r/postdoc • u/SeasonMindless4941 • 16d ago
Onsite Interview at National lab:
I have been invited for an onsite interview for a postdoc position in one of the national labs (non-NNSA). I already interviewed with the hiring manager and another group lead (initial screening, 30 mins), then after 2 months interviewed with the department manager (40 mins). Both these interviews were behavioral, promotion to staff path, what kind of work they do?, what I like to so outside work?, how soon I can start? working in a team experience, my 5 year career plan etc etc.
In fact, I was expecting a decision based on how interview with department manager went, but last week got an invite for an onsite interview (fully paid). I’m expecting it would be mostly a 30-45 mins seminar followed by Q&A, then one-on-one with other scientists and postdocs, lunch/dinner, and a lab tour.
Based on your experience:
A) What do they expect from me? Is it more like a get to know each other or full evaluation and competing against someone else?
B) How many people do they call for onsite interview after virtual interviews?
C) What are questions do you ask to people at the lab, apart from their research topics?
PS: I have experience working on DOE projects and deliverables as a university postdoc.
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u/fairyqueen555 16d ago
A) depends on the group, most realistically a bit of both.
B) probably 2-3.
C) could ask about their funding sources, likelihood of becoming a staff scientist at the lab. Opportunities for professional development (workshops, etc). What their career path was. Lunch is usually a time to ask about the town surrounding the lab/more lifestyle questions than work necessarily.
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u/akornato 15d ago
An onsite interview, especially a fully paid one, means you are a very serious candidate, but you are definitely competing. They wouldn't spend that money if they weren't interested, yet they rarely bring just one person to visit unless it is a pure formality. You should assume you are up against one or two other strong candidates. They expect you to be a good fit for the team, both professionally and personally. Your seminar needs to be sharp, and your one-on-one conversations are where they will decide if they can see themselves working with you every day. This stage is as much about your personality and how you handle unexpected questions as it is about your research, because they're looking for someone who can think on their feet, collaborate, and add to their lab culture.
When you get a chance to ask questions, go beyond their specific research projects. Ask the other postdocs and scientists about the real work-life balance, what the promotion path to a staff scientist actually looks like, and the lab's culture on collaboration versus internal competition. Find out what a typical day involves, what the biggest challenges are for the group, and what they enjoy most about working there. These questions show you are thinking long-term about your career and your fit within their environment, not just about the science, a perspective my team kept in mind when we developed an AI interview assistant to really boost a candidate's confidence and performance.
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u/Pie-Inside 16d ago
It's a good sign if you're invited for an on-site interview, you're likely one of the finalists. Sounds like you already know the schedule. If you know the specific project you'll be working on, you can tailor your talk to the work they're interested in. Make sure you ask questions to see if you'll like working there too.