20 Eli Lilly and Company Interview Questions and Answers

Eli Lilly and Company is a pharmaceutical company that is dedicated to the discovery, development, and manufacture of products that improve the lives of people around the world. The company has a long history of innovation and is committed to making a difference in the lives of patients and their families.

If you are interviewing for a position at Eli Lilly and Company, you can expect to be asked questions about your experience in the pharmaceutical industry, your research and development skills, and your knowledge of the company’s products. You may also be asked about your motivation for wanting to work at Eli Lilly and Company and your career goals.

Preparing for your interview at Eli Lilly and Company will give you the best chance of success. Take the time to research the company and its products, and brush up on your skills in the areas that are most relevant to the position you are applying for. With preparation and practice, you will be able to confidently answer any question that comes your way during the interview process.

Eli Lilly and Company Interview Process

The interview process at Eli Lilly and Company can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone screen with a hiring manager, followed by one or more in-person interviews. For some positions, you may also be required to take an online test.

Overall, the interview process is generally positive, although some applicants have found it to be repetitive or difficult. It is important to be prepared for your interview, especially if you are interviewing for a technical position. Be sure to brush up on your skills and knowledge before your interview so that you can make a good impression on the hiring manager.

1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to prepare for it. When answering this question, you should be honest about your strengths and weaknesses while also showing that you can overcome any shortcomings.

Example: “I am an excellent communicator who works well with others. I have strong interpersonal skills and enjoy helping people solve problems. However, I do sometimes get overwhelmed by large projects. To combat this weakness, I make sure to break down the project into smaller tasks so I can stay organized and on track.”

2. How would you describe the pharmaceutical market in (location)?

The interviewer may ask you this question to gauge your familiarity with the local market and how it compares to other markets. Use examples from your experience or research to describe the pharmaceutical market in your area, including any challenges that companies face when selling their products.

Example: “In my hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, there are many hospitals and medical facilities that rely on Eli Lilly for their pharmaceutical needs. However, I’ve noticed that some patients have trouble affording these medications because they’re so expensive. As a result, I think it’s important for Eli Lilly to develop affordable drugs that can help people who need them most.”

3. Why do you want to work for Eli Lilly & Company?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in their company. They want to know that you have done research on the organization and are genuinely interested in working there. When answering this question, make sure to highlight some of the aspects of the company that attracted you to apply.

Example: “I am very passionate about healthcare and believe Eli Lilly & Company is an excellent place to work because of its commitment to innovation in the industry. I also really like how open the company is to new ideas and collaboration among employees.”

4. Would you feel comfortable talking about children’s health issues?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your comfort level with discussing sensitive topics. This can be an important part of working in pharmaceuticals, as you may need to discuss medications that treat serious illnesses or conditions.

Example: “I have experience talking about children’s health issues because I worked at a pediatric hospital where I was responsible for educating parents on how to administer their child’s medication. In this role, I learned how to communicate difficult information in a way that made it easy for families to understand and remember.”

5. Do you have any experience working with medical devices or healthcare products?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your experience and how it relates to Eli Lilly. If you have relevant experience, be sure to share what you learned from that position.

Example: “I worked as an assistant manager at a local pharmacy where we sold medical devices like blood pressure monitors and glucose meters. I found that many of our customers were confused by the different brands and models of these products. So, I developed a system to help them find the right product based on their needs. This helped us increase sales in this department by 20%.”

6. Tell me about a time where you had to sell something that wasn’t selling well, what did you do?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to adapt. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of how you used your critical thinking skills to find solutions that helped the company or organization succeed.

Example: “At my previous job, I was in charge of selling a product that wasn’t selling well. At first, I thought maybe we were just having a bad month, but after looking at our sales for the past year, I realized that there was a bigger issue. After talking with other employees who sold similar products, I found out that they all had the same problem.

I brought this information to my manager, and together we decided to change the marketing strategy for the product. We also changed the price point, which led to more customers buying the product. By taking these steps, we were able to increase sales by 20% within six months.”

7. Provide an example of when you went above and beyond for a customer.

This question is a great way to show your dedication and willingness to go the extra mile for customers. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a specific situation where you went above and beyond for a customer or client.

Example: “When I was working as a sales representative at my previous company, I had a customer who was having trouble with their product. They were calling me multiple times per day asking about when they would receive their shipment. I knew that there was nothing more I could do to expedite the shipment, so I offered to send them a new product free of charge. This helped calm the customer down and allowed me to focus on other clients.”

8. Describe how you would prepare for a sales call.

This question can help the interviewer understand your sales process and how you would apply it to Eli Lilly. Use examples from previous experience in which you prepared for a call, including what information you gathered before the meeting and how you used that information during the call.

Example: “I always make sure I have all of the client’s contact information so I can reach out if I need to reschedule or ask questions about their needs. Before each call, I also review my notes on the company and its products to refresh my memory and ensure I’m ready to answer any questions they may have.”

9. Have you ever been put on a performance improvement plan? What was the outcome?

This question is a way for the interviewer to learn more about your work ethic and how you respond to challenges. Be honest in your answer, but try to focus on what you learned from the experience.

Example: “I was put on a performance improvement plan at my last job when I missed an important deadline. My manager gave me feedback on how I could improve my time management skills and offered resources that would help me manage my workload better. After taking her advice, I implemented new time-management strategies into my daily routine and haven’t been late since.”

10. Tell us about a time that you were challenged by a co-worker or manager, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and challenges in the workplace. Use examples from your past experience to show that you are able to work with others, communicate effectively and solve problems.

Example: “In my last position as a pharmaceutical sales representative, I had a manager who was very critical of my performance. She would often tell me what I was doing wrong rather than giving me constructive feedback on how I could improve. This made it difficult for me to learn and grow as an employee. Instead of letting her comments get to me, I decided to meet with her one-on-one to discuss her concerns. We talked about ways I could improve my performance and she gave me some helpful tips.”

11. Explain the process of discovering a new drug.

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and how it works. You can use this opportunity to explain what you do in your current role, or you can describe what you would do if hired by Eli Lilly.

Example: “In my previous position as a research scientist for a small pharmaceutical company, I was responsible for discovering new drugs that could help patients with various conditions. My team and I used several methods to discover new drugs, including researching existing medications and their effects on patients, conducting experiments on animals and humans, analyzing data from clinical trials and more.”

12. We need someone who is self-motivated, can you give an example of a time when you went above and beyond without being asked?

This question is a great way to show your potential employer that you are willing to go above and beyond what’s expected of you. It also shows them that you’re motivated by more than just money, which can be important for some companies.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my local grocery store, we were having issues with our inventory system. The software wasn’t properly recording the amount of product we had on hand, so it would tell us we needed to order more when we actually had plenty in stock. This led to lost sales and unhappy customers.

I volunteered to work overtime to fix the issue. I spent two nights after hours going through all of our records manually to make sure they matched up with the software. It took longer than expected, but it was worth it because we didn’t lose any sales due to out-of-stock items.”

13. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult client. What did you do?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and challenges. Use your answer to highlight your communication skills, problem-solving abilities and teamwork skills.

Example: “I once had a client who was very demanding. He would call me several times a day with questions about his order and often complained that we were taking too long to fulfill it. I tried my best to remain calm when speaking with him and explained our process for fulfilling orders multiple times. Eventually, he understood why it took longer than expected and stopped calling so frequently.”

14. What are some strategies you use to stay motivated?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your work ethic and how you stay productive. They want to know that you’re a self-motivated employee who can get things done without much supervision. In your answer, share two or three strategies you use to stay motivated at work. Explain why these strategies are effective for you.

Example: “I find it helpful to have a daily routine when I’m working on projects. This helps me feel prepared and confident in my work. Another strategy I use is setting weekly goals. By creating small goals each week, I can ensure I’m making progress toward the larger goal of the project. Finally, I make sure to take breaks throughout the day. Taking short breaks every few hours allows me to refresh myself and return to work with renewed energy.”

15. If hired, how would you approach learning about our company culture?

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your interest in the company’s culture and values. To answer, you can describe how you would research the company’s history, mission statement, core values and other aspects of its culture.

Example: “I am very interested in learning about Eli Lilly’s unique culture. I plan to do some online research to learn more about the company’s history and current initiatives. I also plan to speak with my new colleagues to get a better sense of what it is like to work here.”

16. What would you say distinguishes Eli Lilly from other companies in the industry?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the company and its history. You can use this as a chance to demonstrate that you have researched Eli Lilly, understand what it does and how it operates and are familiar with its products and services.

Example: “Eli Lilly has been in business for over 100 years, which makes it one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies still operating today. It’s also one of the largest drug manufacturers in the world, so I think it distinguishes itself from other companies by its size and longevity.”

17. When have you successfully influenced others at work?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your leadership skills and how you’ve helped others succeed. Use examples from previous work experiences to highlight your communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills.

Example: “In my last role as a pharmaceutical sales representative, I had a client who was having trouble with their marketing campaign. They were unsure of what they should do next, so I met with them in person to discuss their concerns and offer solutions. We worked together to create a new marketing plan that would be successful for both of us. The client was very happy with the results.”

18. Tell me about a time where you used data from a clinical study to make a decision.

This question is an opportunity to show your critical thinking skills and how you use data to make decisions.

Example: “I once worked on a clinical study where we were testing the effectiveness of a new drug for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The results from our first round of tests showed that the drug was effective in treating some symptoms, but not all. I used the data from these initial tests to determine which patients would receive the drug during the second phase of the study. This helped us save time and money by only administering the drug to those who needed it most.”

19. Tell me about a time where you had to manage multiple priorities.

This question can help the interviewer understand how you prioritize your work and manage competing deadlines. Use examples from previous roles to highlight your ability to multitask, organize your time and meet deadlines.

Example: “In my last role as a pharmaceutical sales representative, I had to balance multiple priorities on a daily basis. For example, I would have to make sure that I was meeting all of my client’s needs while also ensuring that I met my sales quotas for the day. This required me to develop strong organizational skills and learn how to prioritize my tasks so that I could get everything done by the end of the day.”

20. Are there any projects that you are particularly proud of?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential new colleague. It allows you to share something that you are passionate about and gives the interviewer insight into what you value in your work.

Example: “I am particularly proud of my work on developing a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. I was part of a team that worked together to create a drug that could help patients with this debilitating condition. The process took years, but it was worth it when we finally saw our product go to market.”