Preparing for an interview can be a daunting task, especially when it’s for a prestigious company like Genentech. Candidates often wonder about the genentech interview questions they might face. This article is meant to give you an idea of the kinds of questions that Genentech might ask during an interview. The questions cover everything from knowledge of the industry to people skills, so you can feel confident going into your interview.
When getting ready for an interview at Genentech, one of the biggest biotechnology companies in the world, it’s important to know how the company works and why it values new ideas. Genentech, which is part of the Roche Group, has been a leader in the biotech industry for over 40 years, coming up with new medicines and ways to treat serious illnesses.
Its strict hiring process shows that the company puts a lot of value on scientific excellence, teamwork, and research that is focused on patients. Candidates should get ready to show not only how smart they are in science and technology, but also how well they can work with others and handle the fast-paced nature of the biopharmaceutical field. Applicants can make a good impression in their interviews if they know a lot about Genentech’s mission and are willing to talk about personal experiences that show off relevant skills.
Interviewing at Genentech can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. As one of the world’s leading biotech companies, Genentech attracts top talent from around the globe Competition is fierce for jobs there
If you have an interview coming up with Genentech proper preparation will help you stand out. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most common Genentech interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them.
Overview of the Genentech Interview Process
The interview process at Genentech typically involves:
- An initial phone screen with an HR representative or hiring manager
- An onsite interview consisting of multiple rounds – usually 4-6 short behavioral and technical interviews
- For senior roles, an additional round or two of executive interviews
Interviews are behavioral in nature. The hiring team wants to assess your technical abilities, collaboration skills, problem-solving abilities and cultural fit. You will be asked questions to draw out examples of how you’ve demonstrated these capabilities in the past.
Being able to articulate your experience clearly and concisely is key. The interviewers are looking for specific examples over theoretical responses.
Common Genentech Interview Questions and Answers
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions during Genentech interviews with tips on how to craft your best answers:
Tell me about yourself
- This is often the opening question and acts as an icebreaker.
- Keep your answer to 1-2 minutes and focus on your most relevant experience.
- Articulate your career goals and why Genentech aligns well with what you’re looking for.
Example response: “I’m currently a senior scientist at Biogen with 5 years of experience in cancer immunotherapy research. In my current role, I lead a team of scientists studying novel ways to harness the body’s immune system to fight cancer. Throughout my career, I’ve co-authored 12 publications and my research has led to 3 patents. What excites me most about Genentech is your pioneering work in oncology. Developing breakthrough medicines that significantly improve people’s lives is what motivates me as a scientist. If hired into the associate scientist role on your immuno-oncology team, I would leverage my expertise in T-cell engineering and tumor microenvironments to advance your cancer immunotherapy pipeline.”
Why do you want to work at Genentech?
- Demonstrate you’ve done your research on the company.
- Explain why you’re interested in their scientific approach, company culture and mission.
- Share how Genentech’s values align with your own.
Example response: “I’m deeply inspired by Genentech’s mission to use cutting-edge science to develop breakthrough therapies. The focus on understanding disease at the molecular level in order to craft targeted solutions is incredibly appealing. My graduate research looked at identifying new protein targets involved in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. I’m drawn to Genentech’s similar approach of leveraging a deep understanding of biology to develop medicines. Additionally, I value Genentech’s collaborative culture that empowers scientists to be curious and creative. The investment in professional development and promoting from within is impressive. If hired, I’d be excited to join an organization with such an innovative spirit and contribute my skills as an early drug discovery scientist.”
Tell me about a time you overcame a challenge or obstacle at work.
- Choose an example that highlights problem-solving, persistence and a positive resolution.
- Be detailed in describing the situation, actions you took and results.
- Explain what you learned.
Example response: “When I was working at my last company, I led a team that ran into a significant obstacle with the stability of a new antibody we were developing for our cancer program. After months of work, our lead antibody candidate kept having issues with aggregation, which would disrupt its activity and effectiveness. My team tried numerous strategies to improve stability with no success. Rather than give up, I decided to take a step back and re-evaluate our formulation conditions and assay methods. We discovered issues with our original assays that were likely providing false positives for aggregation. After optimizing the assays, we repeated our stability studies and found the antibody was much more stable than initially thought. This experience taught me the importance of not making assumptions even late in development and thoroughly re-evaluating all aspects of a project when we hit roadblocks. Due to our persistence in solving this challenge, we got the program back on track with minimal delays.”
Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work and how you dealt with it.
- Focus on a professional disagreement rather than personal conflict.
- Emphasize listening, teamwork and a compromise or “win-win” solution.
- Share what you learned.
Example response: “When I was a scientist at Novartis, my team was collaborating with the manufacturing group to scale up production of a new cancer therapy we were developing. We ran into a conflict over the manufacturing method. Research wanted to use a newer, unproven technique while manufacturing wanted to use tried-and-true traditional methods. Both teams had valid perspectives. Rather than argue, I organized a workshop with members from both teams to discuss the pros and cons of each approach. There was some lively debate, but by the end, we arrived at a compromise – we would use traditional methods for the initial clinical batch but start trials of the new method on a pilot scale for future optimization. This allowed us to move the program forward while accommodating both viewpoints. I learned the importance of open communication, avoiding assumptions and finding solutions that meet everyone’s core needs.”
Tell me about a time you had to give difficult feedback to someone you managed. How did you handle it?
- Give background on the situation and why the feedback was necessary.
- Emphasize documenting clear examples to back up your feedback.
- Share how you approached the conversation in a caring yet direct manner.
- Explain how the employee responded and the final outcome.
Example response: “When I was managing a junior scientist, I noticed they were consistently having issues with meeting deadlines on their project deliverables. I documented several examples where experiments and reports were delayed or poorly executed. Rather than let things continue, I knew I needed to have a direct conversation. I prepared for the discussion by gathering clear examples of where expectations were not met but avoided making it personal. During the conversation, I made sure to first listen to their perspective. They explained being stressed about needing more direction so I realized maybe some of this was a management issue. We mutually came up with a plan to check in more regularly and I would provide clearer guidance on priorities. My directness came from a place of wanting them to improve and provide more support. It turned into a productive conversation and their performance subsequently improved. The situation taught me you sometimes have to have difficult talks to elevate someone’s performance to the next level.”
Would you consider yourself a leader? Give an example that demonstrates your leadership capabilities.
- Choose an example that highlights leadership skills like influence, decision-making, accountability and vision.
- Quantify results of your leadership when possible.
Example response: “Yes, I would consider myself a leader. The example that stands out is when I led my team in developing a new high-throughput biomarker screening platform. This was a strategically important project for our group. In order to build internal support, I presented the vision for how this platform could accelerate biomarker discovery to senior leaders and got their buy-in. I brought together our team of scientists with engineers from our automation group and guided the technical design. We discussed risks, milestones and dependencies to keep the project on track. When we hit technical issues, I made the decision to change tactics which ultimately led to a successful pilot. My proudest moment was unveiling the final platform which allowed us to screen biomarkers 90% faster. My team said it was the best project they worked on all year. The experience demonstrated my leadership in conveying a vision, making decisions and bringing a cross-functional team together to deliver results.”
What are your greatest strengths?
- Share 2-3 strengths relevant to the role.
- Provide specific examples of demonstrating these strengths in your past work.
Example response: “A few of my biggest strengths are my creativity, collaboration skills and perseverance. As a scientist, I take innovative approaches to challenging research problems. For example, while working on an autoimmune disease project, I came up with the idea to utilize organoid models to better mimic human disease biology compared to traditional animal models. This innovative approach led to discoveries that had eluded past teams stuck in status quo methods. I’m also an incredibly collaborative team member. I proactively share ideas and reagents with colleagues and have co-authored papers across four different labs at my company. Finally, my perseverance allows me to tackle difficult projects and see them through to results. When I encounter experimental roadblocks, I don’t give up but rather brainstorm new strategies until I solve the problem.”
Do you have any questions for me?
- Ask thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in and knowledge of Genentech.
- Inquire about the interviewer’s experience at the company.
- Get their insights on the team, role and projects you’d work on.
Example questions:
- “What do you enjoy most about working at Genentech?”
Q2 Can you give an example of how you’ve worked with cross-functional teams? (Interdisciplinary Collaboration)
Give a specific example of how you’ve worked with people from different functional areas to answer the question. Discuss any challenges you faced, how you communicated with team members, and the outcome of the collaboration.
Example Answer: At my last job, I worked on a team with people from R other departments. We were tasked with developing a new molecular diagnostic test. It was my job to help with bioinformatics and talk to the R Communication was key in this project, and I held regular meetings with each department to ensure alignment. The collaboration was successful, resulting in a product that received FDA approval six months ahead of schedule.
Q Explain a complex scientific concept in simple terms. (Communication Skills)
How to Answer: Pick a complicated scientific idea you know about and break it down into its most basic parts. Use analogies, simple language, and avoid jargon to make the explanation accessible to someone without a scientific background.
Example Answer: Let’s take the concept of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. Imagine the genome as an enormous book full of instructions that tell a cell how to function. Sometimes, there are typos or errors in the instructions that can cause problems, like diseases. CRISPR-Cas9 is like a precise pair of scissors guided by a GPS. A tiny piece of RNA called the GPS points the scissors (Cas9 protein) right to the spot in the book where the mistake is. After getting there, the scissors will cut out the mistake. The cell will then be able to use a DNA template to fix it. In this way, we might be able to fix genetic mistakes that lead to diseases, which is a lot like editing a book to get rid of any mistakes.
How to Answer Behavioral Interview Questions Sample Answers
FAQ
Is it hard to get hired at Genentech?
