A new OpenAI hire breaks down her 57-interview job hunt

In a remarkable account of perseverance, Alisa Liu reflects on her lengthy job search that culminated in an AI researcher position at OpenAI, the organization behind ChatGPT. Liu's experience involved an astonishing 57 interviews across 11 different companies, which she described as both challenging and rewarding in her recent blog post. As she concluded her six-year PhD program in natural language processing at the University of Washington, Liu embarked on her search for research scientist and technical staff roles within the AI sector. She noted that her journey included extensive informal networking, with 46 recruiter conversations and 16 post-offer discussions contributing to her experience. Liu candidly shared her emotional struggles throughout the job hunt, stating, "Frankly, I was stressed, miserable, and not functioning in other parts of my life for several months." She emphasized the pressure of making significant decisions with limited information and reassured others in similar situations that they are not alone. In her blog, Liu offered valuable insights into navigating the competitive AI hiring landscape. She advised against overwhelming oneself with practice interviews across too many companies and encouraged strategic timing for interviews. Utilizing professional networks effectively can also be a crucial strategy in landing interviews, she remarked. Liu highlighted that while research experience can be beneficial, companies often prioritize technical skills and knowledge during the interview process. Her own interviews included a variety of assessments, from coding challenges in machine learning to rapid-fire questions on advanced concepts like 5D parallelism and positional encoding. She recommended brushing up on foundational topics such as probability, linear algebra, and calculus in preparation for technical interviews. Moreover, Liu acknowledged the complexities of negotiating job offers, noting that it is a challenging aspect not adequately covered during PhD training. "Putting in energy here for a few weeks can, literally, be equivalent to years of work at the initial offer," she advised, emphasizing the importance of being well-prepared for this critical stage of the hiring process.