Bridgewater Associates Investment Associate interview questions

Initially contacted for early round interview in New York because I had been referred by an intern that had received an offer. This interview was cancelled day of due to regulations with my University. Then met with Bridgewater representatives during school career fair separately from the fair location with a few other potential hires. Eventually did first round interview process which was a group interview with 2 other candidates, one Bridgewater interview leader, and one Bridgewater employee observing. Consisted of bringing a discussion question on a meaningful moral/global/political issue that could be debated - describing the topic and then talking it out with the Bridgewater rep and the other two candidates. Each candidate did this and discussion occurred on each question. Received notice of qualifying for second round interview that day, to be conducted the next day. Went off campus to interview all day. Started with larger group panel discussion on topics chosen by Bridgewater interviewers. Probably 8 other candidates in the discussion. Then one-on-one interview with Bridgewater rep going over my resume and discussing different skills and views on my experience. Next two Bridgewater employees interviewed me on cultural fit - kind of a psychoanalysis of how I view certain interactions, take criticism, what my own strengths and weaknesses are, etc. Next one-on-one with an interviewer and one observer (apparently consulting Bridgewater on their process). They provided me a topic for discussion, gave me a few minutes to prepare a response, came back into the room and asked for my response, then discussed/debated it out for a while. Final interview was the same day at the same location but on the phone with an outside consultant who mainly asked questions about my process for solving problems based on my resume/experiences. Received notice later that night that I had not received an offer because while I was a good fit for company culture (openness, can take criticism, motivated) but not what they were looking for in terms of process for working through problems. Generally fun interview process, one interviewer on the one-on-one discussion question was a bit overbearing and mean. Gave a good impression of the work environment. Showed that the culture was easy going and fun but also got good work done and relied on openness and transparency.

At first they have you participate in a group discussion with 4 other students and 2 monitors. Each person comes prepared with a topic and you discuss those topics with the other students, while the 2 monitors (Bridgewater employees) chime in with questions. On day two you have a group of 4 individual interviews: The first is a "Passion Interview" second is a "Topic Discussion" with 2 employees - this is very tough Third is a "Culture Interview" Fourth is a "problem solving Interview" You have to be really self aware to do well in all theses interivews because they keep asking "why do you think that way"