P*******0
发帖数: 226 | 1 主要针对药厂Statistician
面试过程：
1. Phone interview, 通常2-3 次，30-45 min
2. Interview at conferences like JSM, ENAR, 30min, replace phone interview
3. Onsite interview, whole day, can be 8:30AM -4:30PM, up to 10+
interviewers, each 30- 45 min. Usually 1 hr presentation (30-45 min talk + Q
&A)
--------------------------------------------------------------
面试问题分类：
1.Questions about resume and past experience
2. Describe your dissertation
3. Techinical questions
4. Behavior questions
--------------------------------------------------------------
1.Questions about resume and past experience
Intern experience, research assistant projects,
Make sure you know your CV/resume well -- they can ask you anything on there
!
Experience/ projects
1) 3-4 sentence high level summary,
a) goal of study,
b) analysis, model,
c) results.
2) The most interesting part in the project
3) Details if asked
* Use the STAR technique
1. Situation: Open with a brief description of the Situation and context of
the story (who, what, where, when, how).
2. Task: Explain the Task you had to complete highlighting any specific
challenges or constraint (eg deadlines, costs, other issues).
3. Action: Describe the specific Actions that you took to complete the task.
These should highlight desirable traits without needing to state them (
initiative, intelligence, dedication, leadership, understanding, etc.)
4. Result: Close with the result of your efforts. Include figures to
quantify the result if possible.
--------------------------------------------------------------
2. Describe your dissertation
No formula, no tools, describe your dissertation in an intuitive way in 1-2
mins.
Eg. what is the motivation (motivating dataset), the problem with current
approach, the new method you propose, what is new and what is better.
Can draw on paper to explain if necessary.
--------------------------------------------------------------
3. Techinical question
Different phases of clinical trials,
survival analysis (write down the partial likelihood;Explain hazard ratio to
non-statistician;Kaplan-Mier curve;Cox proportional hazard model;Log rank
test),
adaptive bayesian designs,
Basic design of experiments.
* The most commonly asked: explain certain concepts to non-statistician (p-
values, CI, controlling for multiplicity)
--------------------------------------------------------------
4. Behavior questions
The most commonly asked:
Tell me about yourself
why industry and not academia,
why our company and not other pharma,
How do you like team work,
how do handle pressure,
how do you meet deadlines,
how do you handle different projects at same time,
what is your expectation,
how do you want to look yourself after 5 years ...../ how do you see
yourself in 5 years.
What will your boss/colleagues/advisor say about you
What is your greatest strength and weakness
* You need solid examples from past experience to support each point.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Questions to ask the interviewers:
For the Hiring manager (who make the decision):
major responsibility for this project, what kind of projects, job specific
questions
For other people:
1. What is your typical day like?
2. What projects are you working on, which phases,
3. Major diff between pharma and other area,
4. What do you think makes a good biostatistician (in a biotech company/
pharma) ?
5. What are your top 5 predictions for the next 20 years?
6. how they got into the industry (why did THEY not choose academia),
7. what they like and not like about the job (don't be afraid to build a "
close" relationship with them by asking them questions that may get them out
of their comfort zone),
8. what do they have in terms of advice for a new PhD graduate, etc.
* Ask questions so that you can show your strength! | P*******0
发帖数: 226 | 2 根据每个职位和自己的情况填上，个人感觉很有用，
面试时可以根据要求强调自己吻合的条件
-----------------------------------------------------------
Phone interview preparation list
Job Requirements
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
My Qualifications
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Prove with exampleexperience
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
List the requested traits mentioned in the Job Description:
1.
2.
3.
4.
List your top 3 strengths
Technical strengths: Soft skill strengths:
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
List 2 weaknesses: How do you overcome these weaknesses?
1. 1.
2. 2.
List your top 3 Accomplishments…Technical and Non-technical
1.
2.
3. | s******n
发帖数: 189 | | P*******0
发帖数: 226 | 4 Behavior questions:
-------------------------------------
Questions Asked By Employers
• What are your long range and short range goals and objectives,
when and why did you establish these goals and how are you preparing
yourself to achieve them?
• What specific goals, other than those related to your occupation,
have you established for yourself?
• What do you see yourself doing five years from now?
• What do you expect to be earning in five years?
• What do you really want to do in life?
• What are the most important rewards you expect in your business
career?
• Why did you choose the career for which you are preparing?
• Which is more important to you, the money or type of job?
• What do you consider to be your greatest strengths and weaknesses
?
• How would you describe yourself?
• How do you think a friend or professor who knows you would
describe you?
• What motivates you to put forth your greatest efforts?
• How has your college experience prepared you for a business
career?
• Why should I hire you?
• What qualifications do you have that make you think that you will
be successful in business?
• How do you determine or evaluate success?
• What do you think it takes to be successful in a company like
ours?
• In what ways do you think you can make a contribution to our
company?
• What qualities should a successful manager possess?
• Describe the relationship that should exist between a supervisor
and those reporting to him or her.
• What two to three accomplishments have given you the most
satisfaction? Why?
• Describe your most rewarding college experience.
• If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities
would you look for?
• Why did you select your college or university?
• What led you to choose your field of major study?
• What college subjects did you like best? Why? Least? Why?
• If you could do so, how would you plan your academic study
differently? Why?
• What changes would you make in your college or university? Why?
• Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?
• Do you think that your grades are a good indication of your
academic achievement?
• What have you learned from participation in extra-curricular
activities?
• In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
• How do you work under pressure?
• In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested in
? Why?
• How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation
?
• Why did you decide to seek a position with this company?
• What do you know about our company?
• What two or three things are most important to you in a job?
• Are you seeking employment in a company of a certain size? Why?
• What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you
hope to work?
• Are you willing to travel?
• Do you have a geographical preference? Why?
• Will you relocate? Does relocation bother you?
• Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?
• Why do you think you might like to live in the community in which
our company is located?
• What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with
it?
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• What were your major courses of study in school? Why did you
choose those courses?
• What was the most important thing you learned in school?
• Why did you decide to go to this University?
• Do you plan to finish your college degree while you are working?
• Did school meet your expectations? How did you pay for your
college education?
• To what extent do your grades reflect how much you learned?
• What were your major responsibilities at your last job? At the
one before that?
• Which of your previous jobs did you like (or dislike) most? Why?
• What was the most rewarding experience at work? What do you find
most satisfying in a job?
• What was your single most important accomplishment for the
company in your last job?
• Why did you leave your last job? Why do you want to change jobs?
• What was the toughest problem you had to solve? How did you solve
it?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• This job means you will have to relocate; what problems do you
foresee, if any?
• This job has a lot of travel; how will you handle that?
• After reading a description of the job, how do you see yourself
fitting in with this job?
• What skills did you learn at your last job that you can use here?
• Why do you want to work for our company?
• How do you think your education will help you on this job?
• What would you do if you were fired in two years?
• If you went to work for us today, what job would you like to hold
in three years?
• How long do you plan on staying with us?
• What kinds of additional education, formal or informal, do you
think you need to meet your career goals?
• What do you know about our company?
• Why did you choose our company?
• What are your career goals?
• Where do you expect to be in your career within five years?
• What are your educational goals?
• What future training do you plan in connection with your career
goals?
• What are your lifetime goals?
• What do you know about the position you are interviewing for?
• What skills, experience, and training do you have that makes you
qualified for this job?
• What other positions have you had that qualify you for this
position?
• What have you contributed to your past employers that saved the
company time, money, or enhanced its image?
• How many promotions did you receive at your last or present
company?
• Why were you given these promotions at your present or last
company?
• How many raises were given at your last position? Why were you
given them?
• What did you learn in your last three positions?
• Why do you want to change careers?
• Have you had any supervisory or administrative experience? Please
tell me more about it.
• What management style do you prefer?
• How are your people-management skills? Can you give me one or two
examples?
• How well do you communicate in writing and orally? Give me some
examples.
• Can you meet deadlines? If so, give me an example.
• Give me an example of a decision you made that benefited your
company.
• What motivates you?
• How do you best motivate others?
• What clubs do you belong to?
• What volunteer work do you do or have you done in the past?
• What awards or honors have you received?
• What are your hobbies?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• What are your salary requirements?
• Have you ever done consulting work? If so, why and for whom?
• Have you written any articles for a professional journal,
magazine, or newspaper?
• What civic organizations do you belong to?
• What professional associations do you belong to?
• What major strength do you feel you have that would make you a
great (Manager, Sales Representative, Accountant, Analyst, etc)?
• Describe a situation where your work or an idea was criticized.
• Have you done the best work you are capable of doing?
• What problems do you have getting along with others?
• I'm not sure you're suitable for the job, what do you think?
• Tell me about something you are not proud of.
• What are some of the things your supervisor did that you disliked
?
• What aspects of your job do you consider most crucial?
• What is your energy level like? Describe a typical day.
• Why do you want to work here?
• What kind of experience do you have for this job?
• Are you willing to go where the company sends you?
• What did you like/dislike about your last job?
• What is the least relevant job you have held?
• What would you like to be doing five years from now?
• What are your biggest accomplishments?
• How do you organize and plan for major projects?
• What is your greatest strength?
• What are your outstanding qualities?
• What interests you most about this job?
• What can you do for us that someone else can't do?
• Describe a difficult problem you have had to deal with.
• What would your references say about you?
• Can we check your references?
• What was the last book you read (or movie you saw)? How did it
affect you?
• How do you handle tension?
• How long have you been looking for a position?
• Have you ever been fired?
• How does this job compare with others you have applied for?
• How do you take direction?
• Rate yourself on a scale of one to ten.
• What kinds of things do you worry about?
• What is the most difficult situation you have faced?
• What are some of the things that bother you?
• What have you done that shows initiative?
• How interested are you in sports?
• Do you prefer working with others or alone?
• Explain your role as a group/team leader.
• How would you define a conducive work atmosphere?
• Define cooperation.
• What difficulties do you have tolerating people with different
backgrounds and interests from yours?
• In hindsight, what have you done that was a little harebrained?
• What would you do when you have a decision to make and no
procedure exists?
• What kinds of decisions are most difficult for you?
• Tell me about the problems you have had living within your means.
• What area of your skills/professional development do you want to
improve at this time?
• Are you willing to take calculated risks when necessary?
• See this pen I am holding, sell it to me.
• What is the worst thing you have heard about our company?
• How do you handle rejection?
• Tell me about a time when you put your foot in your mouth.
• What interests you least about this job?
• What do you feel is a satisfactory attendance record?
• What are some of the things you find difficult to do? Why do you
feel that way?
• What kind of people do you like to work with?
• What kind of people do you find it difficult to work with?
• How have you successfully worked with this difficult type of
person?
• How would you evaluate me as an interviewer?
• We have tried to hire people from your major before, and they
never seem to work out. What makes you different?
• Do you like routine tasks/regular hours?
• What have you done that shows initiative and willingness to work?
• What do you think determines progress in a good company?
• Do you think grades should be considered by first employers?
• Why do you think you would like this type of work?
• What would your ideal career position be?
• Do you consider yourself a leader, and if so, give me some
examples of your leadership abilities?
• Do you consider yourself a better manager or a better implementer
?
• What are your most significant achievements?
• Have you had any international experience? Do you speak or write
in any foreign language?
• What can you offer us?
• Have you ever fired employees, and if so, how did you handle
terminations?
• What do you feel is the most difficult responsibility that a
manager/executive must perform?
• What is your definition of success and according to this
definition, how successful have you been in your career?
• What are your long and short range plans?
• What were your favorite courses in school? Who were your favorite
professors and why?
• Did you prepare your own resume?
• How long have you been engaged in your job search?
• Have you had any specific offers?
• Why haven't you found a position before now?
• What do you know about this company, and where did you find this
information?
• How do you spend your time when you are not working?
• If you could begin your career over again, what would you do
differently?
• How much do you think this position is worth?
• What is the hardest job you have ever performed?
• Do you object to taking psychological tests?
• What contributions do you think that you could make to this
company?
• You seem overqualified for this position, what do you think?
Additional Questions You May be Asked
Work History Questions:
• I noticed that you were working for (your last job was with) ____
. Why did you decide to work there?
• What exactly do (did) you do there?
• What do (did) you like about that job and company?
• What do (did) you not like?
• How do (did) you get along with your supervisor there?
• How do you think he or she would rate you?
• Would he or she recommend you for another job?
• What qualities do you look for in a supervisor?
• What type of people do you like to work with?
• Tell me about your successes in that job.
• Was your work ever criticized? If so, in what way? What did you
do to improve?
• What kind of setting do you like to work in quiet or noisy? Alone
or with others?
• In doing your job, do you think it's more important to finish
quickly or do the work exactly right?
Education Questions:
• I see you went to _________. Why did you pick that school?
• Would you go there again? If not, why? Where would you go instead
?
• What do you feel were the most significant things you got out of
going there?
• How did you happen to major in _________?
• Would you choose the same curriculum again? If not, what would
you choose instead?
• In what subjects did you do best?
• What subjects gave you the most trouble?
• What was your overall average for class standings?
• Did you have any part-time jobs while you were going to school?
• How will your degree help you succeed in our company?
• Why aren't your grades higher?
Self-Evaluation Questions:
• How do you feel you can contribute to this company?
• What do you hope to gain from working here?
• What do you feel are your outstanding qualities?
• When you analyze yourself in relation to work and other people,
do you find areas that need improvement? If so, how would you go about it?
• What are your short and long range career objectives?
• Why do you want to change jobs?
• What will your last supervisor tell me are your two strongest/
weakest areas?
• Tell me about a time when you had to delay finishing a task
because you didn't have enough information to come to a good decision.
• Describe the best supervisor you've ever had.
• What do you really want to do in life?
• Have you ever hired or fired anyone?
• How would you describe yourself?
• Would you like to have your boss's job?
• Describe the kind of people that annoy you most. What type of
people do you like working with?
• What interests you about this position?
• Give an example of a time when you were able to effectively
communicate with another person even though that person may have disliked
you?
• Why do you want to work here?
• Give an example of a time when you were able to build motivation
in your co-workers or those you supervised.
• Why should I hire you rather than someone else for this position?
• How do you feel about your career progress to date?
• Give an example of a problem you had at work and tell me how you
solved it.
• How has your past experience trained you for this career?
• What did you do on your last job in order to help build teamwork?
• What did you dislike/like about your last job?
• What are two things you wish to avoid in your next job?
• Describe an important goal that you've set in the past, and tell
me about your success in reaching it.
• What kinds of decisions are hard for you?
• Give an example of a time when you had to be relatively quick in
coming to a decision.
• Describe the most significant written report/presentation that
you had to complete.
• Tell me some specific techniques you used on your last job in
order to improve your organizational and time management skills.
• What is the most creative work-related project you've been
involved in?
• How do you work under pressure?
• Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call
of duty in order to get a job done.
• What have you learned from your mistakes?
• Describe a time on any job when you've confronted problems/
stresses that tested your coping skills.
• Give me an example of a specific occasion when you conformed to a
policy that you didn't agree with.
• What motivates you in a job and in personal life?
• What role do you take in a group situation? Give examples.
• Give an example of how you performed in a team situation.
• What are the biggest issues facing our industry and company today
?
• What would you do to improve our company's position?
• What research have you done on our firm and our industry?
• Are you results oriented? Give some examples.
• How have you developed your interpersonal skills? Are they good?
• Describe your problem solving skills.
• Give me an example of a complex problem you solved.
• Give me an example of when you have failed and how you responded.
• Can you work under pressure? Give an example.
• What type of salary are you worth and why?
• What are the five biggest accomplishments of your life?
• How long would it take you to make a contribution to our company?
• If you could change something in the course of your life, what
would you change?
• How would you rate yourself as a manager? As a worker?
• What were the development steps on your last performance
appraisal?
• What new goals have you set for yourself? Why did you choose
these?
• What did you think of your last boss?
• What did your subordinates think of you?
• Why haven't you obtained or accepted a job so far?
• What features of your previous jobs did you like and dislike?
• Describe your ideal picture of success.
• What interests you most about our position?
• What was the last book you read?
• What did you do on your last vacation?
• Wouldn't you be better off in a bigger (smaller) organization?
• Are you a leader? Give examples.
• Describe your personality.
• How have you increased profits in your past jobs?
• What qualities do you look for in hiring people? For this job?
• Describe the ideal employee.
• How have you improved yourself recently?
• What were your responsibilities in your campus activities?
• Describe your study habits.
• How do you change your style to work with people at all levels,
from Vice Presidents to Secretaries?
• What other firms are you talking to and why?
• How would you decide between job offers from us and one of our
competitors?
• What have you learned from your past jobs?
• What skills do you bring to us and how can you put them to work?
• Describe the time period and circumstances when you became self-
supporting.
• Describe a goal you have set in the past and how successful have
you been in working towards its accomplishment.
• Describe a time when you were under pressure to fulfill a
commitment you made to do something in spite of difficulties.
• Describe a situation in which one of your decisions was
challenged in a group. How did you react?
• Were you able to achieve the results you wanted?
• Describe a time when you had to be persuasive in getting your
ideas across.
• Give me a question that you've never heard a recruiter ask you
and you want to hear.
• Describe a situation in which you found yourself to be an
analytical and thorough problem solver, and by solving the problem achieved
good results.
• Describe when you used facts/figures to support your story to
obtain a significant accomplishment in an important matter.
• It's hard to get a new idea accepted by others. Describe when you
have had to do this.
• What are some things about yourself that you would like to
improve?
• In order to be effective as a negotiator, it's important to not
only be able to analyze your competition, but also be able to compromise.
Describe an experience in negotiating that reflects your ability to
compromise.
• Describe steps you have taken to address problem areas in some
important matter.
• What are two or three things you would still like to learn in
this field?
• What skills do you rely on most in your everyday work?
• What kind of training do you feel you would benefit from?
• How much supervision do you normally receive? Prefer?
• What kind of things come most naturally to you? Describe your
biggest success.
• How do you feel about working in an unstructured environment? Why
?
• What do you like most about your present job? What do you like
least about it?
• What kinds of things give you the greatest satisfaction in your
work? Least satisfaction?
• What steps have you taken in the last few years to develop your
skills?
• In your opinion, what makes you different from the other
applicants?
• What have been the most significant accomplishments in your life
so far?
• What sort of decisions are easy for you to make? What sort of
decisions are difficult for you to make?
• If we hire you for this job, what would we need to do to bring
you up to speed?
• What has been your biggest frustration?
• If I spoke to a friend, what characteristics of yours would he or
she like to see you change?
• To what extent would you say that your last job was a learning
experience? Why?
• What changes have you dealt with in your current position?
Describe the risks that you have taken in your last job, and tell me the
outcome of these risks. | P*******0
发帖数: 226 | 5 Thank you letter.
面试的时候可以问下面官皆不介意Take notes, 回去之后问HR要hiring manager和
hiring manager的boss的email,24小时内发thank you email.
要提起面时候说到的东西，比如这个公司精神是高效率，不搞政治，比如某个analysis
用的非常多，interview中对方对你用的某个方法感兴趣，就给他相关reference的link
, 感谢面官对dissertation提的意见，觉得很有启发，等等
另外还可以给每个面官发感谢卡片，写好公司地址，面官名字，面完之后填进去要点，
出门塞邮筒。
Simple, short and to the point.
Give reason why like the job
Show you care, your are thought
1 or 2 key points
-------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you letter 1 (accept offer)
Dear recruiter,
You team’s credentials and the high level of work they produce impressed me
. I’ll be honored to accept an offer with the company. As I mentioned
during the interview, I am very busy with my current job and will need some
time to complete my projects there. I will be available to start work 3
weeks from the day I receive an offer letter.
Thank you
XXX
-------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you letter 2 (Inquiry)
Dear hiring manager, my experience in biostatistics and your group’s
reputation in that field were what initially attracted me to interview with
that team.
I was even more impressed after meeting you and your team. I have several
questions and will be giving you a call in the next few days for
clarification.
I’ll be interested in considering an reasonable offer
I’ll be graduating in XXX and will be available to start 3 weeks later on
XXX.
Thank you for inviting me in form interview. I enjoy meeting you and hope we
’ll be able to work together soon.
Thank you letter 3
-------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr Manager,
I enjoy meeting with you, XX and XX today.
I found the group to be very professional and forward thinking, particularly
regarding XXXX.
I’m very interested in the position, and will accept an offer that is
commensurate with my experience and education.
I look forward to speaking with you soon.
I can be reach at XXX-XXX-XXXX (phone number)
Sincerely yours, | p********a
发帖数: 5352 | | k*******a
发帖数: 772 | | h**********1
发帖数: 155 | 8 非常非常感谢！
其实不仅对面药厂有用。对面其他行业的也很有用！
Q
【在 P*******0 的大作中提到】
: 主要针对药厂Statistician
: 面试过程：
: 1. Phone interview, 通常2-3 次，30-45 min
: 2. Interview at conferences like JSM, ENAR, 30min, replace phone interview
: 3. Onsite interview, whole day, can be 8:30AM -4:30PM, up to 10+
: interviewers, each 30- 45 min. Usually 1 hr presentation (30-45 min talk + Q
: &A)
: --------------------------------------------------------------
: 面试问题分类：
: 1.Questions about resume and past experience
| d*******3
发帖数: 26 | | p******y
发帖数: 2252 | | | | P****D
发帖数: 11146 | 11 没有哪个公司会说自己的精神是低效率、天天搞政治。大家除了技术细节，比如楼主大
牛提到的提供reference给对某方法表示兴趣的hiring manager，公司文化方面就往死
里夸，自己这方面忠心要往死里表。千穿万穿，马屁不穿。
analysis
【在 P*******0 的大作中提到】
: Thank you letter.
: 面试的时候可以问下面官皆不介意Take notes, 回去之后问HR要hiring manager和
: hiring manager的boss的email,24小时内发thank you email.
: 要提起面时候说到的东西，比如这个公司精神是高效率，不搞政治，比如某个analysis
: 用的非常多，interview中对方对你用的某个方法感兴趣，就给他相关reference的link
: , 感谢面官对dissertation提的意见，觉得很有启发，等等
: 另外还可以给每个面官发感谢卡片，写好公司地址，面官名字，面完之后填进去要点，
: 出门塞邮筒。
: Simple, short and to the point.
: Give reason why like the job
| P*******0
发帖数: 226 | 12 那是之前面的一家，所有人对他们的高效率，不搞政治，都非常骄傲。
那些效率低的公司，员工一般不会提到这一点，但会有其他特点，比如所有
statistician都有15+年以上经验，又比如early phase全部都用Bayesian,
有次HR不给email, 说先发给她，她再转发给interview committee,
于是我就发了一封email，而且给每个interivewer都寄了Thank you 卡片，也不知道他
们收到没有。
就是想办法让自己写的信和其他candidate不同，让人家对你有印象了。
这些都是锦上添花。
【在 P****D 的大作中提到】
: 没有哪个公司会说自己的精神是低效率、天天搞政治。大家除了技术细节，比如楼主大
: 牛提到的提供reference给对某方法表示兴趣的hiring manager，公司文化方面就往死
: 里夸，自己这方面忠心要往死里表。千穿万穿，马屁不穿。
:
: analysis
| r*****y
发帖数: 199 | 13 高效率，不搞政治，跪求这是哪家......N家好像Early Phase全部BayesIan，不过他们
政治搞得风声水起的，你说的肯定不会是他家吧...
【在 P*******0 的大作中提到】
: 那是之前面的一家，所有人对他们的高效率，不搞政治，都非常骄傲。
: 那些效率低的公司，员工一般不会提到这一点，但会有其他特点，比如所有
: statistician都有15+年以上经验，又比如early phase全部都用Bayesian,
: 有次HR不给email, 说先发给她，她再转发给interview committee,
: 于是我就发了一封email，而且给每个interivewer都寄了Thank you 卡片，也不知道他
: 们收到没有。
: 就是想办法让自己写的信和其他candidate不同，让人家对你有印象了。
: 这些都是锦上添花。
| l******e
发帖数: 895 | 14 公司里一般都搞什么政治，拉帮结派？
【在 r*****y 的大作中提到】
: 高效率，不搞政治，跪求这是哪家......N家好像Early Phase全部BayesIan，不过他们
: 政治搞得风声水起的，你说的肯定不会是他家吧...
| x**********6
发帖数: 4 | |
|
