University Corporation for Atmospheric Research Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process felt very rote and procedural, more like checking boxes than a real conversation. It was a panel interview where they seemed to be reading from a script of predetermined questions, which made it awkward and impersonal. While everyone was nice, I didn't really get to learn much about the actual position.

It started with a one-way video interview where I had to record my answers to pre-programmed questions. Then, there was an in-person part. Randy, the Talent Acquisition Manager, was great. The roundtable with the team was nice, though formal, but they did lighten the mood with some humor. I also had a one-on-one meeting with the President, which was a pleasure and gave me good insight into his drive and commitment to growing the company. Ultimately, I turned down the offer because I was waiting to hear about a more senior role, but the whole team was fantastic.

UCAR got in touch for an initial interview after I'd waited over a month. It was virtual and they sent questions 24 hours beforehand to be fair, which was nice. Then, they asked for references. My references were happy to help, but had to fill out a long online form with more than 10 questions. It felt like it didn't respect their time. I get doing that for an offer, but it took over two weeks after the references were checked for them to say no offer. Because the reference check was so long and tough, maybe check if you're really a final candidate before giving out your references' info!

The interview process was long, but since I really wanted the job, I was excited and prepared thoroughly. I wasn't informed beforehand that I would be interviewing with three people simultaneously, which is quite different from a one-on-one interview. While I worked hard to prepare my answers, the unexpected group interview threw me off. Despite that, I believe I performed well. Although I didn't get the job, which is fine, what's not fine is that they initially weren't going to inform me at all. It took two weeks and several follow-ups to get a response, which felt disrespectful. I knew I wouldn't get the job, but I intended to demand the respect I deserved as an applicant who invested time and effort, and to get a formal notification. When I finally received it, after multiple follow-ups, it was very generic and impersonal. I informed the potential supervisor who sent it that her recruiting skills were an embarrassment to NCAR, a highly respected organization. Given the important work they do, they should invest in a proper recruiting team, as one expects better from leaders in such a crucial field.