MSD Associate Interview Questions
& Process

So the process is pretty standard: you send in your application with your CV and maybe a cover letter if you feel like it. Then there's some testing, followed by screening questions, and finally an assessment day. The assessment day includes a presentation, a CBI, and a situational interview. The whole thing takes about 3 weeks from start to finish, whether you get the job or not.

A recruiter reached out on LinkedIn in June and we had an initial chat. I got some basic company info, but not much detail on the specific team I'd be managing as an Engineering Manager. We both thought it sounded good and decided to move forward. It took about 1.5 months to get the first interview scheduled. Oddly, before even having any interviews, I got two requests to submit my feedback. The first interview was labeled a 'technical round'. They didn't give much info, just that it would 'assess my technical knowledge'. The interview itself was online with two engineers who seemed disengaged and perhaps not very experienced with interviews. The main interviewer started by reading company details with lots of jargon. When I asked about the team, they were unsure. The other interviewer was distracted, making lunch for his kids. After that strange start, we got into technical questions. It was a mix of random topics: 'Java vs. Python?', 'DB schema implementation?', 'Low-level index implementation?', and 'polymorphism?'. The most memorable moment was when discussing API design and auth tokens; the interviewer asked what types of auth tokens exist, and when I admitted I didn't know and asked for the answer, he suggested Chat-GPT might know. Despite my 15+ years in engineering and management, some 'academic' questions stumped me, though I felt they weren't crucial for daily work. A few days later, an automated email stated they were moving forward with other candidates. No personal contact or feedback was provided. Overall, it felt disorganized, and I'm glad I didn't pursue it further, as the internal workings likely reflect this chaos.

The process involved an exam, a presentation where I discussed myself and my experience, and a technical interview focusing on my experience and validation background. They asked questions about conflict resolution and why I preferred MSD over a consulting role, and the differences between them.