Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process was very professional and well organized. The first round was with the hiring manager for a typical screening and culture fit assessment. The second round was a panel interview with senior managers and other development managers. The third round was with senior executives.

Instead of emailing to schedule, they just call you out of the blue. There were two rounds of interviews, and it took about four months from start to finish with long delays between interviews. It started with a phone screening, followed by a five-person panel interview. The questions weren't overly challenging.

There was a significant delay of 4 weeks between the initial phone screen and the interview scheduling. I was initially told the process would be quick and I'd hear back in a few days. It was frustrating that they waited so long to reach out and then only offered one interview slot for the very next day. I suspect I wasn't their top choice. Also, the job duties weren't clearly defined; the recruiter and interview panel provided conflicting information, and neither matched the job description. This was also a point of frustration. Aside from the communication delays, the interview process was quite standard, very formal, and focused on behavioral questions. The interviewers were pleasant, which was a positive aspect.

The interview process had three parts. First, there were two 1-on-1 interviews with HR and the hiring manager. Then, a panel interview with other managers and senior associates happened. Both the 1-on-1 and panel interviews were straightforward, focusing equally on behavioral and technical questions. I had some comments about the panel interview. A senior associate interrupted me several times when I was answering another senior associate's questions. This senior associate didn't apologize for interrupting me while I was answering another panelist. The panel interview was scheduled for an hour but only lasted 45 minutes, so it wasn't necessary for the senior associate to interrupt me. Maybe this senior associate just lacked manners. Also, this senior associate was late to the video meeting. It was a video interview, and I could see everyone's attire and facial expressions. Even though we work remotely and casual wear is common, some panelists seemed too casual, forgetting they represent the government and are paid by taxpayers. Wearing just a hoodie and T-shirt isn't appropriate. Please be respectful to the interviewee and the interview; at least business casual attire is expected during business hours. If an interviewer has back-to-back meetings and doesn't feel up to interviewing, they should reschedule or inform their superior. Facial expressions can show if an interview is being conducted professionally.