Codexis Research Associate Interview Questions
& Process

First, there was an HR phone screen, then a call with the hiring manager. After that, I was flown out for an on-site interview. During the on-site, some employees didn't seem very enthusiastic about working there or interested in me. One even yawned while I was talking to their colleague. One scientist didn't seem to grasp a project I'd worked on, and even after I tried explaining for about 15 minutes, she just said, 'yeah, I don't think it's going to work.' Maybe I wasn't the best candidate or didn't interview well, but as the interview went on, I felt like I wasn't getting great feedback from some of the scientists and became less interested in joining. They might have noticed this because I didn't get an offer, although I didn't think it was a good fit anyway. The hiring manager, though, was really friendly and clearly explained the job and what they expected. A few scientists and group directors were also great and asked and answered good questions.

So, a department director spoke with me first, then I had three panels, each with two people on them. After that, I met with the HR rep. They really need to fill roles quickly because of all the demanding projects they have. So, the interviews weren't as long as I'd hoped, and there wasn't a tour. Just make sure you can talk about your background and why you're a good fit for this job.

I went to their office for a full day of interviews. It involved one-on-one chats with the HR manager and hiring manager, as well as some group interviews with my potential teammates. They made an offer the next week and I had two days to decide.