20 Alexion Pharmaceuticals Interview Questions and Answers

Alexion Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients with rare diseases. The company’s mission is to develop and deliver life-changing therapies for patients with rare and ultra-rare diseases.

If you’re interviewing for a position at Alexion Pharmaceuticals, you can expect to be asked a mix of questions about your qualifications, work history, and availability. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered a list of sample interview questions and answers.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Interview Process

The interview process at Alexion Pharmaceuticals can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two rounds of interviews, one with HR and one with the hiring manager. For some positions, there may also be a panel interview. The length of the hiring process can vary, but it is typically around three months from start to finish.

1. How do you think your experience at Alexion Pharmaceuticals will help you achieve your career goals?

This question helps the interviewer determine how you plan to use your experience at Alexion Pharmaceuticals to advance in your career. Use examples from your resume or cover letter to show how this company has helped you develop professionally and personally.

Example: “I believe my time at Alexion Pharmaceuticals will help me achieve my goal of becoming a senior pharmaceutical sales representative. I’ve learned valuable skills, such as effective communication and problem-solving, that have helped me succeed in my current role. I also understand the importance of teamwork and collaboration when working with clients and other team members. These skills are essential for achieving success in any industry.”

2. Tell us about a time where you had to deal with a difficult situation in the workplace, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of how you handle conflict and challenges. Use examples from your previous experience to highlight your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and leadership qualities.

Example: “In my last position as an assistant manager at a restaurant, I had a server who was consistently late for their shift. This would cause them to rush through their tables, which in turn caused some customers to leave without paying or tip. After talking with the employee about this issue multiple times, they still weren’t improving. So, I decided to switch their schedule so that they were working during the lunch rush instead of dinner. This helped them improve their time management skills and improved customer satisfaction.”

3. What is your opinion on the current state of the pharmaceutical industry?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your knowledge about the industry and how you feel about it. It’s important to be honest in your answer, but try to focus on the positive aspects of the industry as well as its challenges.

Example: “The pharmaceutical industry is an exciting one because there are so many ways we can improve people’s lives through medicine. However, I do think that some companies have lost sight of this mission by focusing too much on profits. This has led to higher prices for consumers and less transparency when it comes to research and development costs. I believe that if we can find a way to balance these two things, we can create more effective drugs at lower costs.”

4. Have you worked in the healthcare or pharmaceutical industries before?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and experience. If you have worked in the healthcare or pharmaceutical industries before, be sure to share what your role was and how it helped prepare you for this position.

Example: “I’ve never worked in the healthcare or pharmaceutical industries before, but I do have several years of customer service experience. In my last job, I answered phones and emails from customers who had questions about our products. This experience taught me how to communicate with people from all over the world and gave me valuable insight into the needs of different types of customers.”

5. Why are you interested in working for Alexion Pharmaceuticals?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are a good fit for their company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific aspects of Alexion Pharmaceuticals that interest you or how your skills and experience align with what they’re looking for in an employee.

Example: “I’m interested in working for Alexion Pharmaceuticals because I’ve heard great things about the culture here. I also love the mission of the company, which is to develop treatments for rare diseases. My background in research makes me well-suited for this role, as I have extensive knowledge of pharmaceuticals and am excited to apply my skills to helping patients.”

6. Give me an example of a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.

This question is a great way to assess how you handle stress and pressure. It’s important for employers to know that you can manage your emotions in the workplace, especially when working with clients or customers. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you were faced with a stressful situation and how you handled it.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, there was one day where we had multiple emergencies all at once. One of our servers went down, which caused some of our computers to crash. We also received a large shipment of products that needed to be sorted and placed on the shelves. Finally, one of our employees called out sick, leaving us short-staffed.

I took a deep breath and assessed the situation. I asked everyone to help each other get everything done as quickly as possible. Then, I delegated tasks so that everyone could focus on what they do best. In the end, we got everything done by the end of the day.”

7. Describe your leadership style.

As a manager, you’ll need to be able to lead your team. Employers ask this question to learn more about your leadership style and how it might fit with their company culture. To answer this question, think about the different approaches you’ve used in previous roles. Try to pick one that best fits your personality and skills.

Example: “I believe my leadership style is collaborative. I like to work with my team to come up with solutions to problems. I also feel that everyone has something valuable to contribute to the discussion. When we all work together, we can find better ways of doing things than any one person could do on their own. I also value transparency when leading teams. I want my employees to know what’s going on at all times so they don’t have to worry or wonder about anything.”

8. Do you have any experience managing teams? If so, what was your role as manager?

This question can help the interviewer understand your leadership skills and how you might fit into their organization. If you have management experience, describe what motivated your team to work hard and achieve goals.

Example: “In my last position as a senior research scientist at BioTech Labs, I was responsible for managing a small team of five scientists. My role was to ensure that each member of the team had everything they needed to complete their projects on time. I also helped them develop new ideas for experiments and encouraged them to share their thoughts with me so we could discuss any challenges or concerns.”

9. What would be your approach in dealing with an upset patient?

This question is a great way to assess how you handle conflict and challenging situations. It also shows the interviewer your interpersonal skills, which are important for customer service roles. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of a time when you had to deal with an upset patient or client.

Example: “I would first try to understand what was upsetting them. I find that listening carefully and asking questions helps calm people down. If they’re still upset after I’ve listened to their concerns, I will apologize and offer to help in any way I can. For instance, if someone’s medication isn’t working as well as they’d like, I might suggest another option.”

10. Are you comfortable with traveling up to 50% of the time?

Alexion Pharmaceuticals is a global company that requires its employees to travel frequently. The interviewer wants to know if you have any reservations about this aspect of the job and how you would handle it. If you are not comfortable with frequent travel, consider what steps you could take to improve your comfort level in this situation.

Example: “I am very comfortable traveling up to 50% of the time. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about different cultures. In my previous position, I traveled 30% of the time, which was more than I expected when I started. I learned to pack efficiently and plan ahead so I didn’t waste valuable work time on these trips.”

11. What do you think are some challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry today?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your knowledge about the industry and how you might fit in. Use examples from your own experience to highlight your skills, such as critical thinking or communication.

Example: “I think one challenge facing the pharmaceutical industry today is that it’s becoming increasingly difficult for companies to find qualified candidates who are willing to work in research and development. This means there’s a shortage of people with the right skill set to develop new drugs, which makes it more challenging for companies like Alexion Pharmaceuticals to bring new treatments to market. I’m passionate about working in this field because I believe in the power of science to improve lives, so I would love to be part of the solution.”

12. What do you think is the most important quality for someone who works in sales?

This question can help the interviewer determine your understanding of what it takes to succeed in a sales position. When answering, think about what you’ve seen as most important when working with clients and customers.

Example: “I believe that empathy is one of the most important qualities for someone who works in sales. I have found that being able to understand my client’s needs and concerns helps me better meet their expectations. It also allows me to find solutions to problems they may not even know they have yet. This leads to more satisfied customers and higher sales.”

13. Provide an example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you apply critical thinking and problem-solving skills to your work. Use examples from previous jobs that show you have a strong ability to analyze information, make decisions and implement solutions.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist, I was working with a client who had a website that wasn’t functioning properly. The site would randomly shut down or freeze, which made it difficult for users to navigate through the pages. After talking with the client about their business goals, I realized they were trying to increase sales by reaching more customers online.

I started troubleshooting the issue by checking the server logs and looking at the code of the website. I found that there were several errors in the coding that needed to be fixed. Once I completed those repairs, the website worked smoothly again and helped the company reach its sales goal.”

14. Describe a time when you set high standards for yourself and others.

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your leadership skills. Use examples from previous work experiences to explain how you motivated others and helped them achieve goals.

Example: “At my last job, I was a manager for a team of five employees. We had monthly sales quotas that we needed to meet or exceed each month. One month, our sales were down by 10% compared to the previous month. I gathered all of my employees together and explained why this happened. Then, I set new goals for us to reach within the next month. My employees understood the importance of meeting these goals and worked hard to make sure they met their targets.”

15. What do you know about our company?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to see how much research you’ve done on their company. It’s important to do your homework before an interview, and this question can help determine if you’re prepared for the interview. When answering this question, it’s best to highlight some of Alexion Pharmaceuticals’ most recent news or achievements.

Example: “I know that Alexion Pharmaceuticals has been named one of Fortune Magazine’s Best Companies to Work For in America for five years in a row. I also know that they were ranked as one of the top 50 companies to work for by Glassdoor last year. I’m excited to learn more about why employees love working here.”

16. Where do you see yourself in 5 years from now?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s often asked to see if you have career goals. When answering this question, be honest about your intentions for the future. If you’re unsure of what you want to do, explain that you are looking for an opportunity where you can grow as a professional.

Example: “I hope to still be working at Alexion Pharmaceuticals in five years. I’m very passionate about my work here, and I would love to continue growing with the company. In five years, I’d like to be managing a team of my own. I think I have the skills necessary to lead a group of professionals, and I know that I could help them achieve their goals.”

17. What qualities would make you successful as a Sales Representative?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities to succeed in this role. Use your answer to highlight your communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills. You can also share a story about how these qualities helped you achieve success at previous jobs.

Example: “I believe my ability to communicate effectively with others is one of my greatest strengths. I am always prepared for sales calls by researching my client’s company and products. This helps me understand their needs and find solutions that meet their requirements while also helping Alexion Pharmaceuticals sell more products.”

18. In your opinion, what is the most important thing for a leader to remember?

This question is a great way to assess your leadership skills. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to discuss the importance of teamwork and collaboration in order to achieve goals.

Example: “I believe that one of the most important things for a leader to remember is that they are not alone. As a leader, you have many people who rely on you to make decisions that will benefit them. I am always open to hearing other opinions and ideas because I know that by working together we can accomplish more.”

19. What made you choose to apply to work at Alexion Pharmaceuticals?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are a good fit for their company. Use your answer to share what attracted you to this role, including any research you did on the company before applying.

Example: “I chose to apply to work at Alexion Pharmaceuticals because I was drawn to the mission of the company. The goal of helping patients live longer and more fulfilling lives is something that’s important to me, and I think my skills would be an asset to the team here. I also read about some of the innovative projects the company has been working on, which made me even more excited to join.”

20. What do you think makes a team successful?

This question can help the interviewer determine your leadership skills and how you work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific time when you helped a team achieve success.

Example: “I think that a successful team is one where everyone feels comfortable asking questions or offering ideas. I have been on teams before where people were afraid to speak up because they didn’t want to offend anyone. In those situations, we would often make mistakes or not ask for clarification if we didn’t understand something. At my last job, I was part of a team that had weekly meetings where we discussed our progress and any challenges we faced. This allowed us to feel more comfortable speaking up in front of each other.”