Cell Press Interview Questions
& Process

There were 2 rounds of interviews. First, an HR call to screen my background. Then, a 3-hour session with the hiring manager and other editors. The first hour focused on my understanding of the editorial role and how I'd handle authors. The second hour involved a manuscript test: reading 2 papers in 40 minutes, followed by questions about them. The last hour was for me to ask them questions.

I applied in August 2018 for a Scientific Editor role at iScience (Cell press) and the whole process stretched for over 6 months, with the first interview not happening until December 2018. The first step was a recruiter call with Elsevier who asked about my motivations and then passed my answers along to the Editor in Chief. About a week later, I was sent a questionnaire that I had a week to complete, even though it was over Christmas. This questionnaire involved evaluating papers, identifying papers for the journal, commissioning reviews, promoting the journal at conferences, thoughts on interdisciplinarity, and predicting the future of scientific publishing. A week after that, I had a second interview with the Editor in Chief and the lead editor where we discussed my motivations and open access in detail. Two weeks after that second interview, I had a third interview with the Editor in Chief and the lead editor. This time, they gave me two publications and an abstract, and I had an hour to review them and explain why I would or wouldn't accept them for publication in iScience. Unfortunately, I never heard back after that, despite sending follow-up emails. The entire process was very time-consuming and effortful, and I felt I deserved at least an email response, which has negatively impacted my perception of Elsevier.

The entire hiring process spanned three weeks. I was initially contacted by several HR team members. One of them provided me with inaccurate information and also failed to follow up to confirm the interview time, necessitating a call from me the day before to confirm, despite her assurance that she would reach out. The interview itself went for over an hour and felt more like an interrogation. A group of employees took turns asking me questions, some of which were quite challenging and didn't seem directly related to the role. The employees I met didn't create a welcoming atmosphere, leaving me with a rather negative impression of the company. Ultimately, after three weeks, seven phone calls, and two in-person meetings, the company didn't even bother to send an email informing me of their decision to move forward with other candidates. Luckily, by that point, I wasn't interested in them either.

There are four stages to the interview process, though it can vary depending on the journal. First, you submit an online application, but it's really best to connect with someone and get a referral. Then, there's a writing assignment. After that, you'll have a phone call or Skype interview, which might also include the manuscript test. Finally, there's an in-person site visit that can take anywhere from half a day to a full day, and it might include the manuscript test again.