Galderma Manager Interview Questions
& Process

HR set up a screening interview, the person didn't even know what role I applied for and asked me to confirm the job title before starting. The next day, another HR person called, asking if I could make it in 4 hours for an interview with the hiring manager, putting a lot of pressure by saying the manager wouldn't be available again for weeks. With very little prep time, the interview with the hiring manager went okay, they asked me a few things about my background and skills. Overall, I was surprised that a company this big seems to operate like a small one, and HR left a bad impression; they seem very disorganized.

The company is being acquired by a Swedish private equity firm. It's a French company that relocated its HQ to Switzerland and then established a US presence. A clinical development VP mentioned they're rewriting SOPs because the current ones have a strong European bias and don't fit US operations. There's some pushback since the hiring manager for this role is French and based in Switzerland. During my interview, the hiring manager misunderstood a US term I used, which didn't go over well. Apparently, some of my contacts have had issues working with French colleagues because of this. The hiring manager initially said I'd meet two execs after our morning chat, but that didn't happen. The last person I spoke with just left me in a conference room alone. I tried to reach the hiring manager and HR from the security desk but couldn't connect, so I left for my flight. Getting reimbursed for expenses took 5 weeks, and each time I followed up, I got a different excuse for the delay. I ended up contacting the BBB. For compensation, this company is significantly below market, and titles are also inflated. This job was listed as 'manager,' but it's more of an associate director role in the US market. This might be why it's been open for over a year.

The interviewer was really laid back. She asked about previous experience, strength and weaknesses. Basically all the normal interview question. The interview was more so a conversation rather than an interview.