I applied online. I interviewed at Gates Foundation
Interview
I have applied for the advertised position online and have received an invitation for a phone interview a few weeks afterwards. I would have described the phone interview with the hiring manager as fairly ordinary would it not be for an inappropriate incident accompanying the interview that was handled unprofessionally. The e-invitation for the interview contained a file with a list of all the other current candidates for this position including their private information and their complete resumes. For a foundation whose work by default entails generating/accumulating highly sensitive information, such a misstep is not acceptable. Thinking that the e-mail is just a call invitation , I did not notice the file until a few minutes before the actual interview. After some time into the interview (which I thought went well) I mentioned to the senior program manager that I have received the candidates file and expressed my concern about the foundation sharing this with interviewees. My concern was met with an improvised excuse (not an apology) at which point the interview abruptly ended. Months later I did not receive any follow up communication from the foundation either regarding the incident nor my application. While mistakes happen, it is how mistakes are handled that matters and that defines an organization.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
- Tell me about your path and career aspirations
- How would you use the resources available at the foundation to achieve x,y,z?
- What are some of the most pressing yet least addressed issues from your point of view?
- How would you identify new exciting technical solutions and initiate new project directions?
Thank you for providing this feedback. May I ask that you send an email to HR @ gates foundation . org referencing this review? I would like to talk with you further.
Thank you again for the candid feedback.
Other Program Officer Interview Reviews for Gates Foundation
Spoke to a recruiter, had initial conversations with two employees then a two-person interview. Very little follow-up, was told I would hear back in a week, and heard back only after I requested information a month later.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
How I would solve a problem that emerges from a process-focused perspective.
I applied through a recruiter. I interviewed at Gates Foundation
Interview
Multi-staged interview process with. multiple levels of conversation with different stakeholders. Interviews stretched over the course of 5 months with gaps in between. Received good updates in-between. Very competitive with a lot of applicants.
Lovely and respectful interview process. I did not ultimately get the role, but felt cared for throughout, and was kept in mind for future roles. The interview helped me prepare for future interviews.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Whether or not I would be willing to relocate to Seattle