20 Biogen Interview Questions and Answers

Biogen is a global biotech company that is driven by a mission to discover, develop, and deliver innovative therapies for patients with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases.

As a Biogen employee, you will be a part of a team that is passionate about making a difference in the lives of patients. If you are interviewing for a job at Biogen, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience, your skills, and your knowledge of the company and its products.

To help you prepare for your interview, we have compiled a list of sample Biogen interview questions and answers.

Biogen Interview Process

The interview process at Biogen is lengthy, difficult, and overall not a great experience. It can take up to two months to hear back from the company after applying, and the interviews themselves are very challenging. Many of the questions are behavioral and require you to give specific examples of times when you’ve displayed certain qualities. The interviewer also grilled me on my technical knowledge and asked me to walk them through some of my previous projects. Overall, it was a very tough interview process, but I’m glad I made it through in the end.

1. Why do you want to work at Biogen?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in their company. They want to know what you like about Biogen and why you are excited to work there. Your answer should include specific details about the company that make it unique or interesting.

Example: “Biogen has an excellent reputation within the industry, which makes me excited to be part of the team. I also love how innovative the company is with its products. The research they do into new treatments is fascinating, and I would love to be able to contribute to that process.”

2. Describe a time when you had to use your presentation skills in order to influence someone’s opinion.

Presentation skills are an important part of working in the pharmaceutical industry. This question allows you to demonstrate your presentation skills and how they can be used to influence others.

Example: “In my last position, I was responsible for presenting our company’s budget to upper management. The company had a lot of expenses that needed to be covered, so I had to use my presentation skills to convince them to approve more funding. I started by explaining why we needed the money and what it would be used for. Then, I showed them some of the results from our previous projects. In the end, they approved most of the requests.”

3. What is an important skill that someone needs to have as a scientist?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. You can answer by listing a few important skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, attention to detail and communication.

Example: “I think it’s essential to be able to communicate your ideas clearly and concisely. It’s also important to be organized and attentive to details. These skills are especially useful when working in a lab setting where there are many experiments going on at once. I’m always prepared with my tools and materials so I don’t miss any steps.”

4. How would you rate yourself on your ability to communicate complex scientific information?

Biogen is a company that requires its employees to be able to communicate complex scientific information in an understandable way. The interviewer may ask this question to assess your communication skills and determine whether you have the ability to do so effectively. In your answer, try to demonstrate how you would explain complicated concepts to others.

Example: “I think I am quite good at communicating complex scientific information. Throughout my education, I had many opportunities to practice explaining difficult concepts to other students. I find that if I break down the information into smaller pieces, it’s easier for people to understand. I also use analogies or examples to help make the concept more relatable.”

5. Biogen is a big company, which department are you interested in and why?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you would fit in. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention what attracted you to that department and why you think you are qualified for the role.

Example: “I am interested in working in the research and development department because I have always been fascinated by science. In high school, I took several advanced placement classes in biology and chemistry, which led me to pursue a degree in biochemistry. During my internship at a local hospital, I worked with many doctors who were part of Biogen’s research team, so I know firsthand how important their work is.”

6. What experience do you have working with people from different departments?

Biogen is a large company that works with many different departments. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience working in teams and collaborating with people from other areas of the business. Use your answer to highlight any teamwork or collaboration skills you possess.

Example: “In my previous role, I worked as part of a team that was responsible for developing new products. My department had to work closely with marketing to create campaigns that would help sell our products. We also collaborated with sales to ensure we were creating products that customers wanted. This helped us develop a product line that increased revenue by 20%.”

7. Are you comfortable taking initiative on projects? Give me an example of a time where you did this.

This question is a great way to determine how comfortable you are with taking on projects and working independently. This can be an important skill for employees at Biogen, as many of the company’s employees work in teams that collaborate on different aspects of their research and development processes.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with creating a new marketing campaign for our product line. My team members were all busy with other tasks, so I took it upon myself to create a plan for the campaign. I started by researching what similar companies did for their campaigns and then created a list of ideas we could use for our own campaign. After presenting my ideas to my manager, she approved them and allowed me to move forward with implementing the campaign.”

8. Do you have any experience managing scientists or research teams?

This question can help the interviewer determine your leadership skills and how you might fit into their organization. If you have management experience, describe a time when you helped your team meet goals or overcome challenges. If you don’t have direct management experience, you can talk about any other leadership roles you’ve held in the past.

Example: “In my last role as a research scientist, I was responsible for leading a team of five scientists to complete our projects on time. We had to work with several different departments to get all of our data, which sometimes led to communication issues. To solve this problem, I created a shared database where everyone could access information they needed. This system made it easier for us to collaborate and stay organized.”

9. If you were asked to change the way we do something here because it was more efficient, how would you bring that up and approach it?

This question is a great way to see how you would approach change within the company. It also shows that the interviewer wants to know if you’re willing to speak up and voice your opinion when necessary.

Example: “I believe in being honest, so I would first make sure I had all of my facts straight before approaching anyone about it. If I noticed something that could be changed or improved upon, I would bring it up with my supervisor or manager privately and explain why I think it should be changed. I would then offer suggestions on how we can improve the process or system.”

10. Describe how you analyze data and draw conclusions.

This question is a great way to assess your critical thinking skills and how you use them in the workplace. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a time when you used data analysis to solve a problem or achieve a goal.

Example: “When analyzing data, I first look at what’s available and then consider what questions I want to answer with that information. Next, I organize the data into categories and compare those categories to see if there are any patterns. Finally, I draw conclusions based on my observations.”

11. How can you help us reach our goals?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the company and how you can help it succeed. When answering this question, make sure you know what goals the company has set for itself. If you are unsure of these goals, do some research on the company’s website or ask the interviewer about them during the interview.

Example: “I have thoroughly researched Biogen and I am very impressed with its mission statement. I believe that my skills and abilities will be an asset to the company as we continue to grow and develop new treatments. My goal would be to help the company reach its goal of becoming one of the top biotechnology companies in the world.”

12. Do you think you have enough experience to successfully manage a team of scientists?

This question is a great way to assess your leadership skills and how you would fit into the company culture. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific examples of times when you managed a team or group of people successfully.

Example: “I have been managing my own research team for three years now, so I definitely feel confident in my ability to manage others. In fact, I think that having experience leading a team has helped me become more effective at communicating with other scientists. My previous team members were all very intelligent, but they also had different ways of thinking about problems. I learned how to communicate effectively with them by explaining things clearly and breaking down complex concepts.”

13. Tell me about a time you had to deal with a difficult person, what happened and how did you resolve the situation?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and whether you have any experience working with difficult people. Use examples from your past to show that you’re able to work well with others, even when they’re challenging.

Example: “In my last position as a sales representative, I had a client who was very demanding. They would call me several times a day asking for updates on their orders, which made it hard to meet my quota. After talking with them about the importance of meeting my goals, they were more understanding and only called me once a week to check in. This helped me focus on other clients while still providing excellent customer service.”

14. Have you worked with clinical trial documentation before?

Biogen is a pharmaceutical company that conducts clinical trials. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience working with the documentation required for these types of projects. If you do, share your experience and how it helped you complete your work. If you don’t have any experience, explain what you would expect to do in this type of role.

Example: “I’ve worked on several clinical trial projects throughout my career. I understand the importance of accurate data collection and reporting. In my last position, I was responsible for entering all patient information into our electronic medical record system. I also had to ensure that all documents were properly filed and stored so they could be accessed later.”

15. Can you describe some of the techniques you used to keep your staff motivated in previous positions?

Biogen is a large company that employs thousands of people. The interviewer wants to know how you would motivate your team members and keep them happy in the workplace. Use examples from previous positions where you motivated your staff or helped them feel valued.

Example: “I believe that everyone has something they can contribute to the organization, so I make sure my employees know their value. In my last position, we had an employee who was struggling with her work because she was going through some personal issues. I asked her if there was anything I could do to help her get back on track. She told me about her situation, and I offered to give her more time off if needed. She ended up taking two weeks off, but when she returned, she seemed much happier and ready to return to work.”

16. Provide an example of a time when you went above and beyond for a colleague, customer or manager.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and willingness to help others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the specific actions you took that helped someone else succeed or achieve their goals.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, one of my coworkers had a family emergency and needed to leave work early for two days in a row. Since she was our lead cashier, we were short-staffed during her absence. I offered to cover her shift so another coworker could take a day off without having to worry about covering for her. This allowed us to have enough staff to operate normally while still giving my coworker time to spend with her family.”

17. As a scientist, have you ever encountered a problem that you couldn’t solve? What did you do?

This question can help the interviewer get a better understanding of your problem-solving skills. Use examples from your past experience to highlight how you used critical thinking and analytical skills to solve problems.

Example: “In my last position, I was working on a project that involved creating a new drug for treating Alzheimer’s disease. During one experiment, we discovered that our drug had some unexpected side effects. We needed to find out what caused these side effects so we could fix them before moving forward with clinical trials. After conducting several tests, we found that the cause of the side effect was due to an ingredient in the drug. We removed this ingredient and continued testing until we were able to create a safe and effective treatment.”

18. Which aspects of pharmaceutical industry excite you the most?

This question is a great way to show your passion for the pharmaceutical industry. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list specific aspects of the industry that you find interesting or exciting. This can help the interviewer understand what motivates you and how you might fit into their company culture.

Example: “I am most excited by the idea of helping people live healthier lives. I love being able to use my skills as a scientist to create new medications that can improve patients’ quality of life. Another aspect of the pharmaceutical industry that excites me is the fast pace. There are always new developments in medicine, so I enjoy working at a company where we can quickly adapt to these changes.”

19. What qualities do you think make a good leader?

Leadership is an important skill for any manager. Employers ask this question to see if you have the qualities they look for in a leader. Before your interview, think about what makes a good leader and write down three or four qualities that come to mind. Use these examples when answering this question.

Example: “I believe a good leader should be someone who can motivate others. I am always looking for ways to inspire my team members and help them feel confident in their work. Another quality I think is important is communication. Leaders need to be able to clearly communicate their ideas and goals with their team. This helps everyone understand what’s expected of them and how they can achieve success.”

20. What is your favorite thing about science?

This question is a great way to show your passion for science and the field of research. It also allows you to talk about what inspired you to pursue this career in the first place. Your answer should be personal, but it can also include some information about why you are passionate about science.

Example: “My favorite thing about science is that there’s always something new to learn. I love being able to discover something that no one else has ever known before. There’s nothing more exciting than finding an answer to a question or problem that has been plaguing humanity for years.”