Caltech (California) Interview Questions
& Process

Started in March 2024, I had a virtual interview with the Director of Planning, Engineering, and Architecture. After that, I was ghosted, leading me to believe I didn't qualify. Then, in January 2025, I was contacted again; they said my name came up and wanted to invite me to an in-person second interview. I agreed, not really expecting anything, and met with the same Director and the Executive Director. After that, I was ghosted again, so I guess I didn't do well or they found someone better. Honestly, it feels negative due to the lack of communication.

It started with a phone screen. Then, they scheduled a few of us for in-person interviews around the same time, so I ended up waiting about 45-60 minutes. While waiting, I had to complete a paper assessment before my turn.

My application got blocked, so I had to use a backup email. Caltech then emailed my original address to schedule a screening call with the manager, which went well. After that, I had a long video interview with 9 people (the manager and 8 scientists). It was mostly behavioral questions and some technical computing questions about my experience. The tone was mostly relaxed, though the manager made a really odd, bullying comment about yelling. He said they'd follow up in two weeks. I followed up by phone, but they ignored me and have been ghosting me for over 4 months. They've reposted the job description multiple times, so it's clear they lied about following up. Seems like an incompetent manager issue there.

Applied, waited for a month, then got a request for an interview. After another month I got the rejection letter. Two main complaints: 1. The 1 month response time between each stage 2. I expected know-it-all snobs going into the interview. That's what I got. No surprise there. But this interview was pretty special. They take themselves way too seriously. Do you really need a SIX-person panel to interview someone for a below-market wage developer job?? I only did the interview for practice and I'm baffled by this. There were two interviewers in particular that seemed so distant emotionally, and out of place in the panel. They seemed unhappy and distracted by other things. As it came to their turn to ask questions, they seemed almost robotic, the way they greeted me and asked me their questions as if going off a script. The questions this pair asked were so generic and served no purpose in prying the candidate for talent. There were some interviewers that knew what they were talking about and we had some good conversations going. Overall, a very pretentious and extra silicon valley mindset. Horrible interviewers. Would not in a MILLION years take the offer of being on their team ESPECIALLY with a salary below 100K.