Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Interview Questions
& Process

I was asked about my motivation for becoming an RA and my suitability for the position. I also had to complete a form regarding my dorm preferences and indicate which class I would be interested in supervising.

The hiring process took ages, like 3 months total. The longest part was waiting to hear back after submitting my resume, which took about 1.5 months. After that, there was a phone interview and then an in-person interview. I actually applied twice, with 3 years in between, and honestly, it felt like nothing changed. Even the recruiters I talked to the first time around were all gone by the second time. When they decide not to move forward with you, they just leave a voicemail and then send an email rejection or update your online profile. It was pretty discouraging, especially when they hype you up about how great you are as a candidate, only to reject you. This happened even though I have two Master's degrees and years of experience, and I was turned down for two entry-level jobs that only required a GED. I've had other universities offer me positions with better pay and roles that actually match my skills.

The interview process took over 4 months with very little communication. It started with a phone interview, then an in-person interview with different people from the department, including the Director, other staff, and people who would report to me. Even though I was told I was overqualified, I still went through the interview. It took 5 weeks to find out I was a finalist, then came the background check and references. After another 4 weeks with no response to my emails or calls, I got a voicemail asking me to call back, which they never returned. I later found out online and via an email that I was not offered the position. I couldn't get any feedback because they never returned my calls.

I had a couple of Skype interviews with the advisor to discuss my motivation, English proficiency, technical background, and long-term career aspirations. We also covered problem-solving approaches and teamwork. A part of the interview involved a presentation of what the advisor expected and whether the role aligned with my interests. Additionally, I had to submit a motivation letter, transcripts, two recommendation letters, and GRE/TOEFL scores.