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Web: www.gene.com | HQ: South San Francisco, CA

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Updated Dec 17, 2011 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.

Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 7 ratings

3.1

“Average” Interview

Interview Experience [?] Based on 7 ratings

Positive	57%
Neutral	29%
Negative	14%

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4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Declined Offer

Interviewed Oct 2011 in San Francisco, CA (took a day)

INTENSE.

Interview Questions

What makes you think you will bean asset in this place?

View Answers (1)

Reason for Declining

Pay was very low for the cost of living in SF.

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, an IQ/Intelligence Test and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Mar 2011 (took 5 days)

I have had 6 interviews with this company at this point, during which time I "hopped" from lab to lab to determine whether each individual lab felt I was the best "fit" for them. The interviews ranged from extremely easy to quite hard, with many detailed questions being asked. My advice is to do some research ahead of time on the specific aspects of the position and related subject matter, and then insert your knowledge into the general discussion, feeling free to discuss scientific matters at length (beware of going too off-topic).

Interview Questions

How would you effectively optimize and run a PCR, what are the specific assay applications of this technique.

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Negative Experience

Received and Declined Offer

Interviewed Sep 2010 in South San Francisco, CA (took 2 months)

I met one of their core facility members at a summer training course in my professional field. One month later, I got email from him about this opening. He forwarded my resume to the hiring manager. Phone interview was scheduled around mid-August. It went well. About 20 minutes with general questions regarding the daily activity and responsibility of my current job. At the end, the hiring manager verbally told me he would like to have me meet his group members. Then I formally applied the position on Genentech career website. About 3 or 4 weeks later, I got call from hiring manager about on-site interview travel arrangement. The on-site interview was 1:1 style, each person had about 20-30 minutes. First talk with the hiring manager, then his team members, HR consultant, finally wrap-up with the hiring manager. Lunch with the hiring manager and his lab manager. The cafe at Genentech was better than my current place. Most of the questions are based on my experience, very technology orientated, though they did ask some behavioral question such as working as a team player and handling conflict with other researchers, since this position is in a core facility. The total time for on-site was about 6 hours. After interview, most of time the HR consultant contacted me regarding the background check, relocation survey, immigration questionnaire, and finally verbal offer. I didn't get follow-up from hiring manager. At the end, since things did not work out as mentioned below, I had to decline the offer.

Interview Questions

Why do you want to come to Genentech, based on what you are doing right now? Do you think this is a positive move for your career development?

Answer Question

Tell me about yourself.

Answer Question

Reason for Declining

1) Salary offered was way below my expectation; my take-home pay will be lower in San Francisco than what I have at my current place. 2) Relocation package is not impressive. They were not willing to cover the penalty I have to pay back to my current employer due to lack of two-year service agreement. 3) Their immigration attorney was not knowledgeable, patient or professional. 4) No negotiation was offered. Attitude is very arrogant.

Other Details

I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

4.0

Difficult Interview

Overall Neutral Experience

Interviewed and No Offer

Interviewed Sep 2010 in South San Francisco, CA (took 1+ week)

First off, i was referred by a recruiting company in order to work with capillary electrophoresis, and I had been told that they had been searching for this position for months and mine was the first hit this particular recruiting agency had gotten for an interview. I wasn't entirely why that was the case seeing as I was a fairly inexperienced recent chem grad, however, I did have a fairly large repertoire of techniques I had learned as an undergrad. So I got the first phone interview and all went well, including assuring me that I would get an in-person interview, despite telling me earlier I would have to wait and hear from my recruiting agency. Then the next week I had multiple in-person interviews with each person of the research lab, and some of them proved to be fairly formidable in their questioning and this went from 1-4:30pm, despite the fact the recruiting agency had told me it would only be an hour. Everyone thought this meant great things especially since the P.I. and I spoke about how I would get to the facility when I started, at the end of the interview. However, I suppose everyone spoke too soon, because although they said I was a strong candidate, and I was one of the top two applicants, I was not offered a position. I was very disappointed.

Interview Questions

What experience or exposure do you have to capillary electrophoresis?

Answer Question

How would you troubleshoot an SDS-PAGE run if you suspected contaminants?

Answer Question

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

2.0

Easy Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Apr 2010 (took 4 weeks)

it is an opportunity from my advisor. A manager of this company gave my adivisor a call and wanted a phd student to do an internship for summer. So my adivsor reccommend me, after 4 weeks internview period, I got it.

Interview Questions

how about your SAS skill?

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Skills Test and a Background Check.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Apr 2008 in South San Francisco, CA (took 2 days)

Initially, there was a phone interview/screen. Depending on how that goes, you are invited back for a full day interview. During that day, you interview anywhere from 6-8 people. My interviews were approximately 45 minutes each, a total of 8 people. Each interview is unique. Some people are a bit A-type, requiring the candidate to lay off a bit. Some want you to talk more. Adapt to the situation and talk accordingly. Overall, people are very friendly and are not trying to shake you up.

Interview Questions

This position isn't necessarily catering to your experience. How do you think you can be valuable in this company?

Answer Question

Describe, in overview, your previous research and how it relates to drug development.

Answer Question

Negotiation Details

They offer very competitive salaries.

Other Details

The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.

Helpful Interview?

Yes | No

Inappropriate?

3.0

Average Interview

Overall Positive Experience

Received and Accepted Offer

Interviewed Aug 2008 (took a day)

The process began with a 30 minute phone interview at which an on sight face to face interview would be conducted for the second round. The overall process of the face to face interview was very professional and it was an entire day. Including meeting hiring managers, executives, and potential colleagues.

Interview Questions

What are your goals five years down the road?

Answer Question

Other Details

I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Presentation, a Skills Test and a Background Check.