I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Sanofi (Cambridge, MA) in Nov 2017
Interview
The hiring manager loved me on the phone but could not manage to make eye-contact with me after he saw me and saw that I was black, I felt that he hated me from the moment he saw me. He practically screamed his words at me in shock when he saw me. Two phone interviews one with HR, the second 45 min with the hiring manager, 3rd on site - they did not pay for airfare to their site, interview with 5 people separately and then a short presentation.
I went through a long and ultimately disappointing interview process with Sanofi. The entire process took roughly three months. After I applied, I was contacted by an HR representative and then interviewed by the hiring manager. Both conversations were friendly, and I was told they were very interested in my background. I was also asked whether I could work from the Cambridge office three days a week.
Next came a one-hour panel interview. It went exceptionally well, and based on the feedback, I expected an offer. Instead, two weeks later HR reached out again to schedule additional interviews — one with a more senior leader and another technical interview. Both of these conversations went well too, with a mix of behavioral and technical questions.
Afterward, I again expected a decision. Instead, 1–2 weeks later HR told me I was still a candidate but that they were also interviewing people outside the U.S. “to finalize the list of finalists.” That was unexpected and confusing.
About a month after that, I was informed that the position had been given to a candidate from Europe.
Overall, the process felt extremely drawn-out and indecisive. I invested a lot of time and energy and consistently received strong signals of interest, only for things to shift multiple times. It was a disappointing experience, and in hindsight it may be for the best — a hiring process this uncertain does not inspire confidence in how the organization operates internally.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell us about a new scientific method that you developed.
Pretty standard but more automated feel - screening call with a general HR person and then got invited to a 5 person panel interview. After a few weeks I got an offer from a HR person I didn't interact at all
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Sanofi (Cambridge, MA)
Interview
The whole process was very organized and moved quickly. The Sanofi team was communicative throughout, and the interview process itself felt very comfortable (more a conversation than rigid, stereotypical interview style questions).
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Have you worked with someone who is difficult before, and how do you handle such interactions?