General Motors Company, commonly referred to as only General Motors, is an American multinational corporation. It is based in Detroit, Michigan and specializes in developing, manufacturing, and distributing vehicles and vehicle parts. The company’s core automobile brands include Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and of course GMC.

Today GM employs over 171,000 employees across 37 countries. Moreover, in 2024, the company ranked #10 on the ‘Fortune 500’ rankings becoming one of the largest US corporations (by total revenue.)

General Motors Hiring Process

General Motors has a simple hiring process when compared to other multinational corporations like Procter & Gamble or GEICO. As stated on their website, the entire process from application to ‘potential job offer’ takes between 6-8 weeks.

Overall the process can be summarized into three basic steps:

1. Searching & Applying
2. Review & Interviews
3. Selection & Offer

Below we will thoroughly explain each step of the above-mentioned steps, so you know what to expect.

Searching & Applying

There are two ways in which you can search for a job at General Motors. The first one is by visiting the following website: https://search-careers.gm.com/jobsatgm. Here, the company posts all available positions in 23 categories than range from ‘Engineering & Product Development’ to ‘Sales & Marketing.’ The other way to find out about available vacancies is by attending one of the company’s recruiting events. Usually, these events take place at universitys, universities, and other similar organizations.

Once you have located a job you are interested in, you will need to fill out an online application. To do so, you must:

• Upload your CV/resume.
• Complete a contact information’s formulary (e.g., address, phone number, e-mail.)
• Describe your educational background.
• Outline any previous work experience.
• Complete a legalities questionnaire (e.g., visa/sponsorship, availability to travel.)
• Answer 2 or 3 pre-screening questions related to the specific position you are interested in pursuing. Expect questions such as: how many years of experience do you have working on the XYZ field?
• Complete an EEO form.

After completing all the required fields, you will then be able to hit ‘submit’ and present your application.

Review & Interviews

Once the application process is complete (after 3-4 weeks), recruiters will contact the eligible candidates to schedule their interviews. Generally, experienced or executive positions require in-person interviews. These meetings tend to last two hours.

On the other hand, entry-level positions and those candidates applying to summer programmes or internships will only be interviewed by phone. Depending on the department, the interview will take 30-120 minutes to complete.

General Motors uses a behavioural interview process that evaluates all the aspects mentioned in the online application in conjunction with the traits and characteristics required for the position. Expect questions like:

• Where do you see yourself in 3, 5, and 10 years?
• Why do you think you are the right fit for the job/company?
• Why do you want to work at GM?
• What do you expect from a job at GM?
• Tell us more about your previous job experience/educational background/volunteer work.
• Describe your most significant professional accomplishment.

Overall, questions are pretty much standard. It is essential to remain calm and connect with the interviewer. Remember this is your only chance to show that you are more than what is written on your CV/application.

After the interview, more often than not, you will be asked to take one (or more) assessments to evaluate your capabilities and skills.

Assessment Test

In most cases, the assignments will vary based on your field of work and level of expertise.

The most common examinations conducted by General Motors are:

Personality Test

GM’s personality test is designed to measure your compatibility with the company.  Being the right candidate for the job requires more than just technical skills. Thus, employees often use this kind of assessment to estimate the likelihood of your success within a determined post. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, so take your time and be honest.

Numerical Reasoning

The numerical reasoning test usually includes basic math, numeracy drills, solving logic-based problems, and interpreting graphs/tables. They are meant to test your mathematical abilities and skills. Numerical reasoning tests can be similar to the math portions found on the SATs examinations and tend to be only multiple-choice questions.

Verbal Reasoning

Verbal reasoning tests allow employers to measure how well can a candidate understand and make use of information and implications from texts. Much like the Numerical Reasoning tests, this kind of assignment also follows the standardized test format. Usually, you will encounter long and short passages or statements followed by a set of multi-choice questions.

Situational Judgement

Situational Judgement Tests (SJT) are critical, especially at high-level posts given that they examine your attitudes and reactions to work-related situations. Sometimes, the company includes video clips or animations to present the case with written response options.

If you are applying to technical or engineering positions, you will also be required to take specialty tests. Depending on the department, these assessments range from mechanical and electrical to customer service. The intention behind them is to assess your understanding of a given subject directly related to your field of work.

Moreover, you may also be required to take software skill-testing assessments to test your proficiency in programmes you will need to work with daily. For instance, if you are applying to a position in the financial or accounting department, a Microsoft Excel’s proficiency test may be required.

Selection & Offer

After completing the interview process and the required assessments, the HR department will choose the most competitive candidates and extend a job offer. At this point, there is only one thing to do: accept or reject the offer. If you agree with all the terms and conditions, you will start orientation a few days later.

As you can see, applying to General Motors Company is a simple process. Nonetheless, we recommend you do some research, prepare yourself for the interview, and brush up on your math skills. Keep in mind that the company receives thousands of applications every day. Thus, it might be hard to stand out!