UC Irvine Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 271 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
30 roles · 271 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at UC Irvine.
UC Irvine
Graduate Student
Entry Average Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
After they like your application, you need to submit an introductory video and then attend an in-person interview before you can get accepted. They do offer application workshops that you can participate in while applying. I really recommend doing one, as it helped me a lot and I got to interview the same day the workshop was held.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Could you describe your short-term and long-term career aspirations?
UC Irvine
Director, Human Resources
Director Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Panel
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
The interview started with a brief recruiter call, under 10 minutes, then I moved to a panel interview. The panel felt really cold and impersonal, with no introductions. They claim to value inclusivity but their interview process is very rigid and inflexible, which contradicts their stated values. It felt like they assume treating everyone the same is best, instead of equitably. This approach clashes with their emphasis on adaptability, service, and relationships, as it seems exclusive of different styles. For a director role, there wasn't enough room to showcase my complex experience. It was concerning to finish without knowing who I'd be working with or how we'd collaborate. The experience was very transactional and robotic, leading to a poor candidate experience. It gave the impression of a very transactional problem-solving approach, which is contrary to what was described in the job posting.
Confirmed questions1 question
- How would you approach implementing DEI programs and initiatives?
UC Irvine
HR Employee Services Representative
Entry Average Neutral experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It was a general interview where they asked questions like 'give an example when this or when this'. However, once they asked if I have ever done it in a college setting, it felt like an automatic no. It seemed like no matter how similar my previous job was to what they needed, I wasn't meeting the true requirement of being a UC employee. This is discouraging as a UCLA grad who loves the UC system.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you provide an example of having performed this task within a college environment?
UC Irvine
Recruitment and Employer Relations Specialist
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 5 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Take home Technical screen Onsite Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
So I applied for a Recruitment and Employer Relations role at UCI Law. The initial contact with the Academic Personnel and HR Coordinator was good, she was responsive. However, after my final interview, which was the 5th round and included an assignment, the communication just stopped. I had to follow up multiple times because I was told I'd hear back in a week, but I heard nothing for almost 3 weeks. I even reached out to the Hiring Manager directly because the coordinator was so unresponsive. I mentioned I had another offer and UCI Law was my top choice. The HM said they hadn't decided yet, almost 3 weeks after my last interview. They promised an update in another week. Eventually, the coordinator sent a rejection email. The whole experience felt unprofessional due to the ghosting.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- What is your interest in UCI Law?
- What aspects of this position spark your enthusiasm?
UC Irvine Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from UC Irvine interview reports.
“How would you calculate a to the power of b (a superpower of a number)?”
Read reports →“How would you instruct someone to draw a bicycle without resorting to common vocabulary such as 'tire' or 'chain'?”
Read reports →“If you could be an animal, what animal would you choose to be?”
Read reports →“Could you explain to me how to draw a bike without using any technical jargon?”
Read reports →“Can you sell me an object that you're given, like a water bottle or pen?”
Read report →“Could you walk me through the steps, from beginning to end, of connecting your computer to the UCInet Mobile Access network?”
Read report →“In situations where a student is lost and can't find a particular building on campus, how would you provide directions?”
Read report →“Could you list and describe the key deliverable documents that a Business Systems Analyst is accountable for?”
Read report →“If you were given a superpower, which one would you choose and what is the reason for that choice?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 271 UC Irvine interview reports.