Pew Research Center Research Associate Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 8 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Pew Research Center.
Pew Research Center
Research Associate
Entry Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It's a thorough process. Usually first screened by someone in HR. If pass that, expect to meet multiple people in multiple rounds of interviews. Will be very interested in your past work and how it would be relevant at Pew. Your strengths/weaknesses in research methods, analysis and writing. Your subject expertise.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- What potential research topics could you suggest as projects for this role?
- Could you propose some research topics that you'd be interested in pursuing if you were hired?
- What kinds of projects do you envision yourself working on here, based on your research interests?
Pew Research Center
Research Associate
Entry Average Positive experience Decline offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Panel
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The whole interview process took a good 3 months to complete, which was slower than some other places I interviewed at, possibly due to summer schedules. It involved four main steps: an initial chat with HR, a meeting with the hiring manager and team lead, a technical assessment, and then a final panel interview. While it might seem lengthy to some, I actually liked having so many chances to get a feel for the job, the company vibe, and the actual work. Just a heads-up, they mention salary early on, so don't count on much negotiation room.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- What is your motivation for applying to this position?
- Can you tell me what you understand about this team's research focus?
- Are there specific research areas you are keen on investigating?
Pew Research Center
Research Associate
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I applied to Pew in March and heard back from a recruiter about 10 days later for an interview. This first interview was about my past experiences and went well. About a week and a half after that, I was set up for an interview with the team leads. Pew had to reschedule this one, so it was actually over a month between the first and second interviews. The second interview was about my project management skills, and honestly, I didn't feel like the interviewers were that into me. Maybe it's for the best because they ghosted me after that and never even sent a rejection email.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you explain your project management approach?
Pew Research Center Research Associate Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Pew Research Center interview reports.
“Can you tell me what you understand about this team's research focus?”
Read reports →“Are you planning to apply for academic jobs?”
Read reports →“Why are you interested in PEW?”
Read reports →“Are there specific research areas you are keen on investigating?”
Read reports →“What potential research topics could you suggest as projects for this role?”
Read report →“Could you propose some research topics that you'd be interested in pursuing if you were hired?”
Read report →“Can you tell me what you know about our organization?”
Read report →“What specific areas are you interested in working on?”
Read report →“Tell me about your experience with statistical data software.”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 8 Pew Research Center interview reports.