Henry M. Jackson Foundation Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process wasn't too bad. There were three rounds in total. The second interview was done virtually, and the third one was in-person. The lab members were pretty nice and engaged a lot with my questions. They also showed me around the lab, giving me a tour. The questions they asked were pretty simple, making the whole experience feel more like a conversation rather than a formal interview. This seemed appropriate for an entry-level position.

First, you'll chat with the Scientific Director about your research background and career aspirations. Make sure to also ask them about their vision for the bioinformatics analysis team. Then, you’ll present your previous work to different PIs. They might ask about stuff you’ve already covered, like if you know the databases related to their work. They could also ask for your thoughts on new tech, like AI and ML.

The whole interview process lasted about a month. It started with a questionnaire from a recruiter, which I got via email. After finishing it, I heard back in four days about setting up an interview. The first interview was an hour long with two people. They asked standard questions like 'tell me about yourself,' 'what are your career goals,' and 'what do you know about our company.' Later that same day, I was told they wanted to schedule a second interview for the next week. This second interview was also an hour and went deeper into my interest in the role and included some scenario-based questions. Three days after that, they asked for my references. After three business days, I got a call with a job offer. It was a really nice experience; the recruiter was quick to reply to emails and answer my questions.

It was a multi-step process. First, there was a phone meeting with HR, and then a zoom meeting that lasted about 5 hours. The zoom meeting included several individual and team interviews, and it finished with a 1-hour presentation. Everyone I talked to was really nice, passionate, and quick to respond. The HR call was pretty standard. They asked about my interest in working at HMJ, my experience with military folks and their families, what the research team studies, my education, my research background, and what salary I was looking for. The HR people were super friendly. The 5+ hour zoom marathon was a mixed bag and felt pretty overwhelming because it was so long and had different interview styles. Some parts were easier, more like a conversation, asking about research scenarios and giving me time to elaborate on my answers and experience. Other parts were tougher, with quick-fire questions and not much time for follow-up or for me to ask anything. I ended up repeating some answers so many times they started to sound the same. The presentation was at the very end, and I was exhausted by then. As you might guess, I didn't get the job, but HR was really kind when they let me know.