Odd. Only one panel interview, no discussion about what research projects I’d be on. At the end of the panel interview the HR person showed me all the benefits IDA offers - which I was not interested in before getting an offer.
I applied online. I interviewed at Institute for Defense Analyses (Alexandria, VA) in Apr 2026
Interview
First was an HR phone screening (30 mins), then the next week came a 2-person technical zoom screening (45 mins). After which point they contacted all of my references, and the final step was a full-day on-site with individual and group interviews with a lot of different people + an hour-long presentation panel (which you give) and lunch.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Why are you interested in working at IDA? What draws you to the National Defense Space?
I applied online. I interviewed at Institute for Defense Analyses (Alexandria, VA) in Sept 2019
Interview
Formal interview on-site with follow-up phone calls from potential project managers. Had interview over the course of a morning with multiple people in the division I would be working in. Questions varied based on the role of the person there but they made people from all levels of the division available which was helpful!
Interview questions [2]
Question 1
How my background would prepare me for the diverse research that IDA conducts
