Genentech Interview Questions & Reviews in San Francisco, CA Area
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Updated May 3, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
Ratings are reflective of location and job title.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 60 ratings 
“Average” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 60 ratings
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| 41–50 of 60 Genentech Interviews | Sort by |
Manufuturing at Genentech
Posted Aug 9, 2010
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Jun 2010 in South San Francisco, CA (took 2 weeks)
Tense, remember that your qualifications got you to the interview. What they are looking at, during the interview is your demenour and how well you will fit in the particular enviroment.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Group/Panel Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Study Support Associate Coordinator at Genentech
Posted Jul 12, 2010
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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 May 2010 in South San Francisco, CA (took 4+ weeks)
The interview took ~3 hours long: 30 min. 1:1 interview with 6 interviewers. Be prepared to talk about yourself and what accomplishments you've made. Be prepared to relate their job description with what past experiences you've done. Overall, all the interviewers were friendly, and courteous.
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?
Process R&D Co-op at Genentech
Posted Jul 12, 2010
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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 2009 in South San Francisco, CA (took 5 days)
Interview process consisted of two different phone interviews and was a mix of behavior and technical questions. I was asked to explain previous work experiences and to compare/contrast them. I was also asked about career goals and how those fit with the open position.
The people I spoke to were very nice and open about their feelings of the company.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
No negotiation.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Research Associate at Genentech
Posted Jun 1, 2010 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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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 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
Negotiation Details
They offer very competitive salaries.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview and a 1:1 Interview.
More Genentech Research Associate Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Operations Rotational Development Program at Genentech
Posted May 18, 2010
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Apr 2010 in South San Francisco, CA (took 2 weeks)
I interview on-site at a NSBE conference with one of the current ORDP Analysts, and then a week later I was invited to an on-site interview at the South San Francisco facilities. It consisted of a day of four 1:1 interviews, mostly with current/past ORDP Analysts in my case (some people had managers and so on). Many of the questions I was asked were behavioural, including how I handled difficult work members etc. Other questions were "Why Genentech?" and "Which is better to focus on, improving strengths or correcting weaknesses?" btw the answer to the latter question for them is improving strengths. Others were, "describe a time you had to develop a quality testing protocol" and "how important is modifying one's presentation for their audience". One of my interviewers was a bit feisty and kept asking me random questions, like explain one of my resume entries with a single slide etc... safe to say it got a little heated as he didnt communicate his questions well.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Market Planning Manager at Genentech
Posted May 7, 2010
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2010 in South San Francisco, CA (took 3 months)
The first contact was by HR to conduct a phone screen (30 minutes). Basic skills and experience were probed. Then, there were phone interviews with 2 different hiring managers (30 minutes each), both of which also further probed on skills and experience relevant to the position. I had two rounds of in-person interviews. This first round included a case interview. The second round of in-person interviews was with director-level managers.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
In my experience, they were very inflexible on negotiation. Take it or leave it.
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Skills Test and a Background Check.
More Genentech Market Planning Manager Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Customer Service/IT Support at Genentech
Posted Apr 27, 2010 — 1 of 1 people found this helpful
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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 Apr 2010 in Redwood City, CA (took a day)
The hiring event starts off with you splitting off into pre-assigned groups that will work together in several exercises that will showcase your ability to interact with a "customer" needing support, to coming up with a step-by-step process for a non-technical activity and even having you come up with a new product complete with a sales presentation and a prototype made with various materials they give you (doesn't actually have to work). Each exercise will have one of the people in your group present to the entire room your findings, conclusions, etc. It's about 4 exercises with a break and a lunch break in between. And the end, each person also gets a one on one interview with a couple of the managers.
First off, make every effort that you can to be noticed (in a positive way of course). Absolutely do not be shy and since every exercise touches on a unique aspect, volunteer to present if it's on a topic that you're familiar or comfortable with. Even if you're uncomfortable or do not know something, refer to your team, showing that you know when to say you don't know something and will make sure you find someone who does. On one of the exercises, your team might be combined with another, making a pretty big group for one exercise. This makes it hard to give your ideas or contribute, but you must try to get noticed and take the initiative. I overheard one of the managers mentioning to another that it seemed like only a few people in our big group actually did anything. Not good :(
The people and the office culture seems to be very good. Unfortunately I think I was a bit intimidated at first with the environment (OMG Genentech!) and the people who showed up in their full suits (what happened to business casual?) and the first exercises I was still warming up to the whole experience of doing these exercises with a group of strangers. Not good in hindsight. One of the first exercises, I should have volunteered to present as it was actually my strength (was an exercise troubleshooting a technical issue), and when it came time for me to present, it was on a nontechnical exercise that I messed up on because I tried to stick in some humor instead of going with a clear thoughtout process which is what they were looking for. During each exercise and even during the breaks, managers would randomly sit down and each table taking notes and even chatting you up.
The one on one interview was by far the most standard aspect of the event with the managers basically asking you the typical interview questions. The managers are actually quite nice in the personal interview and don't "grill" you. In fact, it was quite short compared to the many hours you spent on the exercises during the day. I have a feeling the prior events of the day were by far the most determining factor of your getting hired and the personal interviews are simply a factor for those they're on the fence about or those people that they didn't really get much info on during the exercises (some didn't get a chance to present, etc).
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Presentation and an IQ/Intelligence Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Scientist at Genentech
Posted Apr 28, 2010
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2010 in San Francisco, CA (took 2 days)
It was a 2-days f2f interview. Rather long. In general, interviewers were good. Biotech interview seems a bit disorganized. After the interview, communications were with HR. Asked for letters of recommendations (guess references not good enough). Tried to confirm with HR if they received the letters, never got response till 3 weeks later. Letters of recommendation were finally forwarded by HR to hiring group but they started a new round of interviews. Didn't get the offer. Overall, it took 7 weeks and it's a long-winded process.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Presentation.
More Genentech Scientist Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Developer at Genentech
Posted Mar 28, 2010
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Dec 2008 in San Francisco, CA (took 4 weeks)
The process was very throuough. They want to make sure you will be a fit with the company culture and that the work enviornment will be mutually beneficial. They usually start out with a phone interview with an HR rep. then phone with a hiring manager. If that works you will do face to face with hiring manager, employees on the team and manager above your hiring manager.
Interview Questions
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 Drug Test and a Background Check.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
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Inappropriate?
Market Planning Manager at Genentech
Posted Feb 25, 2010 — 2 of 2 people found this helpful
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2009 in South San Francisco, CA (took 3 months)
I had a friend who worked in the group, so they were able to fast track my resume through to HR and get the process rolling more quickly than normal. In addition, I had a summer internship offer from this company 3 years earlier, so I was more of a "known" quantity to them. I received an email and call from HR to set-up the first phone screen, which focused on my overall background, interest in the company and pertinent expertise to the role. Because Genentech was in the midst of its merger talks with Roche, it took another month to schedule the next step, which was a phone screen with a hiring manager from the group I was interviewing with. At that point, I had a phone screen which focused mostly on technical skills pertinent to the role. After passing that screen, it took another month to schedule my full day of interviews in person at the company, where I met with about 6 people for 30-45 minute interviews. At the beginning of the day, I received a case study and had to put together an excel model and key slides to describe the situation and my recommendations in 90 minutes and then discuss with one of the interviewers over 30 minutes. My other interviews focused on my background experiences, interest in Genentech and ability to think strategically. Because I was not able to meet with the 2 heads of my group, they brought me back 2 weeks later to meet with them and then took another week before making me the offer. Overall, it took ~ 3 months from start to finish, but would probably take longer for others.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Not able to negotiate any components of offer.
Other Details
I got the interview through an Employee Referral and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Skills Test.
More Genentech Market Planning Manager Interviews
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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