20 Pfizer Interview Questions and Answers

When you go to a job interview, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions. But if you’re interviewing for a position at Pfizer, you may be wondering what kinds of questions you’ll be asked.

Pfizer is a pharmaceuticals and biotechnology company that supports wellness and prevention. The company is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives. As a result, Pfizer is looking for employees who are passionate about health and wellness.

In an interview, Pfizer will be looking to learn more about your interest in the company and your qualifications for the position you’re applying for. To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample Pfizer interview questions and answers.

Pfizer Interview Process

The interview process at Pfizer can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least one phone interview and one in-person interview. For some positions, there may also be a panel interview. The interviews are generally fairly standard, with questions about your experience and qualifications. However, for some positions, such as scientific positions, there may be more technical questions. Overall, the interview process is relatively straightforward and efficient.

1. Why do you want to work for Pfizer?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your interest in their company. When preparing for this interview, make sure you research Pfizer and understand what they do. You can also consider asking them what makes working at Pfizer unique.

Example: “I want to work for Pfizer because I am passionate about helping people live healthier lives. I have always been interested in science and medicine, so I would love to be able to use my skills as a scientist to help develop new medications that could improve people’s quality of life.”

2. How would you handle a situation where an employee is not meeting expectations?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you handle conflict and whether or not you have experience with it. When answering, consider an example from your past where you helped a coworker improve their performance.

Example: “In my current position as a marketing manager, I had an employee who was consistently late to work. While this is something that’s difficult to control for some people, I felt like there were ways we could make it better. So, I scheduled a meeting with them to discuss what they thought would be helpful in making sure they got to work on time. They mentioned needing more sleep, so I suggested they try taking public transportation instead of driving. This change made a huge difference, and they rarely missed work after implementing these changes.”

3. What are some of the qualities that you think make up a good manager?

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and how you would manage a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about the qualities that make up a good manager in general and then relate them back to yourself.

Example: “I think one of the most important qualities of a good manager is being able to communicate effectively with their team. I am always open to having conversations with my coworkers and making sure they know what’s expected of them. Another quality of a good manager is being organized and prepared for meetings or projects. I have always been someone who likes to plan ahead and stay on top of things.”

4. What experience do you have working with medical professionals?

This question is a great way to show your ability to work with others and collaborate. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any medical professionals you have worked with in the past or how you would approach working with them if you haven’t had that experience yet.

Example: “I’ve never worked directly with medical professionals, but I am very familiar with their roles and responsibilities. In my previous position, I was responsible for creating marketing campaigns that targeted physicians and other healthcare providers. This helped me understand what they were looking for when prescribing our products.”

5. You would be making cold calls and presenting sales pitches, how do you feel about this?

Cold calling and sales pitches are a big part of the pharmaceutical industry. The interviewer wants to know if you feel comfortable with this type of work, as it is an important part of the job.

Example: “I have experience cold calling and making sales pitches in my previous position, and I enjoy these types of interactions. It’s important for me to be able to connect with people on a personal level, so I try to make sure that I am friendly and respectful when speaking with them. This helps me build rapport and trust with potential clients.”

6. Tell us about your most recent project.

This question is a great way to show your potential employer that you are passionate about your work and have the ability to complete projects. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe what you accomplished in the project and how it benefited your team or company.

Example: “In my last position as an accountant for a small business, I was tasked with creating a budget for the upcoming year. This process took me several weeks of research and calculations, but once I completed it, I realized we were able to hire two new employees without raising our expenses. This allowed us to grow our business while still maintaining our current profit margins.”

7. What are your short term & long term career goals?

This question is a great way to show your enthusiasm for the position and company. It also allows you to explain how you plan to grow in your career at Pfizer. When answering this question, be sure to include what you hope to achieve within the next year or two as well as what you would like to accomplish over the course of your entire career.

Example: “My short term goal is to become an expert on all things wellness and prevention. I am currently taking classes online to earn my certification in preventative medicine. My long-term goal is to work my way up through the ranks until I reach a management position.”

8. What skills do you think would be important when working as a Sales Representative at Pfizer?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have researched their company and understand what skills are important for success in this role. You can use your answer to highlight a few of your strongest skills, such as communication, problem-solving or teamwork.

Example: “I think it’s important to be able to communicate effectively with others, especially when working in sales. I also believe collaboration is key because there may be times where I need help from my team members. Finally, I think having strong time management skills would be beneficial since I’d be responsible for meeting quotas and deadlines.”

9. Are you willing to travel between 75% and 100% of the time?

Travel is a common part of the pharmaceutical sales industry. If you are interviewing for a position with Pfizer, it’s likely that you will be required to travel frequently. When answering this question, make sure to highlight your willingness and ability to travel often.

Example: “I am willing to travel between 75% and 100% of the time. I understand that traveling is an important part of my job as a pharmaceutical sales representative. In fact, I enjoy meeting new people and learning about different cultures. Traveling allows me to do both of these things.”

10. Describe a time when you had to present technical information in front of an audience that did not understand scientific terminology.

This question is a great way to show your communication skills and how you can explain complex information in an easy-to-understand manner.

Example: “At my previous job, I was tasked with presenting the results of our research to upper management. The company had just released a new product that was not performing as well as expected, so they wanted me to present my findings on why this was happening. I explained the scientific terms using analogies and metaphors that anyone could understand. This helped them make better decisions about the future of the product.”

11. What was one thing you learned from a previous position that you still use today?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand what skills you have developed over time. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a skill that is relevant to the position you are applying for.

Example: “In my previous role as an administrative assistant, I learned how to use many different software programs like Microsoft Office and Google Drive. These skills have been very useful in my current job because I am able to create presentations and documents more efficiently than before.”

12. Give me an example of a time when you made a mistake.

This question is a great way to learn more about how you respond to challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on your ability to learn from mistakes and move forward.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my previous job, I made the mistake of not communicating with my team enough. This led to some confusion among employees that resulted in them making mistakes. After realizing what happened, I immediately called a meeting with my team to discuss what had happened and apologize for my actions. From there, we discussed ways to improve communication so that everyone knew their responsibilities.”

13. What are your thoughts on the current state of healthcare?

The interviewer may ask this question to gauge your opinion on the current state of healthcare and how you would like to see it improve. In your answer, try to highlight any specific issues that you have with the current system and explain what you think could be done to fix them.

Example: “I believe that there are many problems in our current healthcare system. For example, I feel that we need more preventative care rather than reactive care. I also think that patients should have more control over their own health records and treatment plans. If I were working for Pfizer, I would implement a program where patients can access their medical history online and even make changes to their prescriptions.”

14. Do you have any relevant certifications or licenses?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you are committed to your career and have taken steps to improve yourself. If you have any relevant certifications or licenses, be sure to mention them in your answer.

Example: “I am currently working toward my certification as a registered nurse. I chose this field because it combines both medical knowledge and patient care, which is something I find very important. I also hold a certificate for CPR training.”

15. Do you have any experience developing new products?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have any experience with a similar process. If you do, share your experiences and how they helped you develop new products or services for your previous employer.

Example: “In my last position as a pharmaceuticals sales representative, I worked closely with the research team to understand what our customers were looking for in their medications. This information was then used to create new product lines that would be beneficial to both the company and its clients. The more we could provide our customers with solutions to their problems, the more likely they were to purchase from us.”

16. What areas of science do you specialize in?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry and how you can contribute to Pfizer. If you have experience in any areas that are relevant to Pfizer, such as medical research or biotechnology, be sure to mention it.

Example: “I specialize in neuroscience and behavioral psychology. I find these two fields particularly interesting because they help us understand why people make certain decisions and what we can do to change them. In my last role, I worked with a team of neuroscientists who were researching brain development in children. We used our findings to create an educational program for parents.”

17. What kind of research have you done recently?

This question is a great way to show your knowledge of the industry and how you can apply it. When answering this question, make sure to include what kind of research you did, who you talked to about it and what you learned from them.

Example: “I recently read an article on the importance of sleep in our overall health. I was inspired by this information and decided to do some more research into natural remedies for insomnia. After speaking with my friend who works at a local herb shop, I found out that lavender essential oil is a great way to help people fall asleep naturally.”

18. We need our scientists to be able to work independently and collaborate equally well with others, which do you prefer more?

This question is designed to assess your ability to work in a team and how you prefer to interact with others. Your answer should show that you are willing to collaborate, but also have the independence to complete tasks on your own.

Example: “I enjoy working both independently and collaboratively. I find that when I am working alone, I can focus more on my research and get it done quickly. However, I really enjoy collaborating with other scientists because we can bounce ideas off of each other and come up with new solutions to problems. Collaboration allows me to learn from others and improve my skills.”

19. What type of work environment do you find yourself being the most productive in?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you are self-aware and understand your own work style. It also allows them to see if there’s any chance you might not be a good fit for their company culture.

Example: “I find myself being most productive in an environment where I can focus on my work without distractions. I’m someone who needs quiet time to think through problems, so I prefer working alone or with one other person at a time. However, I do enjoy collaborating with others when it comes to brainstorming ideas.”

20. What is the biggest struggle you’ve faced in the workplace?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you overcame the challenge. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on a specific example of when you faced a challenge at work and how you overcame it.

Example: “The biggest struggle I’ve had in my career was being able to balance my workload with my personal life. At one point, I was working 60 hours per week, which made it difficult for me to spend time with my family. After talking with my manager about the situation, they were able to help me find ways to manage my workload so that I could have more free time.”