Harvard University Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated Dec 7, 2011 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 35 ratings 
“Average” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 35 ratings
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| 1–10 of 35 Harvard University Interviews | Sort by |
Research Analyst at Harvard University
Posted Dec 7, 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 Jan 2011 (took 2 days)
I met with a panel of people, then with HR.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Ludicrous. We were going back and forth over what amounted to $10 per paycheck.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Associate Director at Harvard University
Posted Nov 30, 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 Aug 2011 (took a day)
The preliminary interview was a phone Interview. I was told the next steps but never heard back until I checked in about a month and a half later to see if the position was filled. I was told it wasn't but they had a freeze do to the time of year being incredibly busy and that I was still in the running. Later that week I got the rejection email.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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.
More Harvard University Director Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Research Assistant at Harvard University
Posted Sep 5, 2011
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Feb 2010 (took a day)
After using the student employment site, I both applied through the site and emailed the contact listed directly expressing interest in the job. I was then contacted via email to come in for a 1:1 interview. After meeting the department head for about 15-20 minutes in person during which my experience and availability were discussed, I received an offer a few days later, again by email.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
N/A-the compensation was clearly outlined before the interview.
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
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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.
More Harvard University Research Associate Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University
Posted Aug 18, 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 Apr 2010 (took 3 days)
Contacted the PI directly. We hit it off immediately and I've really enjoyed working in the lab. The PI is very busy, over committed so a lot of the day to day advising falls on the postdocs. There are 6 postdocs, 5 graduate students, 2 undergrads and 2 high school students in the lab.
Negotiation Details
no negotiation phase
Other Details
I applied In-Person and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
More Harvard University Postdoctoral Fellow Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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.
More Harvard University Director Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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?
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