Council on Foreign Relations Research Associate Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 19 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Council on Foreign Relations.
Council on Foreign Relations
Research Associate
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen
Interview formats
Behavioral
First, there was a standard screening with HR. Then, I had a second round with the Fellow the role would be supporting. I had to chase down various staff members to set up the second round. They wanted things done fast, and after I shifted my schedule quickly, they didn't reply for days about what was next. I didn't hear back about a final decision for months.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you describe your communication style?
Council on Foreign Relations
Research Associate
Entry Easy Neutral experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The interviewer was nice and asked typical phone interview questions like why CFR, why this role, and why I'm qualified. I had 3 questions, but she kept asking if I had more, and I said I'd have more for later rounds. I already knew a lot about the company, so I didn't have more comments or questions. She didn't seem to like that. I never heard back after that. I think I might have been overqualified and I told her a salary much higher than what she mentioned. These could be reasons, but who knows. It wasn't a bad experience overall, but I didn't feel totally comfortable during the chat. I heard back about 2 weeks after applying.
Confirmed questions5 questions
- What are your career aspirations, and are you familiar with our organization?
- What skills do you bring to this role?
- Why CFR?
Council on Foreign Relations
Research Associate
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Take home Technical screen Panel
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
HR screening happened first, where we talked about the job, my resume, and salary. Then there was an RA test that involved translating an article and a simple Excel task about budgets. After that, I interviewed with mid-level management from the Studies department, discussing my experience, how I'd fit at CFR, and life there. The final interview was with a Fellow, where we delved into specific projects and questions related to their research interests. It was a thorough process but quite straightforward. Key advice: really know the Fellow's research interests, their recent projects, main positions, and recent publications.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What are your go-to sources for news and information regarding a specific country or topic?
Council on Foreign Relations Research Associate Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Council on Foreign Relations interview reports.
“What are your thoughts on China's position relative to the United States?”
Read reports →“What are your go-to sources for news and information regarding a specific country or topic?”
Read reports →“Which is more important to you: delivering something perfectly, even if it's late, or delivering it on time, even if it's not perfect?”
Read reports →“What distinguishes CFR from other think tanks or organizations you're considering?”
Read reports →“Can you tell me about your primary sources for news consumption?”
Read report →“Are you able to translate documents from foreign languages into English?”
Read report →“Could you tell me about the argument of your undergraduate thesis?”
Read report →“What are your long-term career aspirations given the temporary nature of RA positions?”
Read report →“Can you identify three current issues within your area of interest?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 19 Council on Foreign Relations interview reports.