I am a PhD Math/Physics. Sent resume to a Recruiter who approached me on LinkedIn. Asked for phone interview a few days after. Phone interview was entirely technical, only asked for my name. Consisted of two simple brain teasers. Passed technical phone interview and the next day I was invited for on-site interview.
This is where things went south. I had been interviewing for several other R&D positions in government and industry. All other opportunities required a presentation of PhD research and personal questions (getting to know people, shown around the office, going to lunch, etc.). I wasn't asked by CGG to give a presentation, but I figured it would be similar. I was wrong.
Flew to Houston, TX for the interview. Here was my interview process: arrived at CGG around 9am, escorted to small, empty conference room, told I would be meeting with a single hiring manager, waited in conference room for ~15min, hiring manager comes in, asks me a few questions about resume (why am I interested, etc.), then the manager starts another technical interview with similar brain teasers I was asked over the phone, spent ~30-45 min working through 3 brain teasers, was asked if I had any questions, then I was sent on my way (about 11 am).
Personally, I thought the whole experience was ridiculous. Why would you spend the money on flight, hotel, and rental car, just to do something that could easily have been done over the phone? Why would you repeat the technical/brain teaser portion of the interview for a candidate who is wrapping up a Math-Physics PhD with tons of research and teaching experience? I don't understand this company's logic.
To top it off, I wasn't offered the position. Waste of time. Though I am not surprised by any of this considering the other interview reviews on this site.