Open Society Foundations Specialist Interview Questions
& Process

I had 2 interviews. The first was with HR, and then there was a panel interview with 3 people I might work with. It took about 6-7 weeks from applying to hear back for the first interview. Both interviews were good. Everyone was friendly and explained the role well. I was asked to do an analytical test and had 24 hours to complete it. After I sent it back, it took almost 2 months to get a rejection, even though I followed up a few times. I asked for feedback from the 4 people I talked to, but haven't heard back a month later (and I'm still waiting). I'd really like to know what I could improve to be a better candidate next time.

The interview process was quite long and disorganized. It involved a phone call, a writing task, and two meetings with the program staff. The interviewers were nice but didn't seem very engaged. They talked a lot and repeated themselves, which made me pretty bored by the time they actually asked questions. My biggest issue was how they handled things at the end, especially after I made it to the final round. I was hopeful after they told me it was down to me and one other person, but after about a month with no word, I reached out to HR. I got a cold email back saying the other candidate got the job. It felt rude and unfair, given all the effort and time I put in (at least 3 weekends). Even though I still believe OSF is a good organization, I was really let down and felt mistreated by the staff.

The entire hiring journey, from application submission to the final offer, spanned approximately three months. Initially, there was an interview with a hiring manager. This was followed by a second round involving two hiring managers and a team member. Concurrently, an HR officer for the Latin American Department conducted an interview. The subsequent stage required completing a written assignment. Overall, the process was very efficient, and the HR officer managing it was excellent.