Glassdoor is your free inside look at A*Star interview questions and advice. All 12 interview reviews posted anonymously by A*Star employees and interview candidates.
A*Star Interview Questions & Reviews
Getting the Interview 12 Interviews
Interview Experience 8 Ratings
Lab Officer at A*Star
No Offer – Reviewed Mar 11, 2013
Interview Details – Had one interview
Interview Question – What is your opinion on working in such a stressful environment like our's Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Attachment Student In A-STAR at A*Star
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Singapore (Singapore) Jan 2013 – Reviewed Feb 15, 2013
Interview Details – I am an A*STAR scholar so I was invited to do an internship with A*STAR before I fly off to study for my Bachelors degree. I was given choices of research institutes to join and then projects to chose from.
Interview Question – Why do you want to be a researcher Answer Question
Negotiation Details – Not much negotiation, they asked me if I wanted to do the internship, I said yes, they gave me some projects to chose from, I chose one and I got it.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Research Associate at A*Star
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Singapore (Singapore) Nov 2012 – Reviewed Jan 11, 2013
Interview Details –
I had finished submitting my PhD thesis at a Singapore university and was looking for jobs. I saw an opening at a A*Star institute on their website and sent an email with the necessary details and documents.
I had a interview-meeting with the Principal Investigator (PI) who had that opening. The opening was specific to the short-term project that the PI was starting. PI asked me a few questions about my PhD thesis topic, my interests and my skills. I asked a few questions to learn more about the project.
After this there was a formal interview a couple of weeks later. There were the PI I first met, another PI and one HR person. More questions about my earlier academic and work experience. And the typical useless textbook HR questions.
Interview Question – Nothing difficult. It was all about my skills and my PhD topic. Answer Question
Negotiation Details – HR asked me to quote a salary. Since it was a short-term opening, I quoted a average figure and they agreed to it.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Senior Executive Assistant at A*Star
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Singapore (Singapore) Jun 2012 – Reviewed Dec 16, 2012
Interview Details – Just like any other interview process. First, there will be at least two interviewers, asking questions like your current job, why do you want to leave your current job, what have you done in your current job etc.
Interview Question – What can you contribute to the company? View Answer
Negotiation Details – I went to the interview through a local agency and the negotiation was all done by my agent, she was like the middleman.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Research Officer at A*Star
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Singapore (Singapore) – Reviewed Dec 5, 2012
Interview Details –
1 interview, 2 interviewers and 1 round of interviews.
Entire hiring process took about 45 mins to 1 hour.
Interview Question – What is your weakness? Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Intern at A*Star
Accepted Offer – Reviewed Nov 5, 2012
Interview Details – 2 interview- very easy
Interview Question – nothing really, only basic questions Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Research Fellow at A*Star
Declined Offer – Reviewed Oct 17, 2012
Interview Details – The head will have an interview with you to do scientific assessment. After that, the research officer (HR people) will make a appointment with you for skype interview. Most of the questions are non-scientific, e.g. talk about yourself, what's the your strength and weakness, what's your career plan, etc. Three weeks after the interview, the HR will send you the offer package, which is way below what you proposed to them. Then the negotiation just get started...
Reason for Declining – still under negotiation...
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Research Scientist at A*Star
No Offer – Reviewed Aug 8, 2012
Interview Details –
If you are intending to apply for an A*Star scholarship, please be mindful of a few points:
1. Knowing the organisation and what it stands for.
2. Exemplifying all your research stints and opportunities, and be able to talk about them.
3. Knowing when to apply (after JC, during undergraduate studies e.t.c.)
Interview Question – Views over certain controversial scientific ideas or theory. View Answer
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Engineering at A*Star
Accepted Offer – Interviewed in Apr 2010 – Reviewed Mar 10, 2011
Interview Details – ask about your goal and whether what you can contribute to the company research.
Interview Questions
- yr goals Answer Question
- how you can contribute to the company Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
Research Fellow at A*Star
No Offer – Interviewed in Jul 2009 – Reviewed Dec 30, 2010
Interview Details – A group of students were selected from school to apply for an internship for A*Star. We must have done well in school. After the tiring and frustrating process of filling up forms and getting testimonials from teachers, we submitted out applications to school, where the school management would further filter out the candidates and give them to A*Star. A*Star basically called for a short interview questioning you on details in your application and your personal essay.
Interview Question –
just asked about your application
"Why did you choose this position and not that..."
They read your essay in detail too...
Answer Question
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Problem with this interview?
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