Biogen Idec Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated Dec 26, 2011 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 21 ratings 
“Average” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 21 ratings
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See who your friends know who've worked at Biogen Idec and could give you an inside look.
See who your friends know who've worked at Biogen Idec and could help you prep for an interview.
| 1–10 of 21 Biogen Idec Interviews | Sort by |
Patient Services Coordinator at Biogen Idec
Posted Dec 26, 2011
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Dec 2011 in Durham, NC (took 2 days)
Apparently Biogen Idec hires/trains Patient Services Coordinators approximately once a year. There are about 200 PSCs, with a 10% yearly turnover rate. I received a call to schedule a phone interview about a month after I applied online. The phone interview consisted of 30 minutes of behavior/personality questions, such as "Tell me about a time when you gave up something important to you in order to benefit a coworker." Later that week, I received two phone calls to arrange an interview time the following week. It appears they do morning and afternoon interviews several days a week and we were told that they had received over 800 applications for 24 spots. I was told that they would still be interviewing in January, with training starting mid-February, so quite a long wait for possible employment. We were told that it is a 60% chance of employment if you make it to an in-person interview.
My group consisted of six people, all dressed in suits. After a brief general talk about the company and a chance to ask questions, I was escorted to a room and was interviewed first by a woman and then by a man for about 25 minutes each. The man didn't look me in the eyes most of time, which was creepy. Again, the questions were all personality tests like "Tell me about a time when you were too compassionate." Huh? At work? I found the interview process difficult because after working for many years in a very small and tight-knit group, it was hard for me to come up with meaningful examples of coworker conflict resolution or my skill in gaining consensus in a work group. I think people who are glib, who think fast on their feet ,and who have experience in corporate environments will be the most successful with this type of interview.
The people I met at Biogen Idec were positive about the company and clearly dedicated.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
View Comments (2)
Inappropriate?
Trial Management at Biogen Idec
Posted Nov 21, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2011 in Cambridge, MA (took a day)
Biogen Idec has a small company feel to it while having the stability of a larger global company. People are very personable.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Technical Support at Biogen Idec
Posted Oct 6, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Jul 2010 in Wellesley, MA (took a day)
They responded very quickly to my application, asking me in for an interview a week after I applied. I was interviewed by two technical people and one manager. One of the interviewers had me play a strategic board game with pegs that fit into slots. I had never played or seen the game before so it took me several minutes to pick it up. Once I got the hang of it he kept giving me unsolicited tips that only served to confuse me. I did excellent on the written tests and felt I really connected with the interviewers but I suspect I was not called back because of my poor performance on the board game.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test and a Skills Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
MBA Intern at Biogen Idec
Posted Jun 2, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2011 (took a day)
Notified of interest as intern from VP of department who saw my resume from employee. Called assistant who then scheduled a phone interview with the Director in the department. Phone interview lasted 1 hour with questions on why I'm interested in Biogen, why interested in clinical trials, my previous experience that would be useful to the work, provided a brief description of what they want me to do as an intern and opportunity for questions. Informed that I should hear back from HR within a week.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Negotiation was rather challenging since the internship offer didn't come from the company directly but from a recruiting service instead that I didn't even know what involved in the process.
Make sure you get regular contact with someone in HR earlier in the process rather than when receiving the final offer. Ask whether this internship is being handled directly by HR or through a service and how that changes things. Also see if you can ask whether interns usually get recruited by the firm and what type of positions this internship position would translate into when identifying a full-time job.
Other Details
I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Intern at Biogen Idec
Posted Apr 23, 2011 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Feb 2009 (took a day)
i was called by the research person . she liked my profile and said she will mail me the details for an onsite interview . that never happened.
Interview Questions
More Biogen Idec Intern Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Intern at Biogen Idec
Posted Apr 18, 2011 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2011 in Cambridge, MA (took a day)
I had expressed my interest in the internship I ultimately applied for moths before it was posted online. I was interviewed by phone and it turned into a very good conversation about my research experience and the project I am currently working on. I suggest understanding the details of your previous work and understanding the theory behind the assays and techniques that you use in your research. Towards the end of the interview I was asked to supply a reference which I did by email. I had worked very closely with my reference for over a year and we worked very well together. I think that this was very good for my application. I think that they initially were going to bring me in for an onsite interview but I ended up just having a phone interview.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
The offer was too good to consider negotiating.
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a Drug Test and a Background Check.
More Biogen Idec Intern Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Manufacturing Associate II at Biogen Idec
Posted Feb 26, 2011 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2011 (took a day)
The grill you on your skills
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Staffing Agency and the interview consisted of a Group/Panel Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Scientist at Biogen Idec
Posted Feb 5, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Oct 2010 in Worcester, MA (took a day)
Meet with everyone in the group, talk about previous work and experience. People were nice and easy going. No tough questions. Environment was friendly.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
SAS at Biogen Idec
Posted Jan 14, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2011 in Cambridge, MA (took 1+ week)
I come from an academia, so I was little unsure of what to expect when I interviewed in biotech companies. I posted my CV online on Jan. 4th, and had a phone call from HR the following day. I was in Biogen that Friday (Jan. 7th) to speak with the PIs for two different available positions. They had me back in less than a week to interview with various lab members, directors, etc. Everyone was amazing - very friendly, seemed enthusiastic about their work and Biogen in general, and overall very happy with their jobs. Just got a phone call from the HR rep to say that both PIs want to offer me a job - the whole thing took exactly 10 days. Granted, we haven't discussed salary, but it seems like a formal offer will be in the mail early next week and an anticipated start date will be in about 3 weeks.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
none!
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Training Associate at Biogen Idec
Posted Dec 6, 2010
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jun 2008 in San Diego, CA (took 2+ weeks)
Moved from temp to perm. The woman hiring me was a temp herself and I heard was anyone against not having a college degree (despite if the job asked for it or not). She read my resume incorrectly and assumed I didn't and gave me attitude before I corrected her that I, in fact, did hold a bachelor's degree. Her attitude completely did a 180 degree change. The amount that was mentioned was not the same as I was told, I had to have my supervisor confirm with her. She took so long in getting the requisition up on the website, the confusion of my qualifications and the offer amount, that I missed out on being hired before a holiday and receiving an extra 8 hours of vacation/floating holiday. :(
This temp no longer works at BIIB, but this was my experience.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Staffing Agency and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Drug Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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