IPG Photonics Interview Questions
& Process

First, there was an online interview with the HR manager focusing on soft skills, language proficiency, and your expectations. Next, an online interview with the Head of Department and the technical lead to assess your technical skills and experience. Finally, an online interview with the CIO, also to evaluate technical skills and experience.

It was a two-stage process. First, a phone call with two interviewers who weren't HR. I don't recall the specifics of that conversation. The next interview was face-to-face. We started with a tour, then went to a conference room for more technical discussions. They asked me about various damping systems and also some coding questions. Towards the end, they wanted to know more about my personality, asking about my hobbies and passions.

The interview started off with a recruiter who seemed very stern and close-minded, almost like they couldn't read my resume and assumed I didn't have the right experience. After I pointed out what was on my resume, they actually started paying attention. The recruiter seemed bored and wasn't interested in answering any questions or explaining the hiring process. Near the end, I was told I should expect an offer and that I was a good fit. I waited two weeks for a follow-up and never heard anything until the recruiter contacted me to say the position was dissolved due to internal movement. Overall, it was a really chaotic hiring process.

The interview process was lengthy, involving four separate interviewers who asked similar questions. It was quite stressful, with the interview held in a confined space for an extended period. While the questions were pertinent, some interviewer responses were unprofessional, like questioning my prior experience, which was process-oriented rather than product-focused, with one interviewer remarking, "so....you have to experience?" Ultimately, it wasn't a positive experience.