Nice and easy general questions The interview process was well-structured and organized, with clear communication throughout each stage. The interviewers were professional, welcoming, and created a comfortable environment that made it easy to engage and share my experiences. I appreciated the thoughtful questions, the opportunity to discuss my skills in depth, and the timely follow-up, which made the overall experience feel smooth, fair, and candidate-focused.
I applied online. I interviewed at Salk Institute (San Diego, CA) in Dec 2025
Interview
Three rounds of interviews:
1. HR - culture & fit interview. The team will ask you the lowest pay you are willing to take
2. Director interview with senior leadership (panel of 3). Assigned a case study 3 days before interview was scheduled with ~30 questions. 2-hour interview going over experience and the case study.
3. In-person interview with 2 more managers followed by team lunch (2 hours)
References requested the same day following round 3 interview. 5 references requested with a minimum of 3 former or current managers, with a 24-hour deadline.
2 weeks later, checked in with HR recruiter and they responded that the position was filled.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell us about your current experience and how it relates to this role.
I interviewed for a senior leadership advancement role. The interview ended much earlier than scheduled, and only one substantive question was asked. During the brief interview, the interviewer commented that she was happy to finally have a team “without drama” and emphasized wanting to keep it that way. In this context, the comment felt unnecessary and created discomfort, raising concerns about consistency and inclusivity in the hiring process.