Interviews in pharma, biotech and medtech follow a pattern. Whatever the role, a handful of themes come up again and again, and candidates who prepare for them properly stand out.
Tell me about a deviation you owned
Not one you were involved in. One you owned. Interviewers want to hear how you found the root cause, who you brought in, what the CAPA was and whether it actually worked. Have two examples ready and be honest about what you would do differently.
How do you work with people who do not report to you
Quality, engineering, production and validation all depend on each other. Expect to be asked about a time you had to persuade another function to change something, and what happened when they pushed back.
What do you know about our products and our site
This sounds obvious and it still catches people out. Read the company's last few press releases, understand what the site makes and know what inspections or expansions have been in the news.
Where do you want to be in three years
Employers are investing heavily in training and they want to know it will pay off. A clear, realistic answer beats an ambitious vague one.
Your consultant will prepare you for the specific people you are meeting. Use them.
Hiring, or thinking about a move?
Talk to the person who would run your search.
