truly be what makes you the leader of the pack.
Rachel Bitte is Chief People Officer at Jobvite, a.k.a., head honcho of finding and keeping the geniuses who work there. As Jobvite’s Chief People Officer, Rachel brings with her a wealth of HR experience—particularly in the tech industry—with a focus on change leadership and talent management. In her free time, she is all about anything outdoors that burns calories, including road riding, mountain biking, snowboarding, and backpacking.
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