I applied online. I interviewed at Human Rights Watch
Interview
- Submitted an application online; didn't hear anything back (other than an automated 'we received your application' email) until a month after
- Was invited to a first round interview which was done on an online platform with no interaction at all with staff: you log in, record yourself over video, and then submit
- after not hearing back anything at all for 2 months, I emailed them to ask where the process stood; only then, after reaching out, did they tell me they decided to go in a different direction and that I was no longer being considered (though apologetic about the fact that they hadn't reached out).
Hopefully they will be changing some of their processes to engage more with applicants, especially those who start the actual interview process.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Please tell us why you are interested in this job and why you believe you are the right candidate for the role
Identify 3 issues where the division should focus its research or advocacy in the next year. Please explain why you would choose those areas of work.
Please describe an experience when a team that you supervised faced a situation that challenged your management skills. What happened, how did you handle it, and what did you learn from the experience?
I applied online. The process took 4 months. I interviewed at Human Rights Watch in Feb 2025
Interview
Disappointing experience after a promising start. I applied for a role in February 2025 and, after hearing nothing for a couple of months, assumed I had been unsuccessful. To my surprise, nearly three months later, I was invited to a first-stage interview with the hiring manager.
The interview was framed as a relaxed “coffee chat” and lasted around 45 minutes. I felt it went well—it was informal, focused on getting to know each other, and left me feeling positive about both the role and the organisation. At the end, I was told I would be contacted either way, and that a final stage was likely to be scheduled for the end of May.
Unfortunately, since that interview, I’ve heard nothing—no feedback, no updates, no response to follow-up emails. It's now been over a month since the interview, and the silence has been frustrating and disappointing.
I understand that roles can attract many applicants and hiring timelines can shift. However, it takes very little effort to send a courteous message to close the loop. Being left in the dark gives the impression of disorganisation and a lack of respect for candidates' time—particularly disheartening for an organisation that promotes advocacy and fairness for others.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Give me an overview of your experience working internationally.