I applied online. The process took 1 day. I interviewed at Empa (St. Gall) in Mar 2014
Interview
I had to give a presentation about my doctoral thesis and about one topic that was given to me in the invitation mail. Then, I was asked many typical HR questions about motivation, future plans etc. At the end, I got questions from department leader and group leader. Other group leaders were also present during the interview.
I applied online. I interviewed at Empa (Dübendorf) in Dec 2020
Interview
I applied online, and got invitation for interview the next day. The interviewed took place one week later, and then I got offer five days after the interview. The interview was with head of the laboratory and PI.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Many behavioral questions asked by the head, and many detailed scientific questions related to the project.
I applied online. I interviewed at Empa in Dec 2020
Interview
I applied online, received interview invitation the next day, had interview via Zoom one week later with PI and laboratory head, and got offer five days later. The interview process was about 1 h, consisted of behavioral questions from the head, and technical questions from PI related to the project.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
1. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
2. What is your greatest achievement?
3. How would your best friend describe you?
4. Literature review, conducting experiments, and writing papers and reports, what do you like the most and least?
5. When you think about your PhD, what do you think you should have improved and done better?
Also, many technical questions (more like quizzes) related to the project. This part is hard to prepare in advance.
I applied in-person. The process took 3 months. I interviewed at Empa
Interview
An EMPA group leader contacted me for a job interview. After a phone-interview, they invited me for a second interview. In this second interview, I was told to give two different lectures. One with my last year's research and a second with ideas on their topics. This last lecture did not sound very fair to me, because they do not know how my resources are, to check bibliography and chemistry software. Of course I did it and everything went very well. However, after being not selected, I noticed that they decided not to open this position and to hire a PhD student instead. In this regard, I feel that all candidates for the postdoctoral position were used to bring ideas on the topic, which they could afterwards use to open a topic for a PhD student. I will, of course, follow regularly the publications and patents of the group to report any possible malpractice.
I recommend the people to be aware and never accept to bring ideas on a topic, only during the interview, but not giving lectures in this regard.
