20 Gilead Sciences Interview Questions and Answers

As a leading biopharmaceutical company, Gilead Sciences 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 want to be prepared to answer some specific questions about your skills and experience.

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

Gilead Sciences Interview Process

The interview process at Gilead Sciences is relatively long, taking an average of six weeks from start to finish. However, the difficulty level of the interviews themselves is generally considered to be low to moderate. Overall, candidates report having a positive experience with the interview process, finding the staff and interviewer friendly and helpful.

The first step of the interview process is usually a phone screen with a recruiter, followed by an in-person interview with a hiring manager. Candidates may also be asked to participate in additional rounds of interviews with other members of the team, as well as a panel interview. The final stage of the process is typically a job offer.

Candidates report that the best way to prepare for the interview process at Gilead Sciences is to brush up on your knowledge of the company and its products, as well as to have a clear understanding of your own qualifications and why you would be a good fit for the role.

1. What is your experience with SAS?

SAS is a programming language that Gilead Sciences uses to analyze data. Your answer should show the interviewer that you have experience with SAS and can use it effectively. If you don’t have any experience with SAS, consider explaining why you would like to learn about it.

Example: “I’ve used SAS for my previous two positions as a data analyst. I’m familiar with how to write code in SAS and understand its benefits. In my last position, I was responsible for creating reports using SAS. I also helped other team members create their own reports by providing them with instructions on how to use SAS.”

2. How would you describe yourself as an employee?

This question is an opportunity to show your potential employer that you are a hard worker and dedicated employee. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight some of your best qualities as well as the skills you have that will help you succeed in the role.

Example: “I am someone who always puts my best effort into everything I do. I am also very organized and detail-oriented, which helps me stay on top of all of my work. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to get the job done right.”

3. Do you have any experience working in the pharmaceutical industry?

This question is an opportunity to share your relevant experience with the interviewer. If you have worked in a pharmaceutical company before, explain what your role was and how it prepared you for this position. If you don’t have any previous experience working in the pharmaceutical industry, you can talk about your interest in the field and why you’re excited to work at Gilead Sciences.

Example: “I’ve always been interested in science and medicine, so I decided to pursue a degree in biology. During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to do research at a local hospital where I learned valuable skills that I use every day as a scientist.”

4. Describe a time that you had to manage conflicting priorities and how you handled it.

This question can help the interviewer assess your ability to prioritize and manage competing demands. Use examples from previous work experiences that highlight your time management skills, problem-solving abilities and conflict resolution skills.

Example: “In my last position as a senior research scientist at a pharmaceutical company, I had to balance multiple projects with tight deadlines while also ensuring that our team met its overall objectives for the quarter. One of my primary responsibilities was managing the budget for each project, so I had to ensure we stayed within our allocated funds. To meet all these demands, I scheduled regular meetings with my team members to discuss their progress on individual projects and set realistic expectations for the quarter.”

5. Can you tell me about a time where you disagreed with a decision made by upper management, what did you do?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle disagreements and whether or not you’re willing to voice your opinion. It’s important to show that you can respectfully disagree with a decision, but also support it once it’s been made.

Example: “In my previous role as a research scientist, I disagreed with an executive’s decision to cut funding for one of our projects. However, I understood that they had to make tough decisions in order to meet their budget goals. Instead of voicing my disagreement publicly, I spoke privately with the executive about my concerns. They were able to explain why they needed to cut funding for this project, which helped me understand their reasoning. I then offered to take on some additional responsibilities within the department so we could hire another researcher.”

6. Gilead is a company that values communication between team members. Tell us about a project that you worked on recently and how involved were you with communicating with your coworkers.

This question is an opportunity to show your communication skills and how you can work with a team. When answering this question, think about the most recent project you worked on that required collaboration between coworkers.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for communicating with other members of my team regarding our projects. For example, when we were working on developing new medications, I would communicate with my coworkers about their research and findings so that we could all contribute to the final product.”

7. Tell me about a goal that you set for yourself and how you went about achieving it.

This question is a great way to learn more about the applicant’s work ethic and how they approach challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about what you did to achieve your goal.

Example: “When I was in college, I wanted to get an internship at Gilead Sciences. To do so, I applied for every internship that I could find on their website. Eventually, I got an interview with one of the company’s recruiters and was offered an internship during my senior year.”

8. What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest about your strengths and weaknesses. When answering this question, try to focus on your skills that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Example: “I am an excellent communicator who can work well with others. I have strong problem-solving skills and always strive to find solutions to issues. My weakness is that sometimes I get so focused on my work that I forget to take breaks. This has led to me feeling overwhelmed at times.”

9. Tell me about a time when you had to take on more responsibility because your manager was unavailable.

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of how you handle stressful situations and your ability to take on more responsibility. Use examples from your previous experience where you had to step up in your role or assume additional responsibilities because your manager was out for an extended period of time.

Example: “When I first started working at my current company, my manager was out for two weeks due to illness. During that time, I took over her duties as well as mine. This allowed me to learn more about the company’s operations while also ensuring everything continued smoothly without any issues.”

10. We value collaboration at Gilead, give us an example of when you collaborated with people outside of your department to complete a project.

Gilead Sciences is a company that values collaboration and teamwork. This question allows you to show the interviewer how you can work with others to achieve goals.

Example: “At my previous job, I worked on a team of five people who were responsible for creating new marketing strategies for our products. We had weekly meetings where we discussed our progress and any challenges we faced. One week, one of my teammates was sick and unable to attend the meeting. I volunteered to take notes during the meeting so she could review them later.”

11. Have you ever found a bug in software, if so how did you handle it?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work in a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the steps you took to solve the issue and how you communicated with others about what was happening.

Example: “I once found a bug in software that I was working on at my last job. The bug caused the program to crash when users tried to save their files. At first, I thought it might have been something I did while coding but after checking everything twice, I realized it wasn’t me. After talking with my manager, we decided to release an update to fix the bug. It turned out that there were several bugs in the software, so we released multiple updates until they were all fixed.”

12. Give us an example of a time when you took ownership of a problem and solved it completely.

When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about the problem and how you solved it. This can help interviewers understand your thought process and see if you are a good fit for their company.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, we had a customer who complained that our product didn’t work for them. We investigated the issue and found that there were several reasons why the product wasn’t working for some customers. We worked with the manufacturer to create a new version of the product that addressed all of these issues.”

13. Why do you want to work at Gilead?

This question is an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the company and its mission. When preparing for this interview, read about Gilead’s values and goals. Use these as a guide when answering this question.

Example: “I want to work at Gilead because I am passionate about helping people live healthier lives. Your commitment to developing treatments that are accessible to everyone regardless of their ability to pay is inspiring. I believe in your mission and would love to be part of a team that makes such a positive impact on the world.”

14. What goals do you have for the next three years?

Gilead Sciences is looking for employees who are motivated and have a plan for their career. When answering this question, it can be helpful to include your short-term goals as well as your long-term goals. This shows the interviewer that you’re thinking about your future with the company and gives them an idea of what you hope to achieve in the next few years.

Example: “I would like to continue my education by earning my master’s degree in business administration within the next two years. I also want to become a team leader within three years so that I can help other employees grow.”

15. If hired, what would you say your approach to programming would be?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of the company’s programming philosophy. Gilead Sciences has a unique approach to its research and development process, so it’s important that you understand how this impacts your work as a programmer.

Example: “I would say my approach to programming at Gilead Sciences would be one of collaboration. I believe in working with other programmers to create solutions for complex problems. In my last role, I worked on a team of five programmers who were tasked with creating a new program to track patient data. We met regularly to discuss our progress and brainstorm ideas for solving issues we encountered.”

16. Are you comfortable giving presentations to large groups of people?

Gilead Sciences may ask you to give a presentation during your interview. This is an important skill for many positions in the company, including sales and marketing. When answering this question, be honest about your comfort level with public speaking. If you have never given a presentation before, explain that you are willing to learn how to do so.

Example: “I am comfortable giving presentations to small groups of people. I have experience presenting my research findings at conferences and seminars. However, I would like to learn more about how to present information to larger audiences. I understand that Gilead Sciences has training programs available for employees who want to develop their skills.”

17. We pride ourselves on being able to quickly adapt to change, can you share a time when you had to make changes quickly?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of how you adapt to change and whether or not you have experience with it. Your answer should include an example that shows your ability to adapt quickly, but also highlights your skills in other areas such as communication, organization and problem-solving.

Example: “When I was working at my previous company, we had a client who needed some changes made to their website. They wanted to add more information about one of their products, so they asked us to make those changes within 24 hours. We were able to do this by having our team work through the night to complete the project.”

18. Gilead is a very results-oriented environment, can you give us an example of a recent result you achieved?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you are results-oriented and have experience working in a similar environment. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide an example of a recent result you achieved at your current or previous job.

Example: “At my current position as a research scientist, I was tasked with finding a solution for a problem our team was having with one of our drugs. After researching the issue, I found that we were using the wrong type of solvent in our process. Once I informed my supervisor of my findings, they implemented my solution and the drug went back into production.”

19. What type of questions should we be asking you?

This question is a great way to determine what the interviewer expects from you. It also allows you to show that you are prepared for their questions and have done your research on the company.

Example: “I think it’s important to ask me about my previous experience, how I would handle specific situations in this role and if I have any questions for you. This shows that you value my opinion and want to make sure I am comfortable with the position.”

20. How much experience do you have using R?

R is a programming language that’s used by many scientists and data analysts. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have any experience using R, as it can be an important skill for the role. If you don’t have much experience with R, consider mentioning other programming languages or software programs that are similar to R.

Example: “I’ve had some experience using R in my previous roles. I find that R is a great tool for analyzing large amounts of data and creating visualizations. However, I also have experience using Python, which is another popular programming language that has similar functions to R.”