The hiring process at Survival International takes an average of 25 days when considering 4 user submitted interviews across all job titles. Candidates applying for Researcher had the quickest hiring process (on average 21 days), whereas Communications/Press Officer roles had the slowest hiring process (on average 28 days).
I applied in-person. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Survival International (London, England) in Jan 2026
Interview
The application process itself was very smooth. It involved a long application form with thoughtful and quite personal questions about my interest in the role and in the Indigenous cause, followed a few days later by an invitation to interview.
The interview was long — around 1 hour and 30 minutes — with many questions, some of them quite personal, such as “Why did you move to the UK?”. There was also a one-hour task to be completed and submitted by email.
Overall, it wasn't quite welcoming. Despite having dedicated at least three hours to the interview (not including the significant time spent completing the application form and researching the organisation), I did not receive any constructive feedback about my performance or my written task. I felt the organisation was looking for a very specific type of person — one more aligned with fitting into the existing team culture than with the cause itself; someone who would not challenge long-established hierarchies or ways of working that have been in place for decades.
It was an interesting experience, but also deeply frustrating and patronising. Even though I met all the stated criteria, it became clear that there was an unspoken requirement I could never fulfil, as it relates to national and cultural background. I believe the point is clear. I appreciated the opportunity to take part, but I am ultimately grateful not to have been selected - it seems this is not an environment for people who are genuinely committed to Indigenous peoples and challenging the status quo.
I applied online. I interviewed at Survival International
Interview
Had to fill out a 3-page application form that took me hours to fill out. It was exceptionally long and many of the questions not really relevant to the role. Probably spent 4 hours in total on my application for Survival International.
Did not even receive an automated rejection email - they just ghosted me. I understand that there need to be multiple interview rounds to find the right candidate but to not even have the courtesy to send an automated rejection email after asking candidates to fill out a lengthy application form is really poor form.
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Survival International
Interview
X 1 application form
X 2 panel interviews (1 x4 people, 1 x6 people)
X 2 sets of tests (x7 tasks in total)
The process took around 4 weeks in total from applying.