Harvard University Interview Questions & Reviews in Boston, MA Area
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Updated Oct 31, 2011 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
Ratings are reflective of location and job title.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 15 ratings 
“Average” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 15 ratings
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| 1–10 of 15 Harvard University Interviews | Sort by |
Research Assistant III at Harvard University
Posted Oct 31, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Jul 2011 in Cambridge, MA (took a day)
Had interned with the research group before interviewing for a full-time position, so I already knew the individuals I was interviewing with. Usually, though, a departmental HR rep will call you for a brief phone screening before an in-person interview, thus why I marked it as part of the interview. It was a pretty casual process, four 30-minute interviews, one with each researcher within the department. Each asked me about my previous experience with their department and in policy research, then asked about my career goals and how I saw this position fitting in with them. Very straight-forward.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Director at Harvard University
Posted Sep 14, 2011
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2010 in Cambridge, MA (took 2 weeks)
Incredibly thorough process. I was the top candidate from the beginning, but they still called all four references and talked to them for an hour a piece, and gave me a two hour group interview. It wa a bit overwhelming, but it was definitely fair, given the rigor. I was not an inside candidate or connected to anyone at Harvard.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Cordial, Flexible. They gave me a 3k bonus to compensate for a lower salary than I was hoping for.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Background Check.
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Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Research Associate at Harvard University
Posted Sep 1, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2010 in Boston, MA (took 4 months)
I interviewed with a recruiter to discuss the RA position and long term career interests as well as my areas of interest. This was followed with a skills test which consisted of being given pieces of material (i.e., press releases, news articles, etc.) and then being asked to write specific sections of a hypothetical business case. A few days later I heard back from the recruiter indicated that everything went very well, and that I would hear from him if an RA positions in my area became available. I heard back from him twice with different opportunities to come in for interviews with the faculty members with which I would be working.
I think the recruiters at HBS do their best to match the right RA with the right Faculty member. They take the matching process very seriously and it seems to work based on my conversations with other RAs.
Interview Questions
Reason for Declining
I received another job offer from a different organization.
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Skills Test.
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Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
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Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University
Posted Jul 20, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Oct 2009 in Cambridge, MA (took a day)
very casual. Lunch meeting with the 2 professors I was going to work with
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
there is very little room for negotiation since the salary is set by NIH
Other Details
I applied In-Person.
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Helpful Interview?
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No
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Director at Harvard University
Posted Jul 14, 2011 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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5.0
Very Difficult Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Jun 2011 in Cambridge, MA (took a day)
The individuals I met with at Harvard were pleasant enough, and in fact asked good questions, were fair and made the interview mostly enjoyable, not that I was expecting that. I met with 3 individuals for approx. 30 min each. The last interviewer was the person I would work most closely with, if I were to be offered a position. It became clear, that though this was a new position, the 3rd interviewer was passing off all the activities she did not like to the new position. Though I was warned at the beginning of the 3rd interview that I would be given a "quiz" to test my accounting skills, I certainly wasn't looking forward to this and it affected the quality of my interview. So, at the end I was given the quiz which was supposed to take 10 min. It ended up taking more than 20 min. Here is my problem: I was interviewing for a Director of Finance position, that surely had some accounting skills related to it but were not referred to in the job description. In fact, I was surprised that Harvard had the gall to pull this shenanigan for a Director level position. Nonetheless, I bombed this "quiz" and wasn't offered a follow up interview. While, I would apply for future positions at Harvard, I am glad that this particular position didn't work out considering the quality of the interview at the end, and their "screening" process.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Skills Test.
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Helpful Interview?
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Research Intern at Harvard University
Posted Jun 3, 2011
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1.0
Very Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2010 in Cambridge, MA (took a day)
I submitted a resume and application for the position and was contacted by email to set up an interview. The interview was with 2 project managers who were young and laid back. They asked me very simple questions about my knowledge of current affairs, social media marketing, research, and other job related experience. They then asked me about what languages I spoke and how it would be applicable to the job. They then asked me what project, specifically, I would like to work on and why. They also asked me when I would be available and explained in detail what time commitment the job required.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
There was nothing I was able to negotiate.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Student at Harvard University
Posted Jan 6, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Feb 2009 in Cambridge, MA (took a day)
Interviewer was very nice. He asked me about my previous experiences and what past experiences helped shaped who i was today. There was no pressure or anything. He didn't really seem too interested however. It could've gone better if he had given me more time to ask more questions and stuff.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Research Assistant II at Harvard University
Posted Sep 13, 2010
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed May 2008 in Boston, MA (took a day)
The study that I interviewed for had a great team. I met with the head scientist and he was really nice. He only asked me a couple of questions and then explained his experiment to me. I got to meet another scientist on the team and then took a tour of the facilities. Overall, a really chill interview.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Financial Analyst at Harvard University
Posted Jun 24, 2010
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Apr 2008 in Boston, MA (took 2 months)
I had a total of 4 interviews- one with HR, one with 2 hiring managers, one with the director, and finally, a group interview with the team I'd be working with. The interview process was grueling but very positive. It took a total of 2 months from the first interview to the last one and being offererd the position.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
I didn't negotiate because I was offered much more than the minimum I would have settled for. I would advise that one does their homework and know beforehand what the average salary is for the job you're interviewing for.
I was lucky in that I was offered $10,000 MORE per year than the starting salary would be for the SAME EXACT job with my former employer. And I know this because in my old position, I had regular access to what everyone made in my department.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Research Associate at Harvard University
Posted May 16, 2010
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2009 in Boston, MA (took 4 months)
There was one position available and had the impression it had already been earmarked. Took months to respond to me before and after interview.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Skills Test.
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Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
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