Machine Heart

Jun 22, 2026 · Interview Experience

From 57 Interviews to an OpenAI Offer: A PhD’s Playbook for Landing Top AI Roles

Alisa Liu, a soon‑to‑graduate NLP PhD, shares a detailed, data‑driven recount of 57 technical interviews across 11 AI firms, revealing the pitfalls, preparation strategies, interview formats, negotiation tactics, and emotional challenges she faced on her path to an OpenAI Research Scientist offer.