How to Get
a Job at Tesla

As a producer of electric vehicles and other unique technologies, this multi-billion-dollar tech company is at the forefront of modern innovation. Tesla is one of the most alluring companies one could work for, but the competition for career opportunities is fierce. In 2018, the company received almost 500,000 applicants while only having about 2,500 open positions.

If you are one of the many college students and job seekers interested in getting a job at Tesla, then you have come to the right place. Whether you are aiming for opportunities in software engineering or another tech area, this guide will walk you through the Tesla hiring process. However, before you start preparing for the application process and interview stage, it’s essential to get to know all you can about this iconic company.

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Tesla, Inc. is an American sustainable energy and electric automobile company based in Palo Alto, California. Silicon Valley engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning co-founded the company in 2003 and named it Tesla Motors after the renowned inventor Nikola Tesla. In 2004, Elon Musk joined the company and served as chair of its Board of Directors.

Musk then took over as CEO in 2008 after Eberhard and Tarpenning left Tesla Motors entirely. The transition was not without any controversy, and it was revealed that Musk later fired 25 percent of the employees. Since then, the company has expanded its ambitions beyond electric cars and shifted its focus to innovation, staying true to the vision of Nikola Tesla. It introduced a new line of solar panels and batteries to power homes and businesses.

Working at an electric automobile and engineering company as innovative as Tesla means you will be at the forefront of the motor industry’s future. You will be working on some of today’s most creative and unique products.

Getting a job at this iconic tech company will also provide you with plenty of opportunities to grow your career. But like all other organizations, you can also expect a few bumps like long working hours, demanding performance and output expectations, and tricky workplace politics.

As an innovative company with a mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy, Tesla has a unique approach to business. Tesla is guided by a set of values that encourages its employees to work in a fast-paced environment, achieve the impossible, and constantly innovate.

The work atmosphere also encourages employees to seek out perfect solutions, pioneer, and work as part of a group. Before learning how to get a job at Tesla, consider whether its core values resonate with your own beliefs.

On Tesla’s Glassdoor page, almost every anonymous employee review shows both the company’s positive and negative sides. Some of them commend the company’s fast-paced environment and training program, which provide an excellent avenue for learning. Reviews also highlight how passionate everyone is about the company’s products and the sense of fulfillment that most employees feel.

However, this also translated to long hours, including working on weekends to finish a project. The work-life balance of a Tesla employee is mediocre at best. Furthermore, there’s a certain amount of micromanagement and politics in the workplace environment. Employees also fear being dismissed for no reason since the company seems to do this frequently.

Given how unique the company is, it’s not surprising that the Tesla hiring process doesn’t follow the norm. Every year, the company receives legions of brilliant applicants dreaming of joining its team.

The good thing about Tesla is that it accepts innovative and diverse thinkers regardless of their background. However, that means Tesla has to be creative when selecting prospective employees and conduct an intense interview process.

Regardless of the position you’re after, the first place you should visit when looking for a job at Tesla is its careers page. You can browse through the list of available jobs or search by role or keyword.

Once you find the position you want, you’ll need to sign in to your Tesla Candidate Profile or use the Quick Apply option. You will be prompted to provide your contact information and your resume.

When researching how to acquire a job at Tesla, you should also look into how the company conducts interviews. Candidates often hear back from Tesla within a week after submitting their application. If your resume impresses the recruitment team, the hiring manager will call you for a phone interview. They will ask you for some extra information and schedule the first of your in-person interviews.

Tesla’s hiring procedure is meticulous, so you may be called for multiple rounds of interviews. After passing those rounds, you will complete written tests that assess your aptitude, reasoning, and technical skills. There may be a final interview in which you will have to impress the hiring manager, group of managers, or even Elon Musk himself.

Aside from the exciting experience of working on some of the world’s most advanced products, Tesla employees also enjoy great benefits and pay. Working at this ambitious company may not be easy, but Tesla is committed to compensating employees for their hard work and helping them reach their full potential.

According to PayScale, the average salary for a Tesla employee is $98,000 a year. Tesla workers earn anywhere from $64,254 to $142,657 per year. Unfortunately, data from the same source reveals a gender pay gap, with women based in the US earning $4,000 to $7,000 less than their male counterparts every year.

Meanwhile, a report from the UK government shows a “reverse gender gap” in this country. Women that work for Tesla in the UK earn £1.07 for every £1 that men receive when comparing hourly wages.

If you manage to pass the strict hiring process and are offered a position at Tesla, you can look forward to a host of benefits during your employment at this company. Tesla provides employees with 401(k) plans as well as medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage. If you’re thinking of furthering your education and enriching your professional resume, Tesla also has programs for tuition reimbursement.

As a Tesla employee, you’ll also enjoy paid leave and retirement benefits. Like other tech giants, the company takes its employee perks and benefits to a new level by offering a discount on Tesla shares. Tesla is also dedicated to embracing diversity and accommodating individuals with disabilities and provides short and long-term disability packages.

Although Tesla is an automobile company dedicated to manufacturing electric cars and other sustainable products, you’ll find all kinds of jobs aside from electric and mechanical engineer positions. It also provides several IT and software-related roles for tech professionals.

Many people dream of joining Tesla and working on futuristic projects that can change the way we live. But, is it hard to get a job at Tesla? Unfortunately, given the hundreds of thousands of applicants per year, competition is fierce. In 2018 alone, the odds of landing a job at Tesla was only 0.5 percent, with only 2,500 available positions.

The company takes time assessing every applicant, and it is meticulous with its interview process. If you want to stand out among the sea of candidates, you must submit a compelling resume and cover letter and impress your interviewers.