Saying the wrong thing in a job interview can have consequences beyond just feeling uncomfortable. For biopharma professionals, certain comments or omissions during interviews may lead to missed job opportunities.
BioSpace gathered insights from hiring managers, talent acquisition specialists, and recruiters, along with observations from a Reddit thread, to identify what candidates say—or do not say—that discourages employers.
A significant factor is discussing money as the main motivation for seeking a new role. While compensation is important to many in the industry, as shown by a BioSpace career planning survey where 53% cited higher pay as a reason for changing jobs, openly stating this in an interview can hurt a candidate’s chances. One hiring manager reported not hiring someone who said they were “just doing this for the money.”
Questions about advancement can also be tricky. The same survey found that 67% of respondents sought more growth opportunities. However, some managers are wary when candidates focus on promotions too early or describe the position as merely a “stepping stone.” A Reddit commenter shared experiences with applicants who planned to leave soon after being hired.
Candidates sometimes fail by not connecting their experience directly to an employer’s needs. Bryan Blair, vice president of biotech and pharma recruiting at GQR Global Markets, explained: “The candidates who get offers do something different: they study the company’s pipeline, understand what stage the organization is at, and frame every answer around ‘here’s the specific challenge you’re facing, and here’s how my experience maps to solving it.’” Leslie Loveless of Slone Partners added that strong applicants tailor their discussions to show how their skills address company priorities.
Avoiding self-reflection is another issue. Eric Celidonio of Sci.bio Recruiting noted that humility and openness about mistakes are valued: “It’s really important for candidates to sound out real examples of where they went wrong and areas of development,” he said. Relying only on success stories can make candidates appear less sincere.
Experience that does not match job requirements can also be problematic. Some interviewees have tried to use unrelated or unprofessional experiences—such as catching wild raccoons—as evidence of relevant skills. Others cite informal online interactions as leadership experience.
Lack of preparation stands out as well. A hiring manager shared frustration over applicants failing to research companies before interviews: “The amount of people who don’t even do the basic level research on the brand they are applying for is staggering,” they wrote. Not reading basic information about products or companies signals low commitment.
An independent approach may work against some candidates in regulated environments where following established procedures is essential. One manager commented that while creativity is valuable, adherence to processes must come first.
Negative attitudes toward key responsibilities also raise red flags; one example involved a candidate expressing dislike for pipetting when it was central to the role.
Finally, actions during interviews matter too. Laura Helmick of LHB Clinical said that behaviors such as avoiding eye contact or vaping on camera have led managers to reject candidates regardless of their answers. As noted by one Reddit user regarding vaping: “Didn’t even attempt to hide it...if you can’t go 30 min without a puff in a professional setting, you’re probably not ready for this job.”
Overall, both what candidates say and how they present themselves during interviews play critical roles in hiring decisions within biopharma.
