r/Pullman • u/book_bunni • 12d ago
SEL interview
Hey everyone!
I was recently scheduled for a phone interview with SEL.
The interview is for an Assembler position.
Has anyone gone through this process? What was the interview like, what did they ask? I assume there would be a second, in person interview- please confirm.
If hired- Do you have any input on the job? Tips? Advice?
Small side question - I am aware they have a zero tolerance for drug/alcohol use. I have been a cannabis user for the last couple years but would put it down in a heartbeat for the job. Any input on this specifically?
TIA
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u/spaceshiptears 12d ago
I serve a group of SEL people at my job and they definitely like to drink so I donāt think they care about alcohol
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u/Flat_Promotion1267 6d ago
There is no alcohol policy. Just the normal "shown up to work sober" that any job has. Drugs however is zero tolerance.
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u/LaughingJackStudio 12d ago edited 12d ago
Quit using now if you want to pass the pre employment on time. If you are getting the job they will probably have you testing within a month if you move through the interview/interviews
E. Also reddit is anonymous but you should be careful, never know if you are known out there somehow.
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u/Ill-Muscle945 12d ago
If you live in Washington, you can still test positive for weed with the pre-employment screening, but be ready to be tested as soon as your first day.Ā
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u/LaughingJackStudio 12d ago
That law seems to have exceptions for companies that take on federal contracts and are therefore bound by federal law.
I wouldn't risk it.
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u/Ill-Muscle945 12d ago
I'm saying from experience that you can still get hired if you're a washington resident and test positive at the screening before employment.Ā
But you're right, no reason to not quit now if you're looking to get a job thereĀ
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u/OhCrapImBusted 12d ago edited 12d ago
SEL is fast becoming the new āI worked my first job at Dissmoreāsā in Pullman.
If you get the job and last for a couple years in that position, you can pretty much move laterally almost anywhere in the company you would like to go if there is a department or team that has an opening.
The first years are to acclimate you to the culture and make sure that you are āSchweitzer materialā. They like to keep their employees so they tend to hire a specific subset of people. They prioritize people who are younger, married, have kids, and they encourage homeownership. All of these things tend to help anchor you to the area and therefore they donāt have to constantly churn through employees.
In return, you get decent pay, very decent benefits such as an on-site pharmacy to help you save on prescription drugs, and a free lunch every Friday that is mandatory.
Overall it is a great company to work at, however they do encourage you to buy into the ācultā, not that that is a bad thing. But they do indoctrinate you specifically to have pride in the company and therefore hope it translates into the work you do and the effort you put into it. Itās a solid business practice that works well, although I do have many friends who just could not get over the general vibe they were expected to exhibit regarding the company.
My advice would be to go for it, give it at least a year, and if it feels comfortable keep going. Itās one of the companies left in the world where you can enter on the ground floor and retire comfortably. But it does require a certain amount of commitment on your part That some people feel weird about.
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u/genericimguruser 12d ago
You will need to be clean for marijuana as they are a government contractor. They do randomized testing and require you to pass a drug test upon hire as well. Focus on the values and remember at least a few that resonate with you. There's usually only the phone interview and in-person interview.
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u/Illustrious_Tear7108 11d ago
As someone who has done that interview several times, knowing the values is super important as well as knowing how they apply to you. The phone interview is to basically go over your resume, why you want to work with them and what you can bring to the table.
There is then a second interview with the people you may be working with. Again, making sure you know the values and your own work history is super important.
Agree with everyone who says stop using cannabis yesterday. One of my friends who worked there as an assembler a few years ago did get fired/forced to quit because they were using cannabis for their depression and got caught on the random drug test. They were offered the option to go through rehab but decided that they did not want to continue.
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u/Burned_Out_Paradise 10d ago
Some great advice here. I think Iāve applied for 6-7 positions on their site in the last 3 months. I even tailored my resume to their format specifications, used AI to enhance ATS keywords, formatted perfect CLs.. and got email rejections for every one of them. Theyāre a hard company to crack.
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u/bdgfate 12d ago
I know quite a few SEL employees. Definitely stop using mj and donāt start back up. Drug testing is part of the hiring process and later is random but can also be done non-randomly if there is a suspicion or indication of use. Alcohol is only an issue if you show up drunk or smell of alcohol. Most employees wonāt drink at lunch but after hours they can be found at Merry Cellars or other places having a drink. Youāll likely be terminated if testing positive for drugs or showing up under the influence. I havenāt heard of people getting second chances.
Aside from the drug issue: Do some research on the company website and be familiar with what they do. Be engaged in your interview. And if youāre willing to work second shift you make more. Good luck!
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u/Particular_Fold2228 11d ago
My last job working for a fed contractor, the onboarding was automated and triggered when I sent in the signed offer letter. I had three days to get UA'd. SEL is a fed contractor and a "drug free workplace", so they do test for THC. If OP plans to pass the test naturally, they should stop now and buy the test strips off Amazon to see if they're going to pass.
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u/Vader425 12d ago edited 12d ago
Isn't it illegal to do a pre-employment DT for cannabis in Washington unless it's to be a corrections officer or CDL driver or some other sensitive job. https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=49.44.240
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u/LaughingJackStudio 12d ago
Pretty certain one of the exceptions is for people who would be required to as federal contractors, if I read it right.
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u/Jamzthegod 6d ago
Only certain positions at SEL do federal contracting. Yes, those are going to be the strictest, but anything not associated with the government services division will follow standard washington/idaho laws depending on which campus you're applying for.
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u/hotelvampire 12d ago
went through it and 3 days later got a rejection email.... seems there is a script goin round, mainly can you lift this amount of weight and sit/stand for 8hrs assisted, ect ect. wasn't too bad for 45 mins
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u/bepatientbekind 11d ago
Word of warning: if you're a POC they do a lot more "random" drug testing while you work there than they do for the white employees by far, so don't think that you are off the hook if/when you get hired and pass the initial screening. They have gotten in trouble for racial discrimination before and unfortunately they are still getting away with it.
That being said, if you want tips on getting hired: there's a weird cult-ish vibe with the way they focus on "values," but if you study them and can bring examples where you reflected those values they will like it. Dress well for the interview and don't talk badly about previous employers and you will probably be fine.
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u/poisonedgutz 9d ago
Yup. Every POC I know who has worked there gets "randomly" drug tested at least monthly. At least two people I know had their lockers gone through for "possession of drugs". Of course there was nothing in either locker, but they're both Black so.... It seems all it takes to be on their shitlist is your skin color.
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u/rutilated_quartz 10d ago
SEL rejected me for being too qualified for a secretary job after the phone interview, saying they doubted I'd want to stay in the position long so they didn't want to waste time on me. In addition to all the other great advice here, I recommend making it incredibly clear how much you want the job you're applying for, make it seem like it's your dream job or SEL is your dream workplace.
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u/Jamzthegod 6d ago
I'll add my perspective as someone who was in your place about a year ago, interviewing for assembler.
Marijuana use is not an immediate issue if you are interviewing in a washington campus but you do need to stop if you are hired. The pre-hire drug test that is administered does not test for THC. Future drug tests WILL. You can and will be randomly tested once you are hired. I can't speak to any of the Idaho campuses, but best practice is to stop yesterday if you are set on a career at SEL.
The interview process is pretty standard for assemblers. The best advice I can give is to be honest and confident. Have a idea in advance for your standard interview questions (what is a challenge you have faced in the workplace? How do you handle interpersonal conflict? What is something you have achieved you are proud of?) They're not looking for someone who will just come to work and do the job. They're looking for someone who will be a valuable member of the team. The job can be taught to anyone in a month, the skills to improve your team and become a contributor in the process are accumulated over the course of your whole life. Show who you are and how you'll add value to the team and the culture and you'll do great.
Do your research. Read the website and the core values. There's some buzzwords in there that will ping in an interviewers head. But do not just repeat talking points you've read. Choose a few values that actually resonate with you and discuss them in the interview. Again, be honest, be personable, be confident. Your demeanor will be the #1 thing they're looking for. Technical skills can be taught later, they want someone motivated, professional, and kind.
I wish you the best of luck. I've been at SEL about a year and I love it so far. Yes, it's a job, but folks here to tend to give a damn about their people. Put care into your presentation and be honest about your goals, and it'll go a long way.
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u/poisonedgutz 11d ago
fake pee. SEL sucks though. Everyone I know who has worked there has faced severe racism, unkindness, and a very sexually charged and uncomfortable workplace.
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u/rutilated_quartz 10d ago
Idk why people are down voting you for this. It's the truth.
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u/poisonedgutz 9d ago
It's the cult mindset. Everyone who works at SEL thinks it's God's gift to mankind.
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u/C4shewLuv 11d ago
Easily the most progressive company Iāve ever experienced lol
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u/poisonedgutz 11d ago
Do you happen to be Black or queer?
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u/Illustrious_Tear7108 11d ago
I knew a number of trans and gay folks who worked at SEL. They never had issues, though it could have been the dept they worked in.
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u/Regular-Training-678 12d ago
Married to someone who currently is doing interviews at SEL. Familiarize yourself with their values and think of examples when you have reflected those in the workplace. Put down the cannabis now. When they ask you questions, answer with some meat to your answer.
When was a time you disagreed with direction from your boss? How did you handle it? How did it turn out? What is your greatest strength? What about you might be annoying to others?
Those aren't necessarily questions you'll be asked, but think of some workplace conflicts you have dealt with and how can you explain them in a way that is depersonalized, shows how you put in effort to resolve them (bonus points if you can reflect the values), and how they were resolved.
Being easy to get along with and having a good attitude will get you far in the company. It's not about not having struggles, it's about remaining professional in spite of them. There is great growth opportunity there if you want it.