I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (Langen (Hessen)) in Apr 2024
Interview
I had to do an online personality assessment and was invited to two interview rounds in person. The first interview was in front of five people (HR, direct superior, vice president, two colleagues from different departments). A lot of questions about my personality, qualifications for the position, and technical knowledge, as well as some role play. The interview also included a written test. For the second interview I first spoke with two people from the research department, then with two people from the IT department, and then went for lunch with two colleagues. Up until lunch the whole interview process went very well and I felt comfortable – mid-lunch the mood seemed to change and I was not able to live up to the standards of one of the interviewers. Personally, I felt one of the interviewers was a bit biased towards me (age, gender) and kept comparing his own experience (or career dreams) with mine, not acknowledging they are totally different. He told me I was competing against a male candidate – I don't know why he emphasized the other candidate was male. I was interrupted several times, I felt like he either twisted my words or took them too literally, he even ordered the other interviewer to be quiet who spoke up for me, turning the three person lunch date into a one-on-one cross-examination – I had a feeling of unease leaving the last conversation. Too bad only one interaction can ruin an otherwise excellent interview process. Although I was very disappointed I did not get the job, maybe it was for the best not ending up in this kind of work environment.
Interview questions [3]
Question 1
Why do you want to work at a federal authority at your young age?
Finger Weg! Im Vorstellungsgespräch werden Dinge abgefragt die man nicht wissen kann, seitdem man arbeitet da. Dazu gibt es mehrere Runden und am Ende bekommt man einen Hungerlohn ausgezahlt. Absolut übertrieben! Am Ende ist es nur eine von vielen billigen Behörden.