Top 10 Pharmaceutical Interview Questions and Answers (2024)

FAQs

What questions are asked in a pharmaceutical interview? ›

General questions

What are some of your strengths? What are some of your weaknesses? Why should we hire you for a role as a pharma QA? What are your salary expectations for this position?

Job satisfaction

If you ask anyone who works in the pharmaceutical industry what their main motivation is, it's more than likely you'll hear the same answer: improving people's lives. As the benefits of new medicines are felt by people all over the world, not many jobs offer you more of a chance to do this.

“I should be hired for this role because of my relevant skills, experience, and passion for the industry. I've researched the company and can add value to its growth. My positive attitude, work ethics, and long-term goals align with the job requirements, making me a committed and valuable asset to the company.”

Quality Assurance (QA) covers all aspects that could have an impact on the quality of prescribed pharmaceutical products.

Answer “what is your greatest weakness” by choosing a skill that is not essential to the job you're applying to and by stressing exactly how you're practically addressing your weakness. Some skills that you can use as weaknesses include impatience, multitasking, self-criticism, and procrastination.

What are 5 examples of weaknesses? ›

Example: “My greatest weakness is that I sometimes have a hard time letting go of a project. I'm the biggest critic of my work. I can always find something that needs to be improved or changed. To help myself improve in this area, I give myself deadlines for revisions.

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) is the biologically active component of a drug product (tablet, capsule, cream, injectable) that produces the intended effects.

Rather than offering a set number of the salary you expect, provide the employer with a range in which you'd like your salary to fall. Try to keep your range tight rather than very wide. For example, if you want to make $75,000 a year, a good range to offer would be $73,000 to $80,000.

“I see this opportunity as a way to contribute to an exciting/forward-thinking/fast-moving company/industry, and I feel I can do so by/with my …” “I feel my skills are particularly well-suited to this position because …” “I believe I have the type of knowledge to succeed in this role and at the company because …”

Sample answer template for “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” In five years, I see myself continuing to develop my skills and expertise in [list skills related to the role] in a [name future position] contributing to the growth and success of the organization.

The ability to work under pressure involves dealing with constraints which are often outside of your control - these might be resource or time constraints, the difficulty of the task or having insufficient knowledge required to complete the task, or unforeseen changes or problems.

Why do we need the 6 Cs? The hiring panel may ask you about the six core values to assess your knowledge. The 6 Cs – care, compassion, courage, communication, commitment, competence - are a central part of 'Compassion in Practice'.

What is the highest salaries in pharmaceutical industry? ›

While most pharmaceutical roles require a life sciences degree, you can enter the industry with an alternative education. For example, a business degree focusing on sales or marketing can pave the path to becoming a sales rep.

Think about: your enthusiasm for the profession and the employer and your desire to make your mark. your personal qualities, such as your drive and willingness to learn. the skills the employer seeks and how you have demonstrated them in the past – your answer should show why you would be competent in the job.

These can be professional skills, areas of expertise, personal qualities, or any relevant experience. Also, consider any impressive accomplishments from your past or career goals that speak to your commitment to the field. Think of ways to out-do the other candidates.

QA= GCPs + GMPs + GLPs Page 16 16 Page 17 QA Quality Assurance is the sum total of the organised procedures ensuring that products will be fit for their intended use. GMP GMP is the part of QA that ensures products are consistently manufactured to a standard appropriate to their intended use.

QA is process-oriented, and it focuses on preventing quality issues. QC is product-oriented and focused on identifying quality issues in manufactured products that could affect customer satisfaction. Another way to understand this distinction is actions vs. results.

It's the process of inspecting and approving products to ensure they meet the required customer and regulatory standards. Quality control is an important part of quality management in a pharmaceutical setting. On the other hand, quality assurance is the process of making sure quality requirements have been fulfilled.

What are 3 weaknesses about yourself? ›

When answering, mention what your top strengths are, provide examples on how you've used them in the past, and finally, describe the results you've gotten. Be super specific with your answers. Don't just say “I'm good at X” - really dive deep and give the interviewer a comprehensive answer.

My short-term goal is to get a position in a reputed company and my long-term goal is to get a reputed position in a reputed company. My short-term goal is to work in a reputed company and improve my skills. My long-term goal is to achieve a good position where I am working.

APIs are broadly accepted and used in web applications. There are four different types of APIs commonly used in web services: public, partner, private and composite.

CGMP refers to the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations enforced by the FDA. CGMPs provide for systems that assure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities.

Any drug is made up of two elements one is known as API, and the other is Excipients which are referred to as support the API. Therefore, the combination of API and excipients constitutes any finished medicine.

What is best to say at salary expectations? ›

You can say something like, “Based on my 10 years of experience in this field, I would expect a salary in the range of $Y to $Z.” Before mentioning any numbers, remind the interviewer why he or she should offer you a salary in the first place. Be prepared to negotiate.

Example answer:

One of the big factors that attracted me to this role is the company itself, I have loved your recent innovations and the development of 'X'. Historically, the company has proven time and time again to be a market leader and that would be a great environment for me to develop in.

I want to contribute in the achievement of the other milestones in your organisation. I want an opportunity, I think your company will give me an excellent opportunity to enhance my skills, and help me to gain practical knowledge and experience. I am looking for a platform where I can give my best.

Being interviewed for a new job can be intimidating at any stage of a pharmacist's career. Although some questions are asked in almost every interview, knowing how to answer them honestly while showcasing the traits that employers are looking for can still be a challenge.

General pharmaceutical sales interview questions

Why do you want to work in pharmaceutical sales? What makes you qualified for this position? What are two positive things your previous employer would say about you? How do you maintain your work-life balance?

It is the responsibility of the applicant to frequently check their PharmCAS account and their email communications throughout the admission cycle for updates to their status with CNUCOP. Interview sessions typically last 5-6 hours.

The interview can range between 45 minutes to an hour. Helpful Hint: When an employer calls to arrange an interview, it is fair to ask, “May I ask what the interview format will be so I can prepare?” You can ask about the length, the format and the names of individuals you will meet.

Answer for “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” “In five years, I see myself as an integral part of the company who has helped contribute to the growth and success of the organization. I would like to continue developing my skills and knowledge in order to be able to take on more responsibility within the company.

How much does a Pharmaceutical Industry make in California? As of Apr 7, 2023, the average annual pay for the Pharmaceutical Industry jobs category in California is $81,193 a year.

At the end of any interview be sure to close out by recapping your experience, skills, and passion for the role to ensure the interviewer knows what skills you can offer to the organization. Use everything you learned throughout the interview to tie your experience and skills to the specific role.

What skills do you need for pharmaceutical sales? ›