Human Rights Watch Interview Questions
& Process

Applied in Feb 2025, heard nothing for a couple of months. Then, surprisingly, got invited to a first-stage interview with the hiring manager after almost three months. It was a 45-minute relaxed "coffee chat" where we got to know each other. I thought it went well and felt positive about the role and organisation. Was told I'd be contacted either way and a final stage was likely for end of May. Since then, over a month ago, no feedback, no updates, no response to follow-ups. The silence is frustrating. While I understand hiring can be busy, a quick message to close the loop is minimal effort and not receiving one feels disorganized and disrespectful, especially for an organisation that promotes fairness.

The interviewers were nice, but the lack of communication was really frustrating. I had a basic phone interview to learn about the position, and then the next week I had the final panel interview. They really hyped me up, saying I stood out, was well-spoken and passionate, and a great fit. The job was supposed to start in two weeks, but after a month of no contact, I got a rejection. They said they'd keep me in mind for future roles, but my emails for follow-ups went unanswered. This happened again a few months later for a similar role, where I wasn't updated for a month.

So the process was really long and I felt like they didn't consider how much time it took. It started with an automated online video interview. I got a link to answer 5 or 6 questions about my motivations and past experiences. It took about 30 minutes, and I had 3 to 5 minutes to prep and 3 to 5 minutes to answer, depending on the question. I had two weeks to do it, which was flexible. It might be a bit of a shock if you've never done a video interview before because everything's timed and the software just moves on. The questions themselves were pretty easy and general, just needed to be quick to answer. Then, a week later, they sent a written assignment with three parts. Part one was a memo proposing a specific new research project (700 words). Part two was an internal memo proposing a three-year research and advocacy strategic plan (1600 words). Part three was a dispatch (400 words). I know people in other departments who never had assignments this tough. Even with a week, it was massive! I spent a lot of unpaid hours working on research and advocacy ideas and a strategy for the role. I figured out the division is new and they're building their strategy and team with fresh ideas. As a researcher, I actually found it motivating, giving me a glimpse of what the job could be. The third step was a panel interview with two directors, two seniors, and an associate, lasting an hour. I found the hiring manager and panelists pretty disengaged and not very curious. They weren't interested in my past research, fieldwork, or me. It was supposed to be a conversation, but they just took turns asking questions. Very few follow-ups or technical questions. Most were repeats from the video interview. I realized pretty quickly I wasn't their first choice. Plus, we didn't even discuss the written assignment, and I got no feedback on the hours I put in or the ideas I shared. No follow-up on the strategy or research projects I proposed. HR was terrible with communication, never replying to my emails. Communication was bad from the start. I noticed a typo on the video interview deadline and had to figure it out myself by contacting the provider. I never got updates on my application, even though the hiring manager said they usually get back within two weeks and always provide an answer at this stage. I sent four emails (two to HR, two to the hiring manager), and no one even replied to my thank you note after the panel. After weeks of silence following the panel, I was confused when I saw HRW released a statement on a topic related to my dispatch, even using the same image I used. I mean, how weird is that? After my fourth email, the hiring manager told me they were negotiating with another candidate and were hopeful, but due to administrative issues, they hadn't made a formal offer. They couldn't officially say I wasn't chosen but were hopeful. He said he was telling me this because I mentioned having other opportunities. No kind words, not even an apology for the silence. I can't believe a manager would give such an unprofessional answer to someone who invested so much time. HR could have just said they were still reviewing or that they chose someone else. Then, a month later, I got a polite note saying they'd offered the role to someone else and thanked me for my patience, with the usual 'better fit' reason. I knew it could take time, but it feels unfair to take someone so far and give so little feedback, updates, or consideration. This lack of communication during the agreed timeframe, despite a very demanding assessment process, really doesn't reflect well on the organization. Nothing justifies this lack of professionalism from HR or the managers. I hope this review helps candidates prepare and, more importantly, helps HR and management rethink their processes.

I sent in my application via their online system. The whole thing took about 3 months, with the actual hiring part taking 8 weeks. I heard back 6 weeks after the deadline for the job. It was an invite to an automated interview, which was pretty chill and easy. It actually helped me relax since I could take my time to think before answering. I had 7 questions in total, mostly about my past experiences, why I want this job, and why I like the organization. Two weeks later, I got an email saying I made it to the next stage. This was an online panel interview with 4 people from Human Rights Watch. It was fun, but also pretty intense. They asked a mix of scenario-based questions and general ones about my background, the job, and the company. A few hours after that, they told me I had a written assessment. I got the details on Monday. It tested my skills in writing professional documents like an email, a short note, and an invitation to a diplomat. I had 3 hours to do it. About 10 days later, the Regional Director called to confirm my references. They checked them out, and I got an offer a week after that.