Camstoll Group Interview Questions
& Process

I went through three rounds of interviews. The first was with two Directors, and it was mostly about my research process, ending with a simple Arabic translation test. The second interview, about 45 minutes, was a bit more challenging, with one interviewer being somewhat aggressive and making a jab about my current role. The final interview with the CEO, also around 45 minutes, was polite, but he emphasized ideological alignment over specific skills. He really values neutrality and strongly dislikes bias. They ultimately decided not to hire anyone.

I'm leaving a review because I know how intimidating the other reviews can be. Overall, the interview process was positive, and I'm not just saying that because I got the job. It's a VERY long and tough process with 3 long interviews, an assignment, and a language test. I wasn't sure I had the job at any point until the offer. Every interview goes deep but isn't tricky. They don't ask tricky questions. Except for the DC interview, there was always someone asking tough questions and someone being a calming presence, which I thought was a great balance. My DC interview was the hardest because I felt I didn't click with the interviewer, but it's about your answers, not clicking. The project took me a whole weekend (9 am to 3 am), BUT it's as necessary for you as it is for them. If you hate the project, you probably shouldn't take the job because you get a real insight into what it's like. But yes, it's worth dedicating a weekend to, based on my first few weeks here. To prepare, look at the company website, have questions ready, and be ready to discuss your research methods. The last interview is the big one – very long and stressful, but again, I disagree with the negative reviews. The CEO is tough, but a director balanced him out and was supportive. They even helped me with a question by referencing something I'd said earlier. After the last interview, I knew I wanted the job, but I didn't get my hopes up. While directors can seem harsh, they light up when talking about their jobs, company, and vision, showing their passion. They want dedicated people who fit. I appreciate the vetting process because it reassures me that I belong here when I have doubts. The job is as hard as the interview process but as rewarding as getting the offer.

I had three different interviews for the Research position. The first was in Los Angeles with a senior research analyst, the second was over the phone with a managing director, and the third took place in Los Angeles with a panel of three interviewers (the first two and the CEO). Each interview lasted between 1-2 hours. I also completed a language proficiency test at the end of the first interview. I was very impressed by the thorough nature of the interviews and the questions asked. It was obvious that the company is very demanding of its employees, but in a very positive manner that produces an exciting work environment.

I was contacted by a recruiter back in December 2015. They mentioned they were looking to hire 8 Senior Researchers and 42 Junior Researchers by January 14, 2016. After about three months of going back and forth via email and phone, we finally set up an interview. The interview itself was about 1.5 hours long and felt pretty good. They said they'd get back to me in about 7 days, but it actually took two weeks. I called them up and found out I didn't get the job. It also turns out they were only planning to hire 8 people in total over a whole year, not 50 in a month.