I applied online and was also referred through an employee whom I knew from my graduate school days. A few weeks later, I received an email from the Hiring Manager to schedule an initial phone interview round.

The phone interview started with a formal introduction from the manager, and I was asked to explain my background and PhD thesis work. After speaking in detail and clearly explaining the work, towards the end of the call, I was told he would like me to visit Hillsboro, OR, for an in-person interview. I was briefed that, in order to prepare for the interview, I should be very thorough with my PhD Thesis presentation, along with anything mentioned on my resume.

Travel and stay for the onsite interview were arranged. The interview day started with an initial 45-minute meeting with one of the employees in Intel's cafeteria. I was briefed on the role and position, and by the end of it, I was taken to a conference room for my presentation. Only five employees showed up for the talk, and my presentation was met with three or four questions. It did not seem to me that any member of the audience was interested in the talk. At the end of the talk, I was again taken back to the cafeteria and met another employee for 45 minutes. I was again briefed about what he did and what I would be supposed to do. Mild technical questions related to my experience during my PhD came up.

After this round, I was taken for lunch outside Intel's campus for a 90-minute break. This is supposed to be a round to allow us to get a little casual in terms of asking questions like work/life balance, staying experience in the area, things to do, etc. After lunch, I met with four more employees, with each meeting lasting 45 minutes. They were all very friendly and let you take breaks to get something in between. The interviews in general dealt with both behavioral and technical questions related either from the talk or from a project I had done during my PhD.

The very last round was with the Hiring Manager. He asked about my experience through the entire day and explained the role again with a little deeper insight. He gave me all the time to ask whatever questions I might have. Around the EOD, I was done with my interview, and he walked me to the reception.

Things to note:

• You need to have questions to ask about the role and process.
• Do a good background study about what you are being interviewed for.
• Be prepared with your talk. Print out your slides (I picked this up from Glassdoor) and be enthusiastic.

It's very easy to feel jaded with the interview process and meeting people through the day; the key is to come across as being very involved.

At the end of the interview, I was told that I would hear something within two weeks. If I didn't, then I should write to the manager asking about the result. I waited for a little more than two weeks and learned that they had passed me through the technical round and were now in the process of offer extension. I was told this process could take one to two months, and I had to be extremely patient.

I kept waiting. After about a month, I received an email from the HR team to provide consent for a background check. Two weeks later, I received an email from an immigration attorney assessing the possibility of granting me a Visa. Finally, exactly two months (not eight weeks) from the date of my interview, I received a call about a verbal offer, and a day later, I received my offer letter.

Through the entire process, being patient is the key. They take the due time to let the candidates know.

1. Given a chance, how would you change the way you did your Ph.D.?

2. Why Intel?

3. Talk about strengths and weaknesses and explain them in the context of the job.

4. Technical questions from the presentation this morning.