Interviewing at West, one of the world’s leading providers of pharmaceutical packaging and delivery system solutions, can be an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. With operations across North and South America, Europe, and Asia, West is a true global leader looking for top talent to join their cutting-edge teams
We put together this complete guide with the top 20 most common West interview questions and sample answers to help you prepare. This will help you ace your interview and get your dream job. There are many types of jobs at West, such as technical, sales, customer service, and more. These examples of West interview questions will help you show off your skills and experience and get hired.
Overview of West Interview Process
The West interview process typically consists of at least two rounds – an initial phone screening with an HR recruiter followed by an in-person interview focused on your domain knowledge and technical skills. Some positions may require additional rounds including case study presentations, practical assessments and panel interviews.
Here’s a quick overview of what to expect:
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Phone Screening (30–45 minutes): Simple questions about your background, resume, and why you want the job/company
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Technical/Domain Interview (60-90 mins) – Scenario-based, behavioral and technical questions related to the role. A mix of HR and hiring manager.
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Case Study/Presentation – For senior roles. Prepare and present solutions to real-world case studies.
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Practical Assessment – For technical roles. Hands-on evaluation of skills through tests, assignments and demonstrations.
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Panel Interview – For leadership roles. Interview with multiple people including senior management.
Throughout the process, West looks for technical aptitude, problem-solving skills, communication abilities and culture fit. While every interviewer will have their own style, being prepared to answer both common and role-specific questions is key to success.
Let’s now look at the top 20 West interview questions and tips to nail your responses.
Top 20 West Interview Questions
Here are 20 of the most frequently asked West interview questions along with suggestions for answering them confidently:
1. Tell me about yourself
This is often the opening West interview question aimed at getting basic background of who you are professionally. Keep it concise and focused on aspects relevant to the role.
Sample Answer: As a mechanical engineer with over 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical packaging solutions, I have a strong technical background combined with expertise in Six Sigma process improvement and Lean manufacturing principles. In my current role at ABC Company, I spearheaded a Kaizen event that resulted in a 15% reduction in material waste. I’m passionate about efficiency and design optimization, which are values very much aligned with West’s mission. That’s what excites me most about the Packaging Engineer opportunity here.
2. Why do you want to work at West?
With this question, interviewers want to gauge your genuine interest in the company. Show you’ve done your research and connect your goals to West’s mission.
Sample Answer: West’s commitment to innovation and quality in drug delivery solutions is very appealing to me. Your Glass Q technology for instance promises to bring major patient benefits through high-quality injectables. This aligns with my passion for creating solutions that improve lives. Additionally, West’s collaborative culture and opportunities to work cross-functionally provide an environment where I can continuously expand my skills. My goal is to work for an industry leader where I can add value while also developing as a professional.
3. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Be honest but emphasize strengths relevant to the job over weaknesses. Discuss how you’re working to improve on weaknesses.
Sample Answer: My key strengths are attention to detail, technical aptitude, and team collaboration. I’m meticulous in my work while also being an effective team player. In terms of weaknesses, time management is an area I’m working on. I can sometimes get absorbed in specific tasks and lose track of timelines. To improve on this, I’ve started using project management tools like Asana to better organize my workload and meet deadlines. But I believe my strengths in engineering principles and collaborating cross-functionally will enable me to add value at West.
4. Why are you leaving your current job?
Avoid negativity when answering this West interview question. Keep it positive and focused on growth.
Sample Answer: I’ve learned a lot in my current role and am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had there. However, I’m now looking to take on greater responsibilities and leadership challenges in my next position. The Production Supervisor role at West really excites me since it aligns very well with my skills while also providing room for professional growth through management exposure. I believe I’ve gone as far as I can in my current job and West presents a great next step for my career progression.
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Show ambition and growth potential but remain pragmatic about possibilities at the company.
Sample Answer: In 5 years, I hope to be an Innovation Lead within West’s R&D group. I aim to leverage my engineering skills and passion for designing solutions that improve patient outcomes. I also hope to mentor newer engineers while guiding cross-functional product development teams. I’m excited by the culture of innovation and collaboration here at West. I believe the opportunities for growth will allow me to contribute meaningfully while also advancing professionally. Of course, I know that depends significantly on the value I can add in my role. But I’m confident I’ll be able to grow at West.
6. How would you describe your work style?
Highlight your work ethic and relevant qualities like attention to detail, collaboration, efficiency, etc. tailored to the role.
Sample Answer: I have a collaborative yet focused work style. I enjoy working closely with team members to achieve shared goals but can also drive projects independently through to completion. For example, in my current job, I spearheaded the development of a new QA testing process for our iOS app. I collaborated cross-functionally but took ownership of designing and implementing the end-to-end process. My priority is always delivering work to the highest standards of quality and efficiency. At the same time, I know collaborating respectfully with colleagues is key to successful execution. This work style has enabled me to take on greater responsibilities over time.
7. What are your salary expectations?
Avoid naming an exact figure if you can. Reiterate your interest in the role and focus on meeting in the middle.
Sample Answer: I’m targeting a competitive salary aligned with industry standards for this role and my experience level. However, I’m more concerned at this stage about finding the right fit and opportunity to grow. I know West offers compensation packages that reward employees who add value. I’d be happy to discuss numbers once we’ve both determined there’s a mutual interest and alignment. My priority is having an impact in my next role.
8. Why should we hire you?
Summarize your most relevant skills, achievements and cultural fit – focus on what you can contribute.
Sample Answer: You should hire me because my engineering skills and proven record of optimizing manufacturing processes make me a strong match for this role. For example, I applied Lean methodologies to enhance production lines at my current company, resulting in a 20% increase in output. I have the technical expertise combined with strategic thinking abilities to collaborate with different functions and drive impactful process improvements at West. Your culture also resonates with me deeply. I’m passionate about innovating solutions that benefit patients worldwide. I’ll work tirelessly to continue West’s legacy of excellence in pharmaceutical delivery solutions.
9. What do you know about our company?
Demonstrate you’ve researched West and know their mission, values, products, customers, competitors, etc.
Sample Answer: From my research, I know West is a global leader in injectable drug packaging and delivery with a decades-long legacy of innovation. Your self-injection systems like NovaGuard promise to significantly benefit patients through safe, high-quality administration of life-saving drugs. Your core values around improving lives resonate deeply with me. I also know you operate across over 50 locations worldwide serving pharmaceutical, biotech and generics companies. Your main competitors include Gerresheimer and Schott. But West’s focus on evolving with the latest technological advancements sets you apart. I’m excited by your efforts to enhance patient healthcare through improved delivery solutions.
10. How do you respond to pressure or stressful situations?
Show you remain level-headed and focused on constructive solutions. Provide real examples if possible.
Sample Answer: I’ve learned to manage pressure well over the years given my engineering background requires constantly solving complex problems. My approach is to always maintain focus on the end goal and think logically about solutions rather than letting stress overtake me. For example, we once faced manufacturing line equipment failures right before a major product launch. Rather than panicking, I brought the team together to calmly diagnose the issue. We implemented a plan to optimize alternate equipment while repairs were made to the faulty units. In high-pressure situations, I’m able to block out distractions, prioritize critical actions, and rally my team towards solutions. Staying positive is also key.
11. Tell me about a time you failed and what you learned
Choose an example relevant to the role but demonstrate self-awareness rather than highlighting weaknesses. Show lessons learned.
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Based on the Interview Insights at this company, the Interview Experience is a score between 1 star (very bad) and 5 stars (very good).
The number in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the mean of all these scores. If you move your mouse over the different parts of the doughnut, you’ll see exactly how each score was calculated.
The title percentile score is based on an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates that is applied to the whole Company Database. This is done to account for companies that don’t have many interview insights. The confidence in a “true score” rises as more reviews are given about a business. This causes the score to move closer to its simple average and away from the average of the whole dataset. 4. 2.
Based on the Interview Insights at this company, the Interview Difficulty is a score that goes from “very difficult” (red) to “very easy” (green).
The number in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the mean of all these scores. The higher the number, the more difficult the interviews on average. This doughnut has different parts that, when you move your mouse over them, show you the 20% breakdown of each score given.
The title percentile score is based on an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates that is applied to the whole Company Database. This is done to account for companies that don’t have many interview insights. That is, as a business learns more, it becomes more sure of a “true score,” which moves it closer to its own simple average and away from the overall average of the data set. 2. 4.
Based on reviews at this company, the 20% of interns getting full-time offers chart is meant to give you a good idea of how the company hires people.
The number in the middle of the doughnut pie chart is the mean of all these scores. This doughnut has different parts that, when you move your mouse over them, show you the 20% breakdown of each score given.
It uses an adjusted score based on Bayesian Estimates to account for companies that don’t have many reviews, which is how the percentile score in the title is found. To put it simply, when a business gets more reviews, the “true score” becomes more likely to be accurate. This makes it move closer to the simple company average and away from the average of all the data points. 10%.
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