CNRS Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 106 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
15 roles · 106 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at CNRS.
CNRS
Engineer
Entry Average Positive experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
The hiring process for a fixed-term contract involves just one 30-minute interview. It includes about 10 minutes for self-introduction, followed by a Q&A session. Since it's public research, the discussion can be quite informal, but it really depends on who you're talking to. Theoretically, you're not supposed to contact recruiters beforehand, but again, that varies and could either help or hurt. The key is to really understand the job opening and connect it to your skills and past experiences, and to read some papers from the researchers involved in the project.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you tell me about your experience with Python?
CNRS
Chargé De Communication
Entry Easy Negative experience Decline offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation Other
I applied for a 3-year fixed-term contract, part-time, paid minimum wage. I was interviewed by 6 people. They asked me 'test' questions and then described the job and conditions, telling me it was take it or leave it. None of the people interviewing me really knew my job.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What are your thoughts on our website?
CNRS
Study Engineer
Mid Average Neutral experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Presentation Technical screen
Interview formats
Presentation Behavioral Technical
It was a 30-minute interview, conducted entirely in English, with several engineers present. The first 10 minutes were dedicated to a presentation about my background, experience, and motivations. The remaining 20 minutes were for questions, and the interview was timed. I received an automatic rejection email the next day.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you discuss your past work experiences and your academic background?
- What drives your interest in this opportunity?
- Could you elaborate on your professional journey and educational path?
CNRS
Biologist Engineer
Entry Easy Positive experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
After my application was selected, there was a single interview. The first part of the interview was aimed at understanding my background, skills, and how they align with the position. The second part was to discuss the job objectives, the various tasks to be performed, and a short tour of the premises.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Can you introduce yourself in 5 minutes and list the microscopy software you are familiar with?
- What microscopy software are you proficient in?
CNRS Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from CNRS interview reports.
“How is the stiffness of a spring measured?”
Read reports →“Describe the uses of a low-pass filter and draw a first-order active low-pass filter.”
Read reports →“Name an object used in real-time programming that allows for proper data sharing between concurrent processes.”
Read reports →“What is the role of AI in 2025?”
Read reports →“Are there purely scientific questions about the research field?”
Read report →“Why did you choose to cite this author? It seems like your knowledge of the literature isn't very strong, is that right?”
Read report →“Can you describe your understanding of the CNRS ecosystem?”
Read report →“What do you know about the scientific world?”
Read report →“Why do you want to do a PhD?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 106 CNRS interview reports.