The recruitment process at the ILL
Our general recruitment framework is outlined below. In practice, the different stages can vary from role to role: some vacancies remain open indefinitely, on-site interviews may be longer or shorter, and practical exercises are only required for certain roles. The specific details of the recruitment process will be explained to you as you progress through the various stages.
Good to know: This recruitment process applies to vacancies for permanent and fixed-term positions. PhD students, interns and apprentices, as well as contracts with specific funding (ANR or European Union projects), have their own separate process. Find out about these opportunities and how to apply on our PhD recruitment, Internships and Apprenticeships pages.
1st stage
You apply
It all starts with an application. Our vacancies are published under the tab "Our offers" and posted on our social media pages. They remain online for several weeks, some of them indefinitely. Our advice: if you see a job that interests you, don't wait until the last moment to apply – for some posts, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
2ND STAGE
Preselection
Once the job vacancy is closed, your application will be reviewed by our recruitment team, in close cooperation with the line manager, who is the person most familiar with the role, the team and the work environment. Together, they will draw up an initial shortlist of candidates.
3RD STAGE
Initial video interview
If your profile is shortlisted, we will invite you to an initial video call, which will last around 30 minutes. This is intended to be a simple, friendly chat: the aim is to get to know each other, not to put you to the test.
4TH STAGE
On-site interview
The on-site interview is the most important stage. We will invite you to our campus in the heart of Grenoble for an in-depth interview (generally lasting 1–1.5 hours) and a tour of the site. Candidates will sometimes also be required to complete a practical exercise.
5TH STAGE
Decision
Following your visit to our site, the people who interviewed you will meet in order to discuss (as a group 😊) the candidates. The final decision is never made by a single person: it is taken collectively, based on the interview and, if applicable, the practical exercise. This guarantees fairness, as your application is assessed from several different perspectives.
FINAL STAGE
Proposal and onboarding
If you are successful, we will make you an offer. We will then begin preparing for your arrival together. At the ILL, the onboarding process doesn't stop when you sign your employment contract: everything is carefully planned to make you feel at home from day one.