Varian Medical Systems Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process was quite confusing and a letdown, particularly the recruitment part. Initially, I had a great conversation with the team manager, which left a positive impression. Following that, the recruiter emailed to say I'd advanced to the next round. However, I soon received an automated retraction of that email. Feeling uncertain, I proactively emailed, expressing my continued interest, and was subsequently invited to interview with the recruiter. This interview was informal and pleasant. The recruiter mentioned I'd hear back soon and might be invited for an in-person visit, but I received no further communication and was left completely ghosted despite attempts to follow up. The recruitment team's handling of candidates was highly unprofessional.

Applied online and got an email about an interview with the hiring manager and an FSE over Teams. It was a get-to-know-you type of interview to see if I'd be a good fit. I guess I did well because I moved on to the next interview, which was a group interview with 5 higher management folks. They gave me a knowledge test covering basic electronics, mechanical tools, and computer knowledge. I think I did fine there too, as the recruiter said they were preparing an offer and I should expect it in a few days. I waited a week for the offer, and it never came. Then, the hiring manager emailed me to meet in person. The meeting was fine, and he assured me he'd update me on the position. I never heard back from them, and it's been months. So, basically, ghosted.

The interview process started with a recruiter call where they asked about my location, resident status, salary expectations, and my motivation for joining Varian. I was also asked to describe a past challenging work situation and if I had any questions. This was followed by an interview with the team manager who requested a resume walkthrough and asked about a previous challenging situation and my cultural awareness. The next step involved two senior managers asking for another resume walkthrough, my future career goals (5-10 years), how I handle communication challenges, and the transferability of my skills to the new industry. Initially, I got a rejection, but surprisingly, they extended an offer a week later, which I accepted. I'm currently undergoing the background check process and am thrilled to have secured my dream internship.

I applied directly since I was referred. I had a phone screen with the recruiter, and then I was told I'd meet the hiring manager and some panelists. The salary offered was below my experience level, but I said I'd still be open to discussing it because I was excited about the role. He mentioned he'd check if they could increase the salary, but I never heard back, even after following up like 4-5 times. I eventually CCed the hiring manager, and then I got a response saying they couldn't meet my salary needs (which wasn't even a specific expectation). It's disappointing because I'm a former employee, and this experience has left a bad taste. He did apologize eventually, but it was too late. I actually got another offer around the same salary, so the whole salary discussion felt pointless. This could've been avoided if the recruiter had just gotten back to me or responded to my follow-ups. I really like Varian's mission, but I don't think I'd interview here again.