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Columbia University Interview Questions & Reviews in New York City, NY Area

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Updated Mar 7, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
Ratings are reflective of location and job title.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 9 ratings

2.6

“Easy” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 9 ratings

Positive	44%
Neutral	33%
Negative	22%

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2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Nov 2011 in New York, NY (took a day)

It was a phone interview for a part-time internship at Oberon. The interviewer was just an intern at the company. I was asked about general questions like why are you interested in the company, and describe your leadership experience. I was also asked about accounting knowledge, such as the three most important statements.

Interview Questions

What are the most three important financial statements?

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Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Feb 2012 in New York, NY (took a day)

The interview process begins at 845am and ends around 250pm. The day begins with a breakfast presentation about the school and what to expect over the years. Immediately after the presentation everyone gets a 1:1 interview in an open room (simultaneously). The school stresses that the interview duration is no measure of performance and acceptance. While waiting for lunch, financial aid dropped to review the options students have for financing this education. Lunch was fantastic: I had salmon and leg of lamb. During lunch we had the opportunity to chat with the 1st and 2nd years. After lunch, we were given a tour of the campus dorms and facilities.

The interviewer will present your case file to the committee in a week, which means that it will take close to two weeks to get notice of their decision.

Overall, the interview process was very laid back and everyone was friendly.

Interview Questions

What would you do if you didn't get into any graduate program this year?

Answer Question

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Feb 2010 in New York, NY (took 2 days)

I emailed the PI to say that I was interested in her research and to ask if she had any spots available. She she yes and we corresponded a bit by email. Then I had an in-person 1:1 interview with her. I thought it went fairly well. She didn't ask anything too difficult, but she was new to the university (and the country) and didn't seem to understand the distinction between a research assistant and a graduate student. She kept saying things about me being in graduate school, which I am currently not. That made the whole experience a bit confusing.

Interview Questions

What one aspect of my lab's research interests you most?

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.

More Columbia University Research Assistant Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Sep 2011 in New York, NY (took 5 days)

I saw the job posting, I arranged my schedule. We went through my resume. They asked me questions. They asked me technical questions. They asked me questions regarding my future. I answered everything and then they told that they would call me. But they never called back.

Interview Questions

How I get to that point in my career?

View Answers (1)

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Apr 2011 in New York, NY (took 6 weeks)

I applied to this position online after hearing of it through a referral. It had been vacant for months and still is vacant three and a half months later. I found the whole process very slow and disappointing. It took about six weeks for them to call. I had a short phone interview the following day with the executive director of HR. She told me someone from the business school would call me to set up in person interviews. I interviewed in person about two weeks later. First, I met with the assistant director of HR who was pleasant. She asked me several of the typical questions and many about supervising others. Then I met with the senior associate dean of the business school who was very nice. That interview was very short and the easiest of the three. Next was the executive director of financial planning who was the toughest. It was very hard to read her. All three interviews combined took a little over an hour. I sent thank you emails to all three and received no response. I also sent a follow up email to the HR asst director I met with which also went unanswered. I found the lack of feedback or follow up to be very unprofessional. The campus was beautiful. I think salary was one issue against me. It doesn't seem that they pay very well.

Interview Questions

Interview questions were normal. Nothing really unexpected.

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

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Inappropriate?

1.0

Very Easy Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed May 2011 in New York, NY (took a day)

This was easily the most useless and unprofessional interview I have ever had. The interviewer was completely unprepared and didn't even have a computer for the Powerpoint presentation he asked me to prepare - something I spent days working on. In addition to that, I was asked absolutely no questions relevant to my job experience. I was not even given any feedback except for some highly unprofessional comments about my lack of time-management skills due to the fact that I went overtime on my presentation. (So sorry about that, by the way. Next time I give a Powerpoint presentation WITHOUT a computer and no way to time myself, I'll try to be more in touch with my internal clock!). I also thought it was rather ironic that the guy calling me out on my "time management skills" was at least 10 minutes late for the interview and also didn't even stick to the timeline he gave me concerning when I would hear back about the position. By that point, I realized this whole interview was a joke and that they never had any intention of considering me as a serious candidate. I could go on and on but I will stop there.... Ultimately, I can't imagine that this "interview" (if I can even call it that?) is indicative of the overall experience at Columbia, but it was nevertheless my experience. It was a huge disappointment and a massive waste of my time and resources. Don't let these jokers give you the run around.

Interview Questions

Where are you originally from?

Answer Question

Do you have any questions about the job?

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Presentation.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Apr 2011 in New York, NY (took 3 weeks)

2 times of phone interviews.
1st, general discussion about past experiences
2nd, detail discussion on potential work and contribution

Interview Questions

how do you incorporate blah blah into a project?

Answer Question

Other Details

More Columbia University Research Scientist Interviews

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Dec 2009 in New York, NY (took 4+ weeks)

Your first interview is with the person you will be reporting to, and if you get a call back, then it's with the HR department to discuss the offer.

Interview Questions

What do you like the most about this type of work?

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

Find out online what the pay grade range means, that way you know what the bottom and the top salary can be.

Other Details

I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Dec 2008 in New York, NY (took 3 weeks)

I submitted my job application on line at the employer's web site.
I got an email from the employer to schedual a phone interview.
I got a phone interview.
A week later, I got an email asking me to interview on site.
At the interview, I met seven people from 9am to 2pm.
2 week later, I got the offer.