20 Amgen Interview Questions and Answers

As a leading biotechnology company, Amgen is always looking for talented and ambitious individuals to join their team. If you’re lucky enough to score an interview with this company, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough questions.

In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of some of the most common Amgen interview questions, so you can go into your interview with confidence.

Amgen Interview Process

The interview process at Amgen can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone screen with a recruiter, followed by one or more interviews with hiring managers and/or team members. For some positions, you may also be required to give a presentation or take a coding exam. Overall, the interview process is generally positive, though it can be lengthy and some candidates report feeling disrespected during salary negotiations.

1. What would you do if your team was not meeting deadlines?

Amgen is a company that values teamwork and collaboration. Your answer to this question should show the interviewer you value your team members’ contributions, even if they are not as strong in some areas as others.

Example: “I would first try to understand why we were falling behind on our deadlines. If it was due to one person’s performance, I would talk with them about their responsibilities and expectations. If it was due to a group effort, I would hold a meeting with my team to discuss what we could do differently to meet our goals.”

2. If a project required collaboration with other teams, how would you approach it?

Amgen is a large company that requires employees to work with other teams and departments. Your answer should show the interviewer you can collaborate effectively with others, especially if your role will require it.

Example: “I believe collaboration is an important part of any project’s success. I would first make sure everyone on my team understands their roles and responsibilities. Then, I would hold regular meetings with all the relevant parties to discuss progress and resolve issues as they arise. This ensures everyone has access to information about the project and helps me ensure we’re making steady progress.”

3. How would you deal with someone who is not pulling their weight on the team?

This question is a great way to assess your leadership skills and how you would handle conflict in the workplace. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of a time when you had to address someone who was not performing well on a team or project.

Example: “In my last position as a manager at a software company, I had a developer who wasn’t meeting deadlines for projects. At first, I tried to help him by giving him more time to complete his work. However, after several weeks, he still hadn’t met any of his deadlines. So, I sat down with him and explained that if he didn’t improve his performance, we would have to let him go. He assured me that he would do better, and I gave him one more chance. After that conversation, he started meeting all of his deadlines.”

4. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Employers ask this question to see if you have a plan for your career. They want to know that you are motivated and ambitious, so they can tell whether or not you would be a good fit for their company. When answering this question, make sure you show the interviewer that you have goals and ambitions in your career.

Example: “I hope to still be working at Amgen in five years. I am very passionate about my work here, and I love what I do. I hope to continue growing as an employee and eventually become a manager.”

5. Do you have experience working in pharmaceuticals or biotechnology?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have experience in a similar industry and can apply your skills to this role. If you don’t have direct experience, consider discussing how you could use your previous experiences to succeed in this position.

Example: “I’ve worked as a research scientist for the past five years at a pharmaceutical company developing new medications. I’m excited about the opportunity to work with Amgen because of its reputation for producing high-quality products. My background in biotechnology makes me well-suited for this role.”

6. Why do you want to work at Amgen?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in their company. It’s important to show that you’ve done research on Amgen and understand what they do as a business. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific aspects of Amgen that appeal to you.

Example: “I’m very interested in working at Amgen because I know how much you value innovation. In my last role, I was tasked with coming up with new ideas for our marketing strategy, which led me to create an idea that we implemented throughout the year. I think that Amgen would be a great place for me to continue developing my skills as an innovator.”

7. What are some of the challenges you think our industry will face in the next 5-10 years?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can help solve problems. When answering this question, try to think about what challenges Amgen has faced in the past or may face in the future.

Example: “I believe one of the biggest challenges our industry will face in the next 5-10 years is finding qualified employees. With more people becoming aware of the benefits of working in the biotechnology field, there are more students pursuing degrees in biology and chemistry. This means that we have more competition for talent when it comes time to hire new employees.”

8. Describe a time when you had a problem and you solved it through innovation.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can use them in the workplace. When answering this question, it’s important to explain what steps you took to solve the issue and the results of those actions.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with creating an online database for our sales team to access information about our products. The only problem was that we didn’t have enough bandwidth to support all of the employees accessing the site at once. So, I worked with IT to create a system where employees could reserve time slots to access the website. This allowed us to continue working while also preventing any issues with bandwidth.”

9. Why should we hire you over another candidate?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can benefit their company. Before your interview, make a list of reasons why you are the best candidate for the position. Think about what skills you have that match the job description. Also, think about any personal qualities or experiences that will help you succeed in the role.

Example: “I am an extremely organized person who is always prepared for meetings and presentations. I also have extensive experience with Microsoft Office programs like PowerPoint and Excel. These skills would be beneficial to Amgen because they align with the job requirements. I believe my attention to detail and communication skills will allow me to excel in this role.”

10. Tell me about a time where you were responsible for a major decision.

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s decision-making process and how they handle pressure. It can also help you determine if they are comfortable with making important decisions on their own or if they prefer to work in teams.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, we had a major deadline coming up for one of our projects. My supervisor wasn’t available that day, so I took over his responsibilities while he was out. He returned later that day, but I still needed to make some important decisions regarding the project. I decided to take the lead on the project until he could return to work.”

11. Have you worked in an environment that dealt with high volumes of data?

Amgen is a company that deals with large amounts of data, so it’s important to show the interviewer you have experience working in this type of environment. Highlight your ability to manage and organize data effectively to help ensure accuracy and efficiency.

Example: “In my previous role as an IT specialist for a hospital, I was responsible for managing all aspects of the hospital’s computer systems, including monitoring network traffic, troubleshooting software issues and ensuring security measures were in place. This required me to work with high volumes of data on a daily basis, which helped me develop my organizational skills and learn how to prioritize tasks effectively.”

12. Are you comfortable working with patents?

Amgen is a company that develops and manufactures human therapeutics for various illnesses and diseases. As such, it often needs to file patents on its products in order to protect them from being copied by other companies. The interviewer may ask this question to make sure you are comfortable working with patents and understand the importance of protecting intellectual property. In your answer, try to show that you understand what patents are and how they can help Amgen develop new products.

Example: “I have worked with patents before at my current job. I know that patents are important because they allow companies like Amgen to protect their intellectual property. When filing a patent, I always make sure to include all relevant information so that we can prove our ownership of the product.”

13. Give an example of a time when you were able to come up with a creative solution to a problem.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you can use them in the workplace. When answering this question, it’s important to provide specific details about what you did and how it helped solve the issue.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for creating marketing campaigns that would help promote our company’s products. One of the biggest challenges we faced was finding ways to reach new customers without spending too much money on advertising. After some brainstorming, I came up with an idea to create a social media campaign where we could target people who were already interested in our product. This saved us thousands of dollars while still reaching our target audience.”

14. Would you be willing to travel for work?

Amgen is a global company that has offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you are willing to travel for work. If you have experience with traveling for work, share your experiences. If you don’t have any experience with traveling for work, explain how you would feel about it.

Example: “I am happy to travel for work as long as I get reimbursed for my expenses. In fact, I actually prefer working at different locations because it gives me an opportunity to learn more about other cultures.”

15. How would you handle a situation where you disagreed with one of your managers?

Amgen wants to know that you can work well with others and are willing to voice your opinions. Your answer should show the interviewer that you’re able to respectfully disagree with a manager without being disrespectful or insubordinate.

Example: “I would first try to understand why my manager disagreed with me, and I’d ask them for their reasoning. If they still didn’t change their mind, I would take it as a learning experience and move on. However, if I felt strongly about the issue, I would speak with my HR department to see what options were available to me.”

16. What do you know about Amgen’s culture?

Amgen is a company that values innovation and collaboration. They want to hire people who are willing to work hard, but also have fun while doing it. When answering this question, try to show the interviewer that you understand what Amgen’s culture is like and how you would fit in.

Example: “I’ve heard great things about Amgen’s culture. I know that they value their employees and encourage them to be innovative and creative. I think my background as an engineer makes me a good fit for this type of environment. I’m used to working on projects with other people and always looking for ways to improve processes.”

17. Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership skills.

Amgen is looking for candidates who can lead a team of professionals and work with others to achieve common goals. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and ability to motivate others.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, there were times when the store would get very busy and we didn’t have enough employees on duty. In these situations, I had to step up and take charge of the situation by training new employees and delegating tasks to other employees so that everyone could keep their customers happy. This helped me develop my leadership skills and learn how to manage a large group of people.”

18. What tools would you use to keep track of a large amount of information?

Amgen is a large company that requires employees to manage many tasks and projects. Your answer should show the interviewer you have experience with organizing information in an efficient way.

Example: “I use several organizational tools, including Microsoft OneNote for my work notes and reminders, Trello for project management and Google Drive for storing documents and files. I find these tools are useful for keeping track of important information and ensuring I complete all necessary tasks.”

19. We are looking for candidates who can lead projects independently while also being able to collaborate with others effectively. Can you describe a situation where you did both of these things?

Amgen is looking for candidates who can work independently and collaborate with others to achieve goals. This question helps the interviewer determine if you have experience doing both of these things, which are important skills in this role. In your answer, describe a situation where you worked on a project alone and one where you collaborated with others.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with creating a new marketing campaign for our company’s newest product. I had to do research about what consumers were looking for in their products and how we could use that information to create an effective marketing strategy. I also had to present my ideas to senior management, so I needed to be able to communicate effectively. I did both of these tasks successfully by collaborating with other members of my team.”

20. How do you feel about working overtime?

Amgen is a company that requires its employees to work overtime on occasion. The interviewer may ask this question to determine if you’re willing to do so when necessary. In your answer, explain that you understand the importance of working extra hours sometimes and are committed to doing so when needed.

Example: “I’m happy to work overtime when it’s required. I know that sometimes there are emergencies or other situations where we need to stay late or come in early. As long as my performance doesn’t suffer, I am happy to help out however I can.”