EPO Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 90 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
14 roles · 90 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at EPO.
EPO
Patent Examiner
Mid Average Negative experience Decline offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The first interview went really well and I got moved to the second round quickly. But then things changed. The interviewers seemed biased and like they wanted to keep me out. They asked for things that weren't even required by the rules, which I had read extensively (a 1000-page document) and noted the executives there didn't seem to care about. I ended up in a talent pool, and saw similar jobs posted without offers for anyone in the pool. It felt like a sham. I'd read online that the talent pool is just a nice way to reject candidates, and it turned out to be true. I'm actually glad these issues at the EPO came up during the interview, because it would have been a shame to waste my time with such an organization.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Tell me about the patents you have previously submitted.
EPO
Patent Examiner
Mid Average Positive experience Decline offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Technical screen Recruiter call
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
I had a meeting with two senior patent examiners. They showed me drawings from a patent and asked me to describe what I saw. We also briefly spoke French to check my language skills. Then, I met with the manager to talk about the work environment. If I get an offer, HR will contact me to complete a lot of paperwork about my employment history. All interviews were online.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Can you describe the patent scheme presented?
- Please introduce yourself in French and confirm your willingness to learn the language.
EPO
Patent Examiner
Mid Difficult Negative experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Technical screen Recruiter call
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
The interview process involved two interviews: one highly technical, resembling an exam, and another focusing on soft skills and HR-related situations. The overall selection process was quite poor, as I was only placed on the reserve list. They mentioned they ended up not hiring anyone, and I've been waiting for a response for nearly two years. The way candidates are treated is unacceptable, and the selection process lacks transparency.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Could you analyze this patent for us?
EPO
Patent Examiner
Mid Average Negative experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Technical screen
Interview formats
Technical
After applying online, I had a technical interview with two patent examiners. One was a team leader in a different field than the one I applied for. Most questions were about that other field. The interviewer seemed to enjoy showing off his knowledge and was sometimes hostile, even telling me "I am the one making questions here" when I asked something. It felt like an old-fashioned place with people stuck in their jobs. The interviewers' interaction showed a hierarchical structure, not a diverse or open environment. My interviewer has been there for 28 years. It sounds like a boring, lonely job with little social interaction and repetitive tasks that aren't easily transferable.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Given technical drawings (e.g., chemical molecules) without context, describe and explain them, including how they are made.
- Explain how to read patent claims.
EPO Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from EPO interview reports.
“Regarding aluminum foil, why does it have a shiny side and a matte side?”
Read reports →“Can you compare Eurostat data between different countries or for the EU as a whole?”
Read reports →“Could you identify if this chemical structure is a new discovery?”
Read reports →“Can you determine if a given compound is already documented in this text?”
Read reports →“Can you explain the parts and function of an electric circuit diagram?”
Read report →“Could you explain the working mechanism of this fictional pump, given its schematics?”
Read report →“What is intended to be patented in the submitted document?”
Read report →“Can you determine if a document negates the inventive step?”
Read report →“Could you identify the distinctions between the two provided patent documents?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 90 EPO interview reports.