20 ICON Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And when you’re interviewing with a specific company, it’s important to do your research and be prepared to answer questions about the company itself.

If you’re interviewing with ICON, a global provider of outsourced drug development services, you may be wondering what kinds of questions you’ll be asked.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample ICON interview questions and answers. From questions about ICON’s history and services to questions about your own experience and qualifications, these questions will help you show that you’re the right candidate for the job.

ICON Interview Process

The interview process at ICON can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least two interviews, one of which may be a recorded video interview. For some positions, you may also be asked to do a presentation as part of the interview process. Overall, the interview process is generally well-organized and efficient, although some candidates have found the questions to be difficult.

1. What is your experience with clinical trials?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience with ICON’s services and how you might fit into their organization. If you have no direct experience, consider describing a time when you worked on a project that required similar skills to clinical trials.

Example: “I’ve worked on several clinical trials in my career, including one where I was responsible for managing the budget and ensuring we met all regulatory requirements. This helped me develop my organizational skills and learn more about the drug development process.”

2. Describe a time when you had to work in a team environment. How did you handle it?

Working in a team environment is an important part of working at ICON. The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your teamwork skills and how you interact with others. Use your answer to explain what it means to work as part of a team, and share an example of when you successfully worked together with others to achieve a goal.

Example: “I have always enjoyed working in a team environment because it allows me to collaborate with other professionals who can help me solve problems or find solutions to challenges. In my last role, I was tasked with creating a new marketing campaign for one of our clients. My supervisor assigned two other employees to assist me on the project. We met regularly to discuss our progress and bounce ideas off each other. By the end of the project, we had created a successful marketing campaign that helped increase sales.”

3. Give an example of when you were able to successfully persuade someone to buy into an idea you had.

This question is an opportunity to show your communication skills and ability to influence others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific details about the situation and how you were able to convince someone of your idea.

Example: “In my previous role as a pharmaceutical sales representative, I had a client who was hesitant to try our new product because they didn’t want to change their current marketing strategy. I explained that our new product would help them reach more customers than ever before, which helped persuade them to give it a try.”

4. Why do you think you would be a good fit for this position?

This question is an opportunity for you to show the interviewer that you have done your research on ICON and are confident in your ability to succeed in this role. When answering, be sure to highlight any specific skills or experiences that make you a good fit for this position.

Example: “I am passionate about helping organizations develop new drugs and medical devices. In my previous role as a drug development specialist, I helped biopharma companies create over 20 new drugs. This experience has given me valuable insight into what it takes to successfully develop new medications.”

5. Tell me about yourself and why ICON interests you as a company.

This question is a great way to start an interview because it gives you the opportunity to introduce yourself and explain why you’re interested in working for ICON. When answering this question, be sure to include information about your education, work experience and any other relevant details that might help the interviewer get to know you better.

Example: “I graduated from the University of California with a degree in biology and chemistry. After graduation, I worked as a research scientist at a local hospital where I conducted experiments on new drugs and treatments. My interest in ICON comes from my desire to continue working in a lab setting but also gain valuable business experience.”

6. Any experience with medical writing or other documentation?

ICON is a biopharmaceutical company that provides drug development services to other companies. As such, they need writers who can create clear and concise documentation for their clients. If you have experience with medical writing or other types of technical writing, it’s important to mention this in your answer.

Example: “I’ve worked as a freelance writer for the past five years. I started out working on websites and blogs but quickly moved into more technical writing. I’ve written white papers, case studies, brochures, product descriptions and more. My work has been published in several industry publications.”

7. Are you willing to travel up to 80% of the time?

Travel is a common part of working in the pharmaceutical industry. If you’re interviewing for an ICON position, it’s likely that you’ll be traveling to meet with clients and attend conferences. It’s important to let your interviewer know if you have any issues with travel or time away from home.

Example: “I’m happy to travel as needed. In my last role, I was required to travel up to 80% of the time. While this can be challenging at times, I find that I enjoy meeting new people and learning about different cultures.”

8. Have you used any electronic data capture systems before? Which ones?

This question is a great way to determine if you have experience with ICON’s proprietary system, which is called e-ICON. This is an important part of the company culture and it helps them know whether or not you’re a good fit for their organization.

Example: “I’ve used several different electronic data capture systems in my career so far. My most recent job required me to use eClinicalWorks, which was very similar to ICON’s e-ICON. It helped that I had already learned how to navigate this type of software before starting at my last job.”

9. Do you have previous monitoring experience, if so what kind?

Monitoring is a key part of working in the pharmaceutical industry. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience with monitoring and how it relates to their company. If you do not have previous monitoring experience, consider describing your ability to monitor effectively.

Example: “I have no direct monitoring experience, however I am familiar with the process and can apply my knowledge of quality assurance to ensure that all processes are being monitored appropriately.”

10. Have you worked on any high profile studies? If so, can you describe them?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can contribute to ICON’s success. Highlight any experience you have working on high-profile studies, especially if they are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Example: “I worked on a study that was published in The New England Journal of Medicine last year. It focused on the effects of a new drug treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes. My role was as a research scientist, where I analyzed data from clinical trials and helped develop the final report.”

11. Can you give examples of how you handled difficult situations?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you had to think quickly and solve a problem that helped the company or organization achieve its goals.

Example: “In my last role as a senior project manager, I was responsible for overseeing the development of a new drug application for a client. The FDA requested additional information on our clinical trial data, which delayed the approval process by several months. We were able to provide the necessary information within the required timeframe, however, and the FDA approved the drug application.”

12. When was the last time you had to deal with conflict? How did you manage it?

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving and interpersonal skills. It also helps the interviewer understand how you might handle conflict with their team members or clients.

Example: “I had a disagreement with my manager last year about our company’s marketing strategy. I was convinced that we should focus on social media, but he thought traditional advertising would be more effective. We decided to test both strategies for six months and compare the results. After comparing the data, we realized that social media was much more cost-effective than traditional advertising.”

13. What’s the most important part of clinical research associate role?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you understand the responsibilities of a clinical research associate. Use examples from your experience to explain what makes this role important and how you’ve helped fulfill these duties in previous roles.

Example: “The most important part of my role as a clinical research associate was ensuring that all data I collected was accurate, complete and organized. This involved using specialized software to enter information into databases and ensure it was stored properly. It also meant making sure that any changes or updates were documented so they could be tracked throughout the study.”

14. Tell me about some of the projects that you’ve worked on.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have experience working on projects and collaborating with others. When answering this question, try to highlight the most relevant project you’ve worked on in relation to the position you’re applying for.

Example: “I recently completed an ICON client’s Phase II clinical trial for their new drug. The company was looking to test the efficacy of their product by administering it to patients who had been diagnosed with a certain disease. My team and I were responsible for recruiting patients, collecting data and analyzing results.”

15. Every study has many different moving parts- tell us about a time where everything came together smoothly.

This question is a great way to show your ability to work as part of a team and manage multiple projects at once. When answering this question, it can be helpful to highlight the importance of teamwork in achieving success.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for managing several different studies at once. One study that stands out in my mind was when we were working on developing a new drug for a client. We had many moving parts to consider, including finding qualified test subjects, creating an effective testing protocol and ensuring our data collection methods were accurate.

Ultimately, all of these pieces came together smoothly and we were able to deliver a successful product to our client.”

16. A lot of reading/writing involved in this job, are you comfortable doing both?

This question is a great way to determine if the candidate has the necessary skills and experience for this role. If you’re interviewing someone with no writing or reading experience, it’s important to let them know that they will be doing both of these tasks on a daily basis.

Example: “Yes, I am comfortable with both reading and writing. In my previous position as an assistant editor at a publishing company, I was responsible for editing content and proofreading manuscripts. This required me to read through many different types of documents and edit them accordingly.”

17. What is your biggest weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to be honest. Interviewers want to know that you’re self-aware and willing to improve yourself. When answering this question, try to pick something that you’ve worked on improving or plan to work on improving.

Example: “My biggest weakness is my attention to detail. I’m always working hard to improve myself in this area. In the past, I would have overlooked small mistakes in reports or presentations, but now I make sure to double check everything before submitting it.”

18. Customer service is very important here at ICON, how would you approach customer satisfaction?

Customer service is a vital part of working in any industry, and the pharmaceutical industry is no different. Interviewers may ask this question to see how you would interact with their customers if they hired you. In your answer, try to show that you value customer satisfaction and are willing to go above and beyond for clients.

Example: “I believe that customer service is one of the most important aspects of my job. I would always make sure to greet patients or clients as soon as they arrived at our facility. If they had questions about their treatment plan or wanted to discuss something specific, I would be happy to do so. I also think it’s important to follow up with them after their appointment to ensure everything went well.”

19. What are your long term career goals?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you are motivated and have a plan for your career. It’s important to be honest about what you want, but it can also be helpful to include some steps you’re taking to get there.

Example: “I’m currently working on my PhD in biochemistry, so I hope to continue researching and developing new drugs. In the long term, I’d love to work as a researcher at a university or pharmaceutical company.”

20. What is toxicology?

Toxicology is a branch of science that studies the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms. Interviewers may ask this question to assess your understanding of scientific terminology and concepts. In your answer, try to define toxicology in simple terms and explain how you would apply it in your role if hired.

Example: “Toxicology is the study of the harmful effects of chemicals on living organisms. It’s important for me to understand toxicology because I need to ensure our clients’ drugs are safe before they enter clinical trials. If someone takes their drug as prescribed but experiences an adverse reaction, we want to know why so we can make sure future batches don’t have the same problem.”