Sangamo Therapeutics Interview Questions
& Process

I applied for a job that seemed like a good fit. The interview process started with HR, then I had an onsite interview with the hiring manager. I also spoke with the Associate Director of IT and felt I answered their questions well. Even though I have several years of experience in IT at big global companies, the interview felt a bit off. It seemed like they were downplaying my experience instead of really digging into it. The interview started late, and it looked like the interviewer wasn't ready. They had to cut it short because of another meeting, so it felt rushed and unfinished. I was supposed to have another meeting with HR after that, but it didn't happen. Overall, the experience made me question the professionalism and leadership there. Because of how the interviews went, I don't think this is the right place for me.

I went through 3 phone/Zoom interviews, including ones with HR and the hiring managers. Things seemed positive and I felt like I was a serious candidate. But, after the last interview, I never heard back. I followed up three times with two different HR people and got no response. I was really unhappy with how unprofessional that was. After multiple interviews, you'd expect some kind of response or feedback.

It was a normal interview process, but there was a surprise pop-quiz on biology, covering basic molecular biology and lab calculations. It wasn't super hard but definitely unexpected! You also had to discuss your previous lab experience, describing the science involved. It's pretty standard for lab work. Recent grads should have prior lab experience. If you're from Berkeley, make sure you took the advanced genetics course and did well, as they might check transcripts. It seems like a small biotech, but they are surprisingly selective, so your experience is key. There's not much specific preparation needed for the interview itself.

I spoke with three people total. Two of them were looking for an intern for their team, and one was more senior. The whole thing took about two hours. The first person I talked to started off by asking about my resume, my related job experiences, and what related classes I've taken. They were basically trying to see if I'd be a good fit. Then, they went into a lot of detail about the project they'd have me working on. The second person I interviewed with was the other project coordinator, and this chat was way shorter and more direct. They were looking at whether my resume showed I'd been consistently doing things relevant to the role, or if I'd spread myself too thin in college. The last interviewer was a professor from UC Berkeley. They looked over my resume, asked why I chose my major, how my college experience was overall, and questioned some of my grades.