J-PAL Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 109 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
20 roles · 109 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at J-PAL.
J-PAL
Intern
Intern Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The interview is for a J-PAL selection and will be held online, all in English. We'll talk about your research background, the software you use for data analysis, and your personal history.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Could you elaborate on your research experience?
- What software are you familiar with for data analysis?
- Could you share some details about your background?
J-PAL
Research Associate
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Technical screen Onsite Panel
Interview formats
Coding Technical Behavioral Presentation
The hiring process began with a technical assessment involving a coding test (using Stata or R) and a written examination focused on RCTs and evaluations. This stage evaluates both your technical proficiency and your ability to interact effectively with others. Candidates who pass this initial screening are then invited for an interview. I was interviewed by a panel of three individuals simultaneously. During this interview, they inquired about my background and my experience in data collection and analysis. Additionally, they presented me with several hypothetical scenarios related to fieldwork and asked for my proposed solutions. Success in this role is highly correlated with having strong technical skills and demonstrating a collaborative, team-oriented attitude. Performing well on the coding test provides a significant advantage.
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Tell me about a valuable skill you've acquired in Stata or R and how you've used it.
- Suppose you discovered that a field officer was faking survey responses; what steps would you take?
- Describe your background and experience concerning Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and evaluations.
J-PAL
Policy Associate
Senior Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Take home Technical screen Group Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral Presentation
There were a few rounds of interviews, plus a work test. The interviews included both technical and behavioral questions. You'll have a dedicated technical interview and also meet with hiring managers to discuss your professional background. It was a smooth process overall.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Be ready to talk about impact evaluation methods.
- Be ready to talk about causal inference methods.
- Be ready to interpret an econometrics paper in simple terms.
J-PAL
Associate Manager
Manager Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Take home Technical screen
Interview formats
Technical Case
The interview process wasn't overly long in terms of rounds, but the response times were quite slow. The take-home assignment was engaging and covered situational analysis along with technical knowledge of RCTs and research. However, it felt like the interviewer hadn't reviewed the assignment beforehand, as many technical questions were repeated, and they didn't seem to grasp my explanations, especially when I referred back to points made in the assignment. A review of the assignment would have been beneficial. It was disappointing not to receive a reason for rejection after such an extensive and demanding process; feedback would have been helpful.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Given a scenario, which research method would you propose?
- Can you elaborate on your technical expertise regarding RCTs and Research?
J-PAL Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from J-PAL interview reports.
“Can you show me some basic Stata codes for converting strings to floats?”
Read reports →“What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)?”
Read reports →“Can you show me some basic Stata codes for performing a t-test?”
Read reports →“How would you calculate the necessary sample size for the nutrition scheme evaluation?”
Read reports →“What would be the appropriate randomization level for the nutrition scheme evaluation?”
Read report →“What are the differences between DID and RCT, and what assumptions do they require? Also, what is the difference between ITT and ATE?”
Read report →“Can you show me some basic Stata codes for merging data?”
Read report →“Explain the distinctions between DID and RCT and their underlying assumptions, as well as the differences between ITT and ATE.”
Read report →“Could you outline the difference between the Difference-In-Differences approach and an RCT?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 109 J-PAL interview reports.