Sandia Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated May 28, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 20 ratings 
“Average” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 20 ratings
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| 11–20 of 20 Sandia Interviews | Sort by |
Intern at Sandia
Posted Feb 14, 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 Dec 2010 (took 1 week)
Started with an in depth email questionnaire. Followed up with a phone call to schedule an in person interview. Finished with the in person interview
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Master's Fellowship at Sandia
Posted Jan 25, 2011
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2010 (took a day)
Few questions. Lots of talk about non relevant things.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Postdoctoral Appointee at Sandia
Posted Dec 25, 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 Nov 2010 in Albuquerque, NM (took 3 months)
First of all, Sandia takes a while, but it is well worth it in the end! At least, I think so... I was originally contacted by a Technical Staff Member regarding the position via email. He was having a difficult time filling it (about a year search) and had seen my resume on a conference website. He also knew of my graduate advisor's reputation and had already invited him out for a talk that was to be a few weeks later. I spoke with the staff member on the phone the next day. I must have passed the initial screening because I was automatically moved to "interview status". Two weeks after the initial contact, the position was reposted by HR online. I applied and let the staff member know. I received an email about setting up the flight, etc. a little over 3 weeks after applying online. Though, I knew what day I would be going out there right after I applied since I had already been in contact with the person interviewing me. One week before the interview, which was 6 weeks after initial contact, I spoke with the hiring manager on the phone and submitted an abstract/biosketch for my interviewee presentation. I flew out the day before the interview and had dinner with the staff member that night. I was very comfortable the whole time, and we had great conversation about my work, work I would be doing, work he had done, Sandia in general, etc. In the morning, I was picked up and taken to get a badge; you are escorted the whole time since you do not have clearance yet. My day consisted of: chatting with the staff member I would be working with and touring the lab plus meeting the staff in that lab (~1.5 hr), a 45 minute presentation + 15 min questions, lunch with 4 staff members, 8 1:1 interviews (30-45 min each), and dinner with 2 staff members I would be working with plus the hiring manager. The presentation should be pretty average in difficulty if you are prepared for technical questions directly related to your work and also questions that make you think about where your research could be applied at Sandia. The 1:1 interviews were roughly half about the interviewer's research and half about you, and most people have already heard about your research at the presentation. I really enjoyed hearing about all of the different things people have done and the ways in which I would be able to collaborate with them. It seems like each interviewer is selected for a reason, which I enjoyed. The staff cannot offer you the position until after everyone you met with files official paperwork, which can take some time. References will be called (professional and personal) early on in this process, too. It took just under two weeks to find out that things were moving in the forward directly; note this was because of the Thanksgiving holiday and people being out of town. I received the verbal offer just under 4 weeks after the interview, and I was actually moved up in the queque of people to be contacted by HR. They are currently trying to hire a bunch of folks, and HR is very busy. Just be patient. Also, I knew the offer was on the way two weeks prior, which made waiting for the official verbal offer much more bearable. The papers to be signed came 4 weeks after the interview (12 weeks after initial contact) and just a few days after I received the verbal offer. The offer package was nicely organized, too. If you do accept the offer, you still have some hoops to jump through before you qualify to hire (DOE clearance, drug test, etc.). Overall, I thought the people were great, and I thought the research was very interesting and challenging. It was also nice knowing what the exact position I would be hired for was and who I would be working with. (Some places do not do this!!!) My best advice would be to be yourself. If you think about it, you do not want to be hired for a job that does not fit you, and you will not be happy taking one that does not fit you. So, just be yourself. And... Ask good questions! Everyone is willing to help you out and answer your questions. Take advantage of that! [I realize this is long, but I hope it was helpful.]
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Postdoctoral appointees have a set salary.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Presentation and a Background Check.
More Sandia Postdoctoral Appointee Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Senior Technologist at Sandia
Posted Aug 31, 2010
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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 Aug 2008 in Livermore, CA (took a day)
Applied online, had many technical issues with their website. Had to walk my resume over to the HR office in person. Was called in for interview and gave a talk, followed by 1 on 1 interviews, along with complimentary lunch. Hiring took 2 months, which is lightening fast for Sandia.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Don't bother negotiating. The offer packages take so long to do, if you counter-offer, they'll just move on.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Presentation.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Postdoctoral Appointee at Sandia
Posted Aug 24, 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 Oct 2009 (took 3 months)
I was contacted by the manager's assistant for an on site interview. The interview consisted of one on one interview, research presentation, panel interview, lab tour, and a complementary lunch.
The people are nice, and the setting of presentation is informal. They didn't put a lot of pressure on me or asked tough question. However, the overall hiring process (including background check) took too much time. I waited about one month to know that I got an offered and then waited for another two and a half months to actually start the work.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Presentation, a Drug Test and a Background Check.
More Sandia Postdoctoral Appointee Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Engineering at Sandia
Posted Jun 28, 2010
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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 Sep 2009 in Livermore, CA (took a day)
Met recruiter at college career fair and had initial on campus interview. Got email notification for on site visit and interview. Had several one on one interviews and a group interview gave a presentation on my research. Answered several questions regarding my research. Was given tours of various labs and talked about what they did there.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Presentation.
More Sandia Engineering Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Engineering at Sandia
Posted Jun 8, 2010
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2008 in Albuquerque, NM (took 3 weeks)
Had initial phone interview, then person to person behavioral interview. Could not discuss much about project to protect information. Experience overal was better than expected and compared to other industry interviews was easier than expect. Process is quite slow to be hired on to Sandia, but was assured they are working on it.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
More Sandia Engineering Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Technical Team Leader at Sandia
Posted May 8, 2010
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5.0
Very Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Sep 2009 in Albuquerque, NM (took a day)
It was a group interview with people familiar with the department and tasks required. There was also one supervisor from a different division as a check. It was interesting that not only was the interview about the specific job but, also suitability as a future representative of the company.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Not really. The offer was made and when it was challenged, the response was that it was based on industry survey's and others in that position in the company.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview, a Drug Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Postdoctoral Appointee at Sandia
Posted Jan 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 Jan 2008 in Albuquerque, NM (took a day)
Sent application after discussing potential for post doc position with staff scientist. Staff scientist submitted the position to HR, and I applied for the position online when it showed up. There was some background check paperwork to fill out. I accepted the offer to come out and interview. It consisted of a sit down with HR to talk about benefits and requirements. Then a presentation to scientists in the department, and then 1:1 interviews with various scientists in the department and lab tours, as usual. I went to lunch with some researchers and then to dinner with the staff scientist offering the position.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Standard offer, controlled by corporation.
Other Details
I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Presentation, a Drug Test and a Background Check.
More Sandia Postdoctoral Appointee Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Member of Technical Staff at Sandia
Posted Jul 28, 2009
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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 Nov 2008 in Livermore, CA (took a day)
I knew someone working there and submitted resume through him. Whole day of 1:1 and 2:1. Very bright people. Liked to talk about their projects. They were more interested in whether you could potentially contribute to a problem they were solving than any specific questions on programming syntax. They are also very concerned with education.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Background Check.
More Sandia Member of Technical Staff Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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