The biopharma job market remains highly competitive, with candidates facing increased scrutiny during interviews, according to a Jun. 17 report. Todd Gabianelli, vice president of business development at ClinLab Solutions Group, said the current environment is employer-driven and more selective. “It’s an employer-driven market, so being slow and selective is just this market that we’re in right now,” Gabianelli said. “So, the bar for ‘good enough’ has definitely risen.”
Gabianelli and Angie Allen, managing partner for pharma/biotech at Kaye/Bassman, identified five common interview questions that often challenge candidates: 'Tell me about yourself,' 'Why are you leaving your current role?', 'What is your experience with this particular skill or therapeutic area?', 'Tell me about a time that a clinical trial didn’t go well,' and 'What are your salary expectations?'
Allen said many candidates struggle with the open-ended prompt to talk about themselves because their answers are often too long or stray into personal territory. She recommended keeping responses brief and focused on professional experience. Allen also noted it is acceptable to mention a personal connection to the company’s mission if relevant.
Discussing reasons for leaving a previous role can be sensitive, especially after layoffs. Gabianelli said candidates should briefly explain layoffs or employment gaps without becoming defensive: “Hiring managers I feel like in today’s environment know that layoffs happen, but candidates still stumble on this... It’s still such a sensitive thing.” He advised focusing on future goals rather than past grievances.
When asked about skills or therapeutic areas where they lack direct experience, Allen suggested discussing adjacent skills instead of exaggerating qualifications: “They want to see how they’re going to handle the question... And so obviously the most wrong answer a person can give is to really overembellish or overpromise what their experience is.” For situational questions regarding unsuccessful clinical trials, Gabianelli encouraged transparency and reflection on lessons learned.
Salary discussions were described as another common stumbling block. Gabianelli recommended learning about total compensation before naming specific figures: “We always recommend learn about the total comp package first, and then anchor it to a well-researched, market-driven number.” He also suggested taking a holistic approach based on career stage.
Both experts agreed that thank-you notes offer an opportunity for candidates to clarify answers given during interviews if needed. According to Allen and Gabianelli, following up thoughtfully demonstrates self-awareness valued by employers.
