PPD Scientist Interview Questions
& Process

I applied online for a small molecule HPLC position. A month or two later, the recruiter contacted me about a large molecule HPLC role since I had experience with large molecules. I agreed to an interview. I was scheduled to meet with three people. The first interviewer had to leave early for a meeting, so she rushed through the interview. The last two interviewers didn't seem very interested and appeared to be using the interview to get out of other tasks. The two-hour interview was mostly them chatting, with me occasionally getting asked a STAR question. I felt like a third wheel.

I applied online on January 13th and heard from a PPD HR recruiter on the 16th about setting up a phone interview. We chatted for about 40-45 minutes on the 19th, mostly about benefits and my questions for the company. She asked a couple of things about my resume but nothing too technical. I had an on-site interview scheduled for the afternoon of January 21st. At the location, I met with 5 people. Three of them had question packets, while the other two just asked me some general questions about myself, seeming like they were added last minute. The whole thing lasted about 3 hours. I also got a lab tour. They asked some technical questions and a total of 12 behavioral questions (4 from each person with a packet). Everyone was really nice. Afterwards, the HR recruiter I spoke with initially came over and said I'd hear back soon via phone or email.

First, an HR person reached out. She was really nice and asked general questions about my background, experience, and future goals. She didn't share many specifics about the job but mentioned someone else would call to ask more questions and provide more details. Then, a person who seemed like a lab technician called and asked technical questions to gauge my understanding. They offered to cover travel, car rental, and hotel for a one-day interview, which I accepted. Upon arrival at the hotel, I found a welcome package with local maps, a pen, and candy. The actual interview was with two young group leaders. They asked questions similar to the phone call, like my five-year goals, best and worst qualities, and about specific methods and techniques I know. The interview ran from 9 am to 2 pm, and I spoke with three different people. Most questions were repetitive, with slight variations in the technical method questions.