Review the steps below to prepare for an interview at with us.

1.  Understanding the new opportunity:

• Research Merck and the pharmaceutical industry – use information on company websites, newspaper articles and online news sites to identify products, financial information, culture and other pertinent company information.
• Familiarize yourself with the job description and the components of the position.
• Prepare some of your own questions ahead of time.

2.  Know what you bring to the table:

• Inventory your background and experiences – your resume is a great place to start.
• Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, positions, roles and responsibilities in detail.
• Consider the motivators that led you to consider opportunities outside of your present role.  Some examples could include job content, company industry change, financial factors or organizational culture.
• Assess your career aspirations—we’re hiring for more than the present opportunity!

3.  Preparation tips:

• Bring multiple copies of your resume to the interview.
• Practice ahead of time.
• Dress appropriately – wear business dress unless otherwise noted.
• Arrive at least 15 – 30 minutes early, as some of our sites are large and require time to park, obtain building access, etc.

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1. Ask questions:

• Inquire about daily roles and responsibilities.
• Learn about the leadership of the group, management styles, etc.

2. Exchange information and discover mutual interests:

• Understand career ladders and advancement opportunity.
• Find out growth opportunities beyond this position and what an individual needs to do to advance.
• Ask the interviewers for contact information.

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1. Correspondence:

• If you received contact information, send concise, individual specific thank you notes via email to the members of the interview team outlining why you are a good fit for the department.  Additionally, some candidates choose to contact the actual hiring manager via a short phone conversation or voicemail.
• Note: if you are a candidate for a sales position you should not contact the hiring manager, as you will be contacted directly via email with an update.

2. Next Steps

• After the interview, if you would like an update on your status prior to receiving notification from a member of the interview team, email the hiring manager or recruiter for a status update.

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1. Content Overview - Make sure to include all the basics:

• Full name
• Address
• Telephone numbers - if you have more than one to use, list them
• Email Address
• Education
• Professional Associations

2. Work History & Qualifications

• List your employment history in order of most recent at the top, then descending.
• Include months and years for all employers/positions.
• Provide specific skills, programs, training and qualifications that highlight your background and experience.

3. Format

• Be clear and concise!
• Use headings that are clearly identifiable (i.e. bold) and easy to interpret.  Indent sub-sections as appropriate.
• Use quantifiable data as much as possible.
• Ensure that your name and email address are on each page.