Open Design Docs

Sr. Researcher

Interview Stages

StageInterviewer(s)Duration
Recruiter Screen[Recruiter Name]30 min
Hiring Manager Screen[Hiring Manager Name]45 min
Portfolio ReviewAll Hiring Team60 min
Round 2: PM[PM Interviewer]45 min
Round 2: Designer[Designer Interviewer]45 min
Round 2: Research[Research Interviewer]45 min
Final/Culture RoundExecutive or Culture Team Member30 min

Recruiter Screen

Focus Areas: Communication, Curiosity, Growth Mindset

  • What drew you to UX research, and what excites you about this opportunity?
  • Tell me about a time you were new to something. How did you go about learning it?
  • Can you describe a situation where you received feedback and how you acted on it?

Hiring Manager Screen

Focus Areas: Research Strategy, Collaboration, Leadership

  • How do you approach developing a research strategy for a product area?
  • Tell me about a time you had to influence stakeholders with research findings.
  • How do you balance short-term research needs with longer-term strategic research?

Portfolio Review

Focus Areas: Research Methods, Storytelling, Impact

The candidate should walk the interviewers through two case studies they are proud of. The presentation should focus on how they approached the research problem, their methodology, key findings, and impact. The case studies should be relevant to the type of work they would do in this role.

Round 2 Interviews

PM Interview

Focus Areas: Collaboration, Product Thinking, Strategic Impact

  • Tell me about a time your research significantly influenced product strategy.
  • How do you approach research when there are competing priorities or limited resources?
  • Describe how you've helped PMs make data-informed decisions.
  • How do you balance qualitative and quantitative insights when working with product teams?

Designer Interview

Focus Areas: Research Methods, Collaboration, Design Impact

  • How do you partner with designers throughout the product development process?
  • Tell me about a time when your research helped resolve a design challenge.
  • How do you ensure research insights are actionable for designers?
  • What methods have you found most effective when collaborating with design teams?

Research Interview

Focus Areas: Research Expertise, Mentorship, Methodological Rigor

  • How do you evaluate which research methods are appropriate for different questions?
  • Tell me about a complex research project you led and how you approached it.
  • How do you mentor junior researchers or help them develop their skills?
  • Describe how you ensure research quality and rigor in your work.

Final/Culture Round

Focus Areas: Cultural Contribution, Leadership, Team Fit

  • How do you approach building research culture within an organization?
  • Tell me about a time you had to navigate a challenging team dynamic.
  • What leadership qualities do you value and how do you demonstrate them?

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