Help -Final FIVE Hours Interview with CFO and 3 finance VPs in a large pharmaceutical company

[Qianglong]

So after a gruelling first and second round interview with HR and finance manager for an Accounting/Cost Analyst Position, my friend finally made it to the final round.

SHe was shocked that the last round interview will be 5 hours in length, consisting of 3 Finance VP and the CFO, taking turns. I am very shocked at the length of the interview and the level of management involved for such an entry level position. I certainly hope there is a break in between because 5 hours of talking is......

I am wondering what top management will ask and expect from an entry level employee? I am thinking top management are more interested in LONG-TERM goals, contribution and growth. Any other suggestions are comments are greatly appreciated. This also makes a great learning/reference thread for anyone else pursueing a finance position.

I am also thinking, only the BEST candidate will be given the opportunity to talk to top management. I don't think most VPs or CFOs have the time to screen/interview 10 or 5 candidates. The first candidate to meet them will get the job if he/she was good, if not the second candidate will be chosen to meet the VPs and CFO?

 

[ColdFusion718]

She'll probably get the job.

 

[Anubis]

tell her to bring knee.....


no wait NM

 

[LegendKiller]

Ask them how they plan on meeting the demands of increasing drug cost research due to dry holes and what impact that has on their return on equity in a potential recessionary event, considering that costs of funding have risen dramatically in the last 5 months, and how the distributive costs of research, funding and collective contract bargaining by social governments might decrease profitability in the coming years.

 

[SpunkyJones]

It depends. I use to work for a company that use to have the CFO, CTO, CEO, VPS's, etc interviewing Noc Technicians. I found it strange at the time, but meeting them didn't mean you had the job, so your friend still needs to stay sharp. Probably depends on the size of the company and how much free time upper management has on its hands.

 

[LikeLinus]

Sounds like a small company to me. There's no way any large company CFO and VP's would have the amount of time to interview some low level accounting position.

 

[Qianglong]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Sounds like a small company to me. There's no way any large company CFO and VP's would have the amount of time to interview some low level accounting position.

Its one of the world's largest generic pharmaceutical company. So in term of size, i wouldn't say its a small company in any means.

 

[Drako]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Sounds like a small company to me. There's no way any large company CFO and VP's would have the amount of time to interview some low level accounting position.

It must not be a small company if it has "3 Finance VP". What kind of company has 3 VPs of Finance?

 

[D1gger]

I had an interview after completing university that lasted 7 hours. I lost count of the number of different people I interviewed with after I had lunch with 5 people all tossing tough technical questions at me while I tried to eat some salad without tossing my cookies (I think I managed to eat about 1/2 of a small green salad). It was simply the most gruelling business experience I had ever had (up to that time in my life). I did not get the job, but I did learn to prepare much better for interviews.

 

[sonambulo]

Originally posted by: Anubis
tell her to bring knee.....


no wait NM

'They gonna run a train on that bitch!'

Sorry OP, I just couldn't resist. Tell her the same old things like stay sharp, take her vitamins, all of that nonsense. I'd be willing to bet there'd be some kind of break in those five hours so she can recollect herself. The best advice I can give her is to go in expecting the absolute worst.

 

[LikeLinus]

Originally posted by: Qianglong

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Sounds like a small company to me. There's no way any large company CFO and VP's would have the amount of time to interview some low level accounting position.

Its one of the world's largest generic pharmaceutical company. So in term of size, i wouldn't say its a small company in any means.

Large in production does NOT neccessarily mean large in the number of employees and size. Their actual management staff could be very small.

I can't see a company with 50,000 - 100,000+ employees having a CFO interview a cost accountant..lol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...armaceutical_companies

Example: #38 is Bausch & Lomb - They only have 5,830 employees!!! Production does not equal employees.

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: LikeLinus

Originally posted by: Qianglong

Originally posted by: LikeLinus
Sounds like a small company to me. There's no way any large company CFO and VP's would have the amount of time to interview some low level accounting position.

Its one of the world's largest generic pharmaceutical company. So in term of size, i wouldn't say its a small company in any means.

Large in production does NOT neccessarily mean large in the number of employees and size. Their actual management staff could be very small.

I can't see a company with 50,000 - 100,000+ employees having a CFO interview a cost accountant..lol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L...armaceutical_companies

Yeah, I agree. She might have just embellished a bit as well. I think I did that when I first interviewed with a large company. I actually thought I was meeting the CTO, but really it was just a mid-level manager.

Either that, or they're grooming her for something that she doesn't really know about yet.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: Drako


It must not be a small company if it has "3 Finance VP". What kind of company has 3 VPs of Finance?

one of those companies handing out VP titles like candy to make employees feel good. "vp" and "junior vp" are laughable

 

[RaistlinZ]

Personally, I'd be worried if the CFO has enough time in his day to do 5 hour interviews with multiple entry-level applicants. That tells me that he's not spending time doing his/her job.

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
Personally, I'd be worried if the CFO has enough time in his day to do 5 hour interviews with multiple entry-level applicants. That tells me that he's not spending time doing his/her job.

With pharmaceutical companies, the business basically runs itself once you get a good patent

 

[Qianglong]

Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
Personally, I'd be worried if the CFO has enough time in his day to do 5 hour interviews with multiple entry-level applicants. That tells me that he's not spending time doing his/her job.

No the CFO is not doing a 5 hour interview. Everyone is taking turns to do the interview. So it might be VP 1 interview....leave the room, VP2 comes in etc..its not a panel interview for 5 hours. THat is more like interrogation