Ho presentato la mia candidatura online. Ho sostenuto un colloquio presso Constructive Bio (Cambridge, East of England, England) nel mese di gen 2025
Colloquio
Screening interview then technical challenge relating to the company and the role. Invited to on-site in person interview where technical challenge was presented and there was a Q&A with standard interview questions and technical questions.
Domande di colloquio [1]
Domanda 1
Mainly technical questions about microbiology and bacterial cloning techniques.
Ho presentato la mia candidatura online. La procedura ha richiesto 3 settimane. Ho sostenuto un colloquio presso Constructive Bio (Cambridge, East of England, England) nel mese di giu 2025
Colloquio
I was invited to an interview screening a week after submitting my application. I replied to the email with my availability, but the recruiter did not reply, so I had to chase her up the following week and send further availability.
Once the interview started, I was asked a standard question about my background and why I was suitable for the role. After this question, I was asked why I had a career gap, and I explained why I left my role and that I have been applying to roles since I left, but stressed this market is very competitive for graduate jobs. She responded, "You didn't think to apply to unrelated roles". I replied that I had applied to both related and unrelated roles; however, there is stiff competition in both related and unrelated roles, which I am sure, as a recruiter, she is aware of. I was asked whether I had had interviews with other companies. I replied I had, and she said, "Well, you didn't get the roles, did you?".
The line of questioning continued to be patronising and condescending. I was asked whether I could relocate. I replied not initially, but after a short period, I would consider relocation if required and that initially I would be commuting; it's a very manageable commute via car. I was then interrogated about my licence, whether I had a car, and whether it was drivable.
I was also asked a personal question: "Do you live with your parents?". I have never been asked this question before in an interview. I do not think asking about personal living arrangements is professional, and recruiters should not be allowed to ask probing questions about candidates' personal lives.
Overall, I found the interview screening patronising and unprofessional. I was not even asked what I knew about the company, or any other role-specific questions, other than the first standard background question.
Domande di colloquio [1]
Domanda 1
Questions included:
- Background and why I was suitable for the role
- Do you live with your parents?
- Why do you have a gap on your CV?
- Do you have a car? Are you able to drive it, and does it work?