Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Interview Questions
& Process

The interview was about an hour long and had two interviewers. It was split into three parts: 1. The core values and goals of the Natural History Museum family 2. Specifics on the camp and job requirements 3. Various scenarios and how you would react to them

It took a while for them to get back to me about an interview (weeks), and they did an on-the-spot phone interview right when they called, asking things like why I wanted to work there, what I liked about the museum, and to tell them about a tough situation at work and how I fixed it. Then, I was asked to come in for a group interview at the museum the next week. I also had to bring this super long application I'd already filled out online, but this one wanted details like my high school info from ages ago, and was like 6 pages. It felt like a waste of time. Anyway, I went in prepared, having looked up the museum and possible questions. About 12-15 people were there. We did some quick group activities, like building a house with cups in 60 seconds, then everyone answered questions. It felt like a speed dating event, and it was hard to know if I was talking enough or too much. I thought I did okay, but it’s tough to stand out in a big group. They said we'd hear back in 1-2 weeks, but after almost a month and calling a few times, I had to email them and finally got rejected. They said they'd let us know either way, so I turned down other jobs waiting to hear back, which felt unprofessional.

The interview process was a long and stressful ordeal. I applied in August and didn't get a response until the end of October. They only had two group interviews scheduled, so I picked the morning one. The night before, around 8:00 pm, they emailed to cancel. They mentioned another interview the following week, but it clashed with my medical treatment. I offered to reschedule, and they said they'd let me know about new slots, but never did. I emailed again to reiterate my interest and asked for an update. They responded that they had one interview later that week and might have more the next. I thanked them and asked for the times to try and secure a spot. They ghosted me again. After four days, I emailed again and they finally got back to me. I finally got an interview, but the day before, they canceled it again. They tried to reschedule, but I declined. It's clear they lack organization, planning, and communication skills. I'm fortunate not to have to work for such a disorganized company.

The interview process was pretty painless, just make sure you research the museum and its community. It's also helpful if you can talk about the organization's mission and how it relates to your own career path or community-building experiences. I was interviewed by two Guest Services Supervisors and there was one other candidate there. We took turns answering questions.