I applied online for a position at the ICG. About a week later, I received an email from the ICG for a phone interview. A week later, I was re-contacted for a skype interview.

The interview lasted around half an hour and felt very structured – all the questions were undoubtedly prepared in advance, and all the applicants were asked the same set. There was no attempt to get to know you better by asking follow-up questions based on your answers, and you were generally expected to provide a theoretical and impersonal answer. For example, rather than describing your previous research experience, you were told to outline the necessary steps that must be taken to produce a good research. I might have been spoiled by my previous experience with other international organisations, where the interview was conducted like a dialogue, but I did not enjoy the process much. I did not receive any feedback either – only a two-sentence e-mail saying that I was unsuccessful.