Tesla is synonymous with style, elegance, and building a sustainable future.
But If you thought that the competition was lighter at Tesla in comparison to Facebook, Amazon, and Google, you’d be wrong. Did you know that Tesla had over 3 million applicants in 2021 alone?
With competition like that, you’ll need a mentor in your corner to help you land your dream job. That’s why, at MentorCruise, we dove into Tesla’s recruitment and selection process to help you learn the secrets of how to get hired at Tesla.
Tesla’s mission is to help the world achieve a zero-emission future through sustainable energy products. They’re one of the largest manufacturing companies for electric vehicles in the world, so there’s also a sense of prestige attached to working there.
With their level of fame and success, it’s not hard to believe they can make a real impact in bringing about positive change in our environment. In addition to cars, they also design battery energy storage systems, solar panels, and more.
One of the perks of working for Tesla is their high annual salaries.
Tesla salaries are quite high on average according to their Indeed page. They’re a very large company so they can afford to pay their employees higher wages than average tech salaries in the US, which is $44,951 per year.
For example, Software Engineers make $133,200 per year on average while Production Supervisors make $88,289 annually.
Tesla also offers a range of employee benefits, which includes a health benefits package personalized for each person’s needs.
In recent years, the company’s been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign as a ‘Best Place to Work’ in regards to LGBTQ Equality. They scored 100% on the Corporate Equality Index, which means they offer the same benefits to LGBTQ workers as their non-LGBTQ counterparts and reinforce policies that prevent discrimination.
As a Tesla employee, you also get the chance to have some ownership via stock purchases (using their Employee Stock Purchase Plan) and equity grants no matter your role in the company. You can even partake in their vehicle lease program to get a Tesla and receive assistance with certain expenses including gym memberships, travel costs, computer equipment, childcare, and more.
One advantage of working for Tesla involves their wide array of job positions. You have many Tesla careers and paths to choose from, so you can find the role that best suits your skill set. Here are the four main departments for Tesla careers:
You can work in one of Tesla’s engineering positions which includes computer, manufacturing, electrical, and mechanical engineers. Help invent and develop high-quality vehicles and energy products for customers.
Alternatively, you can work as a technician or manufacturing associate and get involved in the actual creation process. Collaborate with other technicians to build products, maintain equipment, improve operations, and ensure safety is being upheld.
If you’re not tech-savvy or interested in heavy labor, there’s also the option to join Tesla’s sales and service team. You’ll be dealing with customer support, answering enquiries, and helping customers purchase Tesla products. If customers have questions about repairs or wish to discuss the ins and outs of a product, you’re there to provide the necessary guidance.
Finally, there’s the management side of things which handle aspects such as finance, human resources, marketing, and legalities. These employees should be analytical and constantly strive to improve business operations on a global scale.
Tesla offers internships all year round, where students can work alongside professional technicians and engineers to gain real work experience.
Tesla START is a training program aimed at 18+ students in North America, allowing them to develop and improve their technical skills. You get a mix of in-class theory and hands-on experience across 12 weeks as part of your automotive technician curriculum. At the end, you receive certifications to increase your chances of future employment.
Tesla wants their employees to be innovative, collaborative, motivated, and reliable. Depending on what role you’re aiming for, you should also have technical expertise, great problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Before you can start enjoying perks like competitive salaries, ample paid time off, and flexible scheduling, you have to nail the interview. You should learn about the process and prepare to answer common Tesla interview questions.
All prospective employees must go through a rigorous five-step screening process before signing an offer letter. This can last from a week to more than a month.Here’s what you can expect during the hiring process:
If this process seems overwhelming, don’t worry! We’ll be walking you through the steps more thoroughly below, what they entail, and provide examples to help you nail your interview.
While a five-step hiring process can sound daunting, it’s good to know it’s a positive experience for interviewees.
Not all positions hire at the same rate, but reports estimate that the interview process can last anywhere from one week to a month or more.
Despite the five-step hiring process, many interviewees rate the difficulty level of the interview as average.
Here are some comments from past interviewees:
According to interview statistics from Comparably, Tesla ranks:
Whether you wait one week or up to four weeks, here’s the interview process you can expect depending on your position.
Whether you’ve filled out an application online, received a referral, or you’ve been selected as a match for an open position by one of Tesla’s recruiters, the process starts with a quick 30-minute call.
During the call, you can expect to answer questions regarding:
The point of this brief call is to determine if you’re a fit for the position and if you have the skills and knowledge needed for the role.
During this phase of the interview, you’ll be tested in several ways over a seven-day period.
The tests are designed to assess your technical skills, literacy, numerical and excel understanding as well as a Hogan personality test to see if you’re a good fit for the company.
Senior positions should expect a more rigorous test over an extended time. The questions test your ability to think flexibly, be a problem solver, and use your knowledge and skills to solve the task.
There are many sites online that can help you prepare for an online assessment at Tesla; however, most don’t offer mentorship from employees that have actually gone through the process.
At MentorCruise, our mentors are employees at some of the most valued tech companies in the world. Their knowledge and experience can help you relieve the stress of challenging interview processes like online assessments.
Once you’ve proven your technical merit through an online assessment, it’s time to talk with the hiring manager via a phone interview.
Here is a list of examples of interview questions you might receive:
The goal of the interview is to assess your prior performance, address your specific technical skills and competencies, and consider your fit within the culture of the company.
If the hiring manager deems you a good fit for the position based on your technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and your cultural fit, you’ll move on to the next phase in the interview process: the on-site panel interview.
During this phase, you’ll provide a 30-minute presentation in front of a panel of Tesla’s finest that outlines the toughest problem you’ve ever solved.
Specifically, You’ll explain how you solved it and what steps you took to address the problem.
You’ll be asked many probing questions, so be sure to recall each minute detail. How you respond could be the difference between an offer letter and a rejection.
Once you’ve completed the four steps above, the team will go over your interview results and make a decision. If accepted, your hiring manager will send an offer letter.
The interview process starts before you’re selected. Having a tailored resume that matches the skills and qualifications a company is looking for is paramount — especially when you’re trying to score an interview at Tesla.
Here’s what we suggest:
Take a look at Tesla’s job descriptions and requirements. The more you can frame your resume so it addresses the needs of the company, the better off you’ll be.
We recommend using the STAR method. It’s a great way to frame your work experience.
The STAR method stands for:
Here is a generalized example of how you could apply this on your resume:
Tailoring your resume to address specific job descriptions and requirements is essential to the recruitment and selection process.
During the recruitment process, you may be asked about your evidence of excellence as proof of your expertise. This refers to anything that backs up your skills, qualifications, and experience.
Examples of evidence of excellence include:
The Tesla evidence of excellence question helps them find employees who have a good track record since it proves they can perform job duties and achieve high-level results. Showcasing your evidence of excellence also helps you stand out from other candidates.
Now that you’ve got a list of your evidence of excellence, you must showcase them effectively in your interview to impress recruiters.
Here are some tips:
If you’re struggling with your interview prep, consider hiring a mentor from interview coaching services such as MentorCruise.
Building a solid network is key when trying to land a challenging job like working for Tesla. There are several ways you can go about networking, but our advice is to find the style that suits you best.
Here are some ways to network right from your computer:
By doing one or more of these networking techniques, you can build up a list of people to help you get your foot in the door.
During the interview process, you’ll most likely face situations where you're asked questions about prior performance, past experiences, and your technical know-how.
The STAR technique is a great way to frame your responses in an organized and cogent manner.
Here are a couple of examples of questions you may answer during an interview at Tesla, such as ‘tell me about a time you failed’. The importance here should be to use STAR to frame your response highlighting your emotional intelligence, technical skill set, and problem-solving capabilities.
Sample Question 1: Why do you want to work for Tesla?
Sample Answer: I believe in Tesla’s mission and commitment to sustainable energy. As an employee of Tesla, I would dedicate myself to this mission by using my creativity, teamwork mentality, and problem-solving each day. If given the opportunity, I would continually improve my skills and commit myself to the long-term goal of creating a sustainable future through the work we do.
Sample Question 2: When have you failed? What did you learn from it?
Sample Answer: I was promoted quickly to manage other software engineers on my team. I developed impostor syndrome and questioned my every move. At times it was paralyzing; however, I persevered and sought the help of a career counselor through my work. We met weekly to work on my impostor syndrome. The following year, our team increased proficiency by 10% and met all of our deadlines faster. I learned the power of having a plan and working with others to meet large objectives that seem scary.
Depending on what role you applied for, the amount of time can vary. However, it usually takes Tesla 4-6 weeks to get back to you. If the hiring team is busy or there’s many applicants to go through, the process can take longer.
Yes, Tesla usually notifies you when you fail to get a job offer.
Generally, Tesla does background checks on your criminal record, driving history, and employment history.
The Tesla recruitment and selection process is challenging, but not impossible. With the right strategies, you can ace the five-step interview process and land your dream job.
The STAR method is a helpful tool for matching your work experience to Tesla’s job descriptions and requirements and organizing your thoughts when answering tough interview questions.
Are you looking for more coaching? We have mentors to help guide you through the hiring process. With the right mentor, you’ll nail every step of the Tesla recruitment and selection process and you’ll be on your way to a new rewarding career.
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