At Ethicon, we do a lot of cross functional team projects. Tell me about a project team you've been on and your role.

"At my company, I was selected to represent my department in a larger project team to implement a new CRM system. We met weekly, sometimes twice a week for about 12 months, My role was to make sure our old CRM system data converted into the new one and that it was organized in a useful way. I collaborated with IT as well as the project manager for the new system to make sure the data was useful and organized. When the new system launched, our old and rich data was there and useable so that we could maintain relationships we our customers seamlessly."

If you thought group projects ended in college, you were wrong! Most organizations have their share of project work as well as the day to day work. Walk the interviewer through a successful project where you played a big role and had large ownership.

"For example: "In college, we had to do a big project in my Marketing class where we created an advertising campaign for a local business. I was in a group with 4 people, none of which I knew very well. We started talking to figure out where people's strengths were and there was clearly a person who was more technical, one who was a really good presenter and communicator, a financial person, and me, the creative person. We all had our own lanes, but came together to help on the different pieces. We pitched our idea and the business we had modeled, actually wanted to implement the majority of our ideas."

At Ethicon, our products are focused on helping surgeons and operating room staff provide excellent results for the patients they are operating on. Do you have any personal experience with this product line?

"Two years ago, my wife and daughter were in a serious car accident where my daughter suffered some significant injuries at the time. With open wounds to her arms and abdomen, her arm required some stapling to help the wounds heal and they performed wonderfully to help her get back to health. While I don't know if the stapler used on her was produced by Ethicon, I do know the impact that this product had on my family and I'd love to be a part of an effort to help produce these with Ethicon."

For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you did some research on Ethicon and the products that they put out to hospitals and clinics around the world. They'll also be curious if you have any personal experience with the products to see if you have any personal buy-in into the work you'll be performing with the organization. Be open and honest with your experiences and make sure that you can speak knowledgeably about their product line.

Have you ever had a time where your ethics were tested on the job? What was the situation and how did you handle it?

"I feel very fortunate to not have been put in many situation where my high ethical standards were tested during my career, but I can think of one time a few years ago when it was. Working in a large warehousing operation at the time, we had a week where our used oil container was getting to capacity. Knowing that our recycling pick up for that wouldn't be for a few weeks, it was inferred to me that I should dispose of as much as I could in the regular garbage headed to the landfill. Rather than oblige, I stood my ground and said I would not do that and would look into other measures. I contacted our oil recycling company and they let me know that the earliest they could be to us was three days later. I worked with them on how to safely and efficiently hold used oil until pick up and I did just what they recommended in the meantime. Following the pick up, I worked with them on having a much larger oil drum delivered knowing our production would be up in the coming year."

Ethicon believes that both ethics and fairness are important in all that they do and they expect their employees to follow the same belief. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that your moral compass matches that of the organization and they're doing this by having you give an example of a time your ethics were tested. No matter what example you give, be sure to point out that you always do what you feel is right and ethical while doing it in a manner that is beneficial for all that are involved.

"During college, I spent evenings and weekends working as a waiter and bartender at a popular restaurant in town. On one evening shift, a couple of coworkers asked me to help them carry out a case of alcohol to one of their cars. With sirens going off in my head, I asked them why they needed the case of alcohol and if the owner had requested this. Based off the surprised look on their faces, they must've assumed that I would have played into their plan to steal to benefit from it. When I saw that, I told them to seriously rethink their thought process to steal from their employer. Looking back, my approach in that situation allowed us to maintain a good working relationship moving forward and it helped change their mind in not trying it again under my watch."

Talk about a time that you gave your opinion or viewpoint when you normally wouldn't have in that situation. What compelled you to speak up and what was the outcome?

"A few years ago, it was announced at a department meeting that our leadership team was going through an RFP process to look at new vendors for our drawing software. When my manager discussed the vendors that they'd be looking at, I immediately spoke up about my negative personal experiences with one of the software programs. I gave my firsthand knowledge of working with that software at a previous job. While I did point out some positives about that particular program, I felt it was very important that they hear from someone that has spent a great deal of time working hands on with it. Having been through an RFP process, sufficient time to see all of the features and benefits of a program isn't available. My manager thanked me much for my input."

At Ethicon, the Johnson & Johnson Credo is the driving factor in the way of life for all employees of the organization. As part of the expectation for living and breathing the Credo, Ethicon believes that employees have a responsibility to speak up when someone breaks the code of the credo and your interviewer will be looking to hear that you are comfortable speaking up about things when times are uncomfortable. While your answer to this question doesn't necessarily have to pertain to someone breaking rules, make sure that your interviewer gets the sense that you are willing and able to stand up for what you believe in in any situation.

"Early in my sales career, a couple of colleagues that I worked closely with tried convincing me to use some sales tactics that I felt were both unethical and against company policy. By not disclosing all information in our contracts to their clients, I felt strongly that the relationship between our organization and the customer could be badly damaged and I let them know that right away. My approach initially was to indicate that I would take no part of that in my contract deals with clients. I also let them know that I thought they should seriously think about their approach with their clients. I let the issue go and went about my business. Six months later at a company event, one of the colleagues approached me and let me know that our conversation had really resonated with him and he had since changed his ways of closing deals and contracts."

Many of our projects have very strict timelines. Tell me about a time you missed a deadline or deliverable and how you handled it.

"We had a new leader start recently. To get her up to speed, she asked for a number of different reports in a 2 day turn around time. She needed them for an executive meeting she was going to. One of the reports was very manual and with my other responsibilities, I just wasn't able to get it done in time. I went to her office and told her that I could have this complete tomorrow, but I wasn't able to finish it for her meeting this morning. She asked what I was working on and I explained my competing priority. She recommended that I come check with her to get help prioritizing in the future. I learned a big lesson that day about using your leader as an advocate for you. I should have come to her first. I've kept this in mind in other scenarios when I've had competing deadlines."

Everybody makes mistakes and it is best to pick a project where the missed deadline wasn't fatal and you were able to recover and learn from your mistake.

"For example: "As a new grad, I remember in college, I had a huge project due in my economics class at the end of the semester. I made a schedule that would help me get all of the pieces of this project done in time, but part of my project required outside data that I needed from a different university. There was a delay in this data getting to me and it delayed some of the subsequent steps of my project. I ended up getting it just a few days before the deadline. As hard as I tried, I couldn't get it submitted on time. I was absolutely devastated. I called my professor who understood, but I got a reduced grade because it was late. I learned that I should have chosen a data source that was more readily available to me but also that I could have looped in my professor earlier who might have had another idea."

At Ethicon, our organization is highly matrixed with US and global partners on our teams. How have you navigated this kind of environment in the past?

"Currently I report to a leader here in the US, but my functional leader is in the UK. With the time change, it can be difficult for us to reach each other, so I changed my hours slightly to be in the office earlier so I could talk more via Skype with this person. I felt like our emails weren't necessarily the most effective means of communication. With my leader in the US and I try very hard to keep her in the loop about what I'm doing and make her feel like I'm including her in my decisions. After a month or so of trial and error, I have a nice system down now."

Working in a matrixed organization means you have multiple people you are accountable to, often with competing priorities. It can be complex to navigate in this space, so the interviewer wants to know you can handle working in this environment.

At Ethicon, an important piece of our Credo is our employees having a sense of security, fulfillment and purpose in their work. What does it take for you to find purpose and fulfillment in the work that you do?

"As you can see from my resume, I've spent the last 15 years of my career managing sales teams in the beverage industry and the office supplies industry. While I've always been motivated by winning and beating my competition, I'm at a point in my career where I want to be a part of something much bigger in nature and to be a part of an organization like Ethicon that helps save lives on a daily basis. Having been a part of a life saving surgery just four years ago for my spouse, working with surgeons on providing better patient care is something I'd love to be a part of to highly motivate me and my sales team here."

As many other industries and businesses know, Ethicon firmly believes that productive and happy employees are those that are engaged in and buying into the work that they do on a daily basis. Ethicon doesn't want to hire people that are going through the motions to receive a paycheck. For this question, your interviewer is looking to gauge what it takes for you to be engaged and to hear that you will feel a sense of purpose in the work that will do for the organization. For your answer, be sure to carefully research the role that you are interviewing for and Ethicon's product line and talk about your belief and desire to be a part of those in your career.

"As I look to move on from my current role as a Quality Engineer in the plastics industry, I'm looking to find an employer where I can have autonomy to make decisions and have an impact on products that truly help change lives. While I've loved my work up to this point in my career, the bigger picture of the products that I work with is really important to me and I know that Ethicon's great respect in the medical field is something that I'd love to be a part of. If hired for this position, you'll find that I am a very motivated and driven individual that benefits from autonomy, the power to make decisions and working as part of a high functioning inter-disciplinary team."

In the medical device industry, there is a lot of industry jargon and lingo and many acronyms to learn to understand the business. What are some strategies you've used to acclimate quickly when you've started a new job in the past?

"When I started my last job, I was hearing so much unfamiliar terminology my first week, so I started making a list and then when I had time to ask people or look things up, I'd add it to the list until I knew what everything was. My list became pretty extensive, so the HR person who does onboarding actually asked me if she could give it to new hires from now on because it was really helpful."

The medical device industry is highly technical. Even if you aren't an engineer, you still need to know very specific information about the product so you understand the business. There is a learning curve for any new employee, but the ones who can pick up things quickly set themselves up for success faster.

"For example: "I love Google. In almost any environment, when you don't know something, you can start on Google and go from there. I take the time to research outside of work the elements of the industry that I don't know to get up to speed faster. By week 2 and 3, I'm have impressed the people I work with as contributing to the business."

At Ethicon, giving back to the community is really important to us. What are you doing in your current position to give back?

"At my company, we are close to an elementary school and volunteers are needed to read to the students each week. I volunteered immediately and have been part of this program for 2 years. Sometimes it is hard to leave the office each week because I'm so busy, but each time I go there, it is so rewarding. "

Charitable giving is common in the medical device industry. The interviewer wants to see that you care about more than just a job but that you find joy and purpose in giving back to your community.

"For example: "My company didn't have a robust volunteerism program and we are pretty small, so I actually started a school supply drive to benefit schools in our community. This isn't something our teams were used to doing, so it took some promotion, but in the end, we ended up with a huge amount to donate. The schools were so pleased and it really boosted engagement at our office."

What unique traits will you bring to our team here at Ethicon?

"I think the biggest unique trait that I would bring to Ethicon and the marketing team here would be my integrity. From a very young age, my parents and grandparents taught me the values of honesty and reliability and to this day, I can't thank them enough for doing so. As part of the team here, I will be able to be counted on to do what I say and to say what I do. The department's customers will rest assured knowing that I will work with them openly and fairly as well."

While this may seem like a very open ended question when asked, your interviewer is looking to dive into Ethicon's diversity and inclusion philosophy. As part of that philosophy, the organization believes that by being yourself, you can change the world and that every person brings their own unique experiences and backgrounds together to help spark solutions. For your answer, talk about your unique traits that you will bring to the team based on your education, experience and/or upbringing and talk about his these traits mix well with others when working as part of a larger team.

"I think one thing that sets me apart from others is my loyalty. My loyalty to my job and my employer is shown on a daily basis by me believing in the mission and values of the organization and bringing those to life. While a paycheck is certainly nice, it is not the reason that I went into Research & Development as a career. I want to help change people's lives for the better and my loyalty to the mission here at Ethicon will help me do that as part of your team!"

Part of the Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson Credo states that we will strive to provide value and reduce costs to our customers. What are ways that you are resourceful in helping to reduce costs in your work?

"On the production floor, efficiency and reduction of waste ultimately impact the cost of the good we produce and I take a strict focus on these two things with my staff. I am always looking at ways of improving processes to reduce time and labor. By doing so, production is increased and full cost per unit produced goes down. In the end, these things can help reduce the costs to our customers and allows my organization to stay ahead of our competition when it comes to cost of products. If brought into this role with Ethicon, you can be sure I'd bring the same philosophies to the production floor here."

No matter what job you work or what tasks you perform with an organization, you have an impact on the both the bottom line of the organization and the cost of goods to the customers of the organization. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you have an understanding of this by having you provide ways that you are efficient in your work and ways that you potentially have a positive impact on the cost of goods or services to your customers. Keep in mind that time is ultimately money and reiterate to your interviewer that you are efficient and smart in the way that you work.

"Working in the field for many years in both sales and machine servicing, putting effort into planning my workdays and travel helps save my organization both travel time and the cost of fuel. By being wise with my time on a daily basis, small costs add up to large costs over time and this can greatly impact the cost of our services and goods. My planning starts with route preparation and seeing clients a week ahead of schedule if I'm in their area already. Be breaking down my calls by day and getting to different parts of my territory on a scheduled basis, both my customers and my organization are happy."

In the medical device industry, it is important our teams are cohesive so we can continue to drive excellence. Tell me about a time you gave feedback to a peer?

"I noticed my peer was really struggling with her communication with another leader. He would get very anxious and even out of breath when he was telling me about what was going on. One of the times that he was venting to me, I listened, but then asked a few more questions to probe deeper. Through my questions, my colleague was able to think of a few different strategies to try when working with this person in the future. The power of the question is very powerful."

The interviewer wants to know that you aren't shy about giving feedback to your peers to help them succeed. True leaders show their true colors by mentoring and supporting colleagues, not just by supporting and training direct reports. Show the interviewer that you care about the development of others are aren't afraid to give feedback.

"For example: "We had bi-weekly team meetings and we do a lot of brainstorming during that time. One of my colleagues came across really negative and would shoot down people's ideas really quickly. This really deflated the energy in the team. I asked him to go for a walk with me and I told him how his behavior was being perceived. He was caught off guard by this feedback. However, because we were walking and our bodies were moving, it helped him to calm down and hear me. At the end, he thanked me for pulling him aside and talking to him about it and I could tell at the next meeting that he came with an attitude that was different and more open."

What is a work accomplishment you feel very proud about that you'd like to share?

"I have been selected to the President's Club 3 years in a row. The first year I was selected, I am especially proud of because I was given a territory that was performing really terribly. I didn't know if I'd be able to turn it around. With focus, dedication, and a close eye on numbers, I was able to make really great strides in that region and it is still a high performing area for the company."

Everybody has that shining moment in their career that they look back on and feel good about. Share a work accomplishment that is significant to you and let the interviewer hear the passion in your voice.

"For example: "I'm really proud of the fact that 3 of the people who reported to me have moved on to leadership roles within my company. Coaching and mentoring people is really important to me and I spent a lot of time with these individuals talking to them about what it would take to get to the next level. They were like sponges and listened, and then did exactly what I knew they could do. Teaching others is something I have a great passion for."

How do you want to grow your career within the medical device industry?

"I noticed at Ethicon, you have offices in over 20 countries. This is really exciting to me. I'd love to be in this role for several years, but then think about how I could use the skills I've learned to work in one of your global locations. I'd love to work overseas for a few years and then come back to a leadership role."

The interviewer would like to hear that you would like to stay with the company as you develop new skills. Tell the interviewer your long term goal, but make sure it aligns with where the company is going.

"For example: "One of the elements of Ethicon LLC that I really love is the career growth opportunities. I'd love to take the knowledge I'll gain in this role and move to the sales organization to be the person in front of clinicians, showing them the great things our devices can do. When you are selling something you believe in, it doesn't really feel like selling, it just feels like helping people."

What importance do you feel that feedback from your customers and/or colleagues plays in your work? Have you every proactively sought out feedback in your work?

"My personal stance on feedback in my work is that it is vital to helping me improve and be the best salesman that I can possibly be. For you as my manager, you can rest assured that I would always have an open ear to constructive criticism and feedback to my work. I would fully expect you to let me know if I had areas for improvement on a regular basis, not just on yearly performance reviews. I also expect the same from my customers and I look to keep this window open for them through open communication and follow-up with them following product sales and delivery. I never hesitate to ask if my products are meeting their needs and if my service did as well. Last year, I had a great learning opportunity from a customer that informed me that our warehouse staff had shipped a wrong part needed by them. As I looked back into my system, I had fulfilled the order incorrectly. I owned up to it with the customer and made time to personally deliver them the correct part the next day."

With Ethicon's deep focus on quality in the products and services that they produce, the organization is always seeking customer feedback in those products and services. For this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you place importance on feedback from those that you work with and that you are willing to take constructive feedback and put it to use. If possible, also let your interviewer know about a time that you actively sought out feedback to help you and the work that you produce improve.

"Working with many different production departments as a Test Engineer, I openly seek out feedback and thoughts from the production supervisors that I work with. They know their product lines and staff much better than I do and their feedback on testing processes is extremely helpful in the work that I do. With each project, I take time to meet with the supervisors I will be working with as sort of an intake session. This entails them getting to learn more about my project and me learning more about their work and their preferences. This open approach has led to great relationship and successful projects in my current role."

At Ethicon, we believe in continuous feedback so we can all improve. When is a time you received constructive feedback?

"In one of my reviews, I received feedback that I didn't delegate enough and therefore, it made it seem like I didn't trust my colleagues. I really took that feedback to heart. I took a look at my work load, which was really high, and made some priority buckets. There was one bucket of work that was very low risk and I distributed it to my team. One team member did a really great job so I was able to give her some of the more complex projects."

All companies need people who can take criticism and give it without feeling weird or sensitive about it. Demonstrate to the interviewer how you have used a piece of constructive feedback to improve and get better.

"For example: "I received feedback that everybody knows what I am thinking from my non verbal expressions, especially in meetings. That was really tough feedback to hear. That entire next year, I worked very hard to ensure my facial expressions were positive and neutral versus worried or anxious, no matter what the content of the meetings were about. It was a tough exercise, but I'm glad I received the feedback or I would not have known this."

Do you have any direct experience working with surgery focused products or in healthcare in general? If not, what will be important for you to transition effectively into this role?

"As you can see from my resume, I have ten years of working experience as a Sales Representative in the medical imaging industry. While the imaging services and surgical services lines within healthcare organizations do differ, I think my experience in working with front line providers and technicians at large hospitals and clinics would transition nicely into this role as a Clinical Support Specialist. I have trained physicians and imaging technicians on how to use products and I feel like I'd be able to do this with ease with any product. The important thing for me would be to learn the full product line I'd be working with once I were to start with Ethicon."

For this question, your interviewer will be able to tell a lot about your experience based on your application/resume, but they will be looking to hear from your mouth any experience you have working in relation to the field that Ethicon works in. If you don't have any direct experience, that is okay. Be sure to have a plan prepared for explaining your skills and how they will transition to the role that you are interviewing for. Then, explain how will transition seamlessly into the role while learning the industry.

"Having spent all of my career in the software engineering industry in manufacturing robotics, I think that experience would transition nicely to robotics used in surgical suites throughout the world. I would be able to bring a unique outside perspective from my current industry while I would strive to learn the surgical robotics field right from the start if hired."

Here at Ethicon, our quality focus extends to product stewardship and sustainability in regard to them being eco-friendly. What types of sustainability programs do you have experience working with during your career to this point?

"With my current employer, I've been part of our Green Team that has implemented new procedures and policies that are focused on reducing our water and energy usage. I am a firm believer that a little bit of effort from everyone goes a long way in ensuring that our planet is left in better shape for generations to come. When I read Ethicon's Earthwards program, I was very pleased to have the chance to work for an organization that has the same stance as me."

Ethicon, and their parent company Johnson & Johnson, takes a focused approach in ensuring that their products are friendly to the earth's environment and the organization feels very strongly on this stance. Your interviewer will be looking to hear that you have the same point of view when it comes to being a great steward of the environmental resources and products. Talk about any environmentally friendly programs or projects you have been a part of during your career and make sure that your interview walks away from your conversation knowing that you will buy into the philosophy with Ethicon.

"In my current role as a Field Sales Representative, I work very closely with my accounts to help ensure that they participate in our packaging recycling program that my organization implemented. Upon delivery of product, our delivery staff are trained and able to take packaging from prior shipments for reuse. This program has been a huge benefit for our customers in reducing waste costs and it's been a huge benefit to my organization in saving packaging costs. But most importantly, it's been most beneficial to the earth by reducing the amount of Styrofoam potentially filling landfills. With my customers, my belief in this program really helps sell the effort on their part to participate in the program."

At Ethicon, we've been voted a best place to work. What kind of working environment do you thrive in?

"I can adapt to most work environments. I've been in very chaotic, noisy environments and can thrive with some strategies to help me focus, like my headphones. In other positions, it has been very quiet. I gravitate to environments that are collaborative and not too quiet so people feel like they can ask questions and interact with each other."

Every work environment is different. The interviewer wants to get a sense of your preference for the atmosphere in which you'll be working. Be honest, but also demonstrate flexibility since you'd don't yet know what the environment is like.

"In my internships, I had exposure to many different settings. I prefer a busy, fast-paced environment to keep me on my toes. I also like when there are many people around so I can ask questions if I need."

In the medical device industry, we are highly regulated by the FDA and other entities. What experience do you have working with regulatory bodies?

"In my current company, I work on a team with those in government relations on the device that I manage. I work with our engineers and scientists to make sure we are proving and testing all the claims we are making about our product. The government relations team is actually the ones with the regular contact with FDA but I help to support their work to make sure we have approval."

The medical device industry is one of the most highly regulated spaces to be in. Tell the interviewer what exposure you have had in this space. If you haven't had this yet, be honest, but also acknowledge that you know what they are talking about.

"For example: "I have never worked in the medical device space, but my company has other regulatory bodies that have regulations we need to follow, so I am accustomed to reporting and adhering to certain standards. I'm confident I could quickly learn all the elements I need to regarding the FDA very quickly."

In the medical device industry, a background in science is really helpful so you can learn how our products work and help save lives. Tell me more about your background in health sciences or anatomy.

"I started my college career wanting to be a physical therapist. I took all of the basics in chemistry, biology, and anatomy. As I went on, though, I realized that my passion for business outweighed my passion for hand's on patient care."

At Ethicon, every employee has to have basic level knowledge of what the medical devices do but beyond that, if you don't understand basic anatomy and the medical conditions associated with the devices, you can't really see the big picture. Give the interviewer any background you have in human anatomy or science so they see you intellectual horse-power.

At Ethicon, we continuously strive to use data to improve our work quality. How do you use data in your work to make sure that your work is the best possible?

"In R&D, customer data is extremely important to help guide my work into the future. With my current organization, we rely on our sales and manufacturing staff to provide us with market data from our customers to assist us in coordinating projects for the future. In the artificial intelligence field, my team recently developed a program for a large human resources contractor that sifted through online resume to help recruit top candidates for their open positions they were contracted to recruit for. This project was implemented because of customer data that we received from several HR related customers and what their future needs were. Since the development, other large organizations have purchased the program."

No matter what career path you are on, the ability to utilize data in helping to improve processes is extremely important. But, the type of data you use and how you use it can vary greatly, depending on the work that you do. Be sure that you speak about using relevant data and information in your work and explain how you can apply this to the job that you are interviewing for. Talk about your ability to use resources to pull data from and your ability to sift through large amounts of information to pull what is truly important to the work that you do.

"Account management in the manufacturing world requires the use of data to help boost sales and, ultimately, customer satisfaction. With my customers, I keep trend data of product sales over time and update my customers one per quarter on their numbers. This transparency goes over well with my customers and also helps them get insight into their own business at times. As well, I like to look at overall trends in our overall business and compare that to my individual customer's trends. This give both me and my customer's an idea of their performance against the whole."

At Ethicon, our medical device products touch lives throughout the world. We have offices in over 20 countries. Tell me about experience you have working with a global workforce.

"I have learned so much from the global experiences I've had so far. One of the biggest learnings I have had is that words mean different things to different people. It is a good idea not to use expressions or slang terms when working with people in other countries because the translation doesn't come through. I try to speak slowly, clearly, and use simple words to make sure we are understanding one another."

In global companies, there are many nuances. The EQ and exposure to working with people in other countries is really important to create community and understanding. Highlight any experiences you've had and highlight your excitement about working in a global environment.

"For example: "I haven't had the opportunity to work in a global organization yet, but this is one of the reasons I'm really excited to work at Ethicon LLC. I went to a college with many international students and I learned a great deal about cultures and traditions in other countries. I learned a lot about listening to understand versus talking to be heard. Given the chance, I could represent Ethicon LLC in a very positive light to global colleagues."

Give an example of a time that you showed great commitment to a customer or colleague that you worked with. Why was the commitment necessary and what helped make the committed relationship successful?

"A few years ago, I was working with a new automotive dealer to our area that had purchased a long-standing, family owned business that had been prevalent in the area for many years prior. In wanting to run a great marketing campaign that would introduce them as the same family friendly atmosphere, I kept a very close tab on the statistics from our campaign and reported them on a weekly basis to the customer. Throughout the entire radio and television advertising campaign, my regular data kept the customer engaged and informed and they even thank me and my manager for the great service and updates. I quickly realized that attention to fine details like this can make or break business in the marketing world and I'm always happy to do these things for my customers."

Ethicon, and their parent company Johnson & Johnson, are dedicated to a full commitment to their customers and for this question, your interviewer will be looking to hear that you have the same customer centered values as the organization. In your example, think of a time where you went the extra mile for a customer (or colleague) that you worked with that produced a great end result for both you and the customer. Explain that this approach is your everyday approach with your customers because they are the life blood of the work that you perform.

"Managing a sales team brings me in touch with a large number of customers, both internal and external. I think my unique approach of considering internal production and supply chain staff as customers in my sales world really benefits the organizations that I represent as a whole. A few years ago, I learned that a imminent shutdown was coming on one of our featured product lines and this shutdown could impact our external customers for one week to several weeks. In hearing this through the grapevine, I immediately contacted our Operations leadership team to set a meeting the next day with them for me to gather information. In wanting to both serve our external customers the best and ensure that production wasn't backlogged when back up and running, I utilized their plan for production shutdown to work up a plan for our external customers. I was thanked graciously by our operations team and in the end, my sales force was able to bridge orders for our largest customers and set expectations for product unavailability for all of our customers. It was a win-win for all."

The technology in the medical device industry is changing rapidly. At Ethicon, we are investing in new technology to help patients and our teams do their jobs more effectively. How do you keep up to speed with changing technology?

"Our team is moving from JDE to Oracle. I was selected to be part of a project team to help with the implementation because I tend to be on the tech-savvy side. I have been building out the process for my function and incorporating feedback from my team so they feel a part of it. We are now in the testing phases before the go-live and everything is running smoothly. I'm excited for the new tools and features so we can do our jobs faster."

The interviewer is looking for a candidate who is up to speed with the latest technology and can pick up new systems quickly.

At Ethicon, we have worked very hard to make sure our workforce is inclusive and represents our customer population. Tell me about your experience in working with diverse groups of people in a work setting.

"I have worked with diverse groups of people most of my career, including my time in University. I value opinions that are different than my own and find this environment challenging. If everybody thinks alike, that is not only a boring environment, but it isn't a creative environment."

Are you accustomed to working with a very large or diverse team of individuals? Assure the interviewer that you can handle an environment that offers diversity. Even better, give an example of being able to embrace diversity in the workplace.

"I am so glad you pointed out your need for diversity at Ethicon LLC. I grew up in a small town that wasn't very diverse, so I specifically chose a college in a more diverse location so I could have exposure to other cultures. I have learned so much about the beliefs and values of others that I have brought to the workplace to have a higher level of EQ."

At Ethicon, our medical devices can truly change people's lives. Sometimes, though, a patient may have a question or concern about one of our devices. How have you handled a difficult customer interaction in a previous position?

"I am a lead in our department, so I take the calls that are escalated or too difficult for one of the other reps to handle. I had a customer who was yelling about how much money he spent on the device and it wasn't working. He was beyond the return date, so we couldn't give him a refund. I let him get all of his anger out and finish talking. I then asked him questions and always addressed him by first name to try and build some rapport. I learned that he hadn't been to see his physician to follow up. We have relationships with the care-givers at one of the local facilities, so I was able to put him on hold, and see when they had an appointment available. When I transferred him over to the scheduler, he had calmed down a bit. It wasn't a perfect scenario, but I tried to treat him with dignity and respect and not take it personal."

The interviewer wants to know you can handle the stress of a difficult customer interaction. The customer could be a physician group who use the medical device or an actual patient who has a question or concern about your product. Show the interviewer that you can stay cool under pressure and resolve the concern.

"For example: "I used to be a waitress in college and dealing with difficult customers was my specialty. My co-workers would always give me the regulars who were cranky because I had a way of working with them that made it look easy. One evening, I had a customer who was very upset with his food order. I listened to his concern and asked him if he would like me to bring him something else, but he kept going on and on and was getting quite loud at this point. I apologized again and asked told him I could give him a discount on his order or bring him another choice. He ended up taking the discount and leaving, but at least his volume went down and he left. Difficult customer interactions don't always end perfectly, but I feel I handled the situation appropriately."

What interests you about working in the medical device industry?

"I have always wanted to work in an industry that is innovative and cutting edge. It has been really fun to see how medical technology has been able to save lives. It would be fun coming to work every day knowing you are doing something to better people's lives."

The interviewer wants to hear your passion for the industry. Demonstrate that you feel value in the devices that could positively impact somebody's life.

"For example: "As a new graduate, I have been exploring many different industries and the medical device industry is my number one choice. I considered going into medicine, but I love the business side of things and this way, I can utilize those skills to help people's quality of life."

Ethicon Interview Questions

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1. At Ethicon, we do a lot of cross functional team projects. Tell me about a project team you've been on and your role.
2. At Ethicon, our products are focused on helping surgeons and operating room staff provide excellent results for the patients they are operating on. Do you have any personal experience with this product line?
3. Have you ever had a time where your ethics were tested on the job? What was the situation and how did you handle it?
4. Talk about a time that you gave your opinion or viewpoint when you normally wouldn't have in that situation. What compelled you to speak up and what was the outcome?
5. Many of our projects have very strict timelines. Tell me about a time you missed a deadline or deliverable and how you handled it.
6. At Ethicon, our organization is highly matrixed with US and global partners on our teams. How have you navigated this kind of environment in the past?
7. At Ethicon, an important piece of our Credo is our employees having a sense of security, fulfillment and purpose in their work. What does it take for you to find purpose and fulfillment in the work that you do?
8. In the medical device industry, there is a lot of industry jargon and lingo and many acronyms to learn to understand the business. What are some strategies you've used to acclimate quickly when you've started a new job in the past?
9. At Ethicon, giving back to the community is really important to us. What are you doing in your current position to give back?
10. What unique traits will you bring to our team here at Ethicon?
11. Part of the Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson Credo states that we will strive to provide value and reduce costs to our customers. What are ways that you are resourceful in helping to reduce costs in your work?
12. In the medical device industry, it is important our teams are cohesive so we can continue to drive excellence. Tell me about a time you gave feedback to a peer?
13. What is a work accomplishment you feel very proud about that you'd like to share?
14. How do you want to grow your career within the medical device industry?
15. What importance do you feel that feedback from your customers and/or colleagues plays in your work? Have you every proactively sought out feedback in your work?
16. At Ethicon, we believe in continuous feedback so we can all improve. When is a time you received constructive feedback?
17. Do you have any direct experience working with surgery focused products or in healthcare in general? If not, what will be important for you to transition effectively into this role?
18. Here at Ethicon, our quality focus extends to product stewardship and sustainability in regard to them being eco-friendly. What types of sustainability programs do you have experience working with during your career to this point?
19. At Ethicon, we've been voted a best place to work. What kind of working environment do you thrive in?
20. In the medical device industry, we are highly regulated by the FDA and other entities. What experience do you have working with regulatory bodies?
21. In the medical device industry, a background in science is really helpful so you can learn how our products work and help save lives. Tell me more about your background in health sciences or anatomy.
22. At Ethicon, we continuously strive to use data to improve our work quality. How do you use data in your work to make sure that your work is the best possible?
23. At Ethicon, our medical device products touch lives throughout the world. We have offices in over 20 countries. Tell me about experience you have working with a global workforce.
24. Give an example of a time that you showed great commitment to a customer or colleague that you worked with. Why was the commitment necessary and what helped make the committed relationship successful?
25. The technology in the medical device industry is changing rapidly. At Ethicon, we are investing in new technology to help patients and our teams do their jobs more effectively. How do you keep up to speed with changing technology?
26. At Ethicon, we have worked very hard to make sure our workforce is inclusive and represents our customer population. Tell me about your experience in working with diverse groups of people in a work setting.
27. At Ethicon, our medical devices can truly change people's lives. Sometimes, though, a patient may have a question or concern about one of our devices. How have you handled a difficult customer interaction in a previous position?
28. What interests you about working in the medical device industry?

Ethicon Interview Questions

1. At Ethicon, we do a lot of cross functional team projects. Tell me about a project team you've been on and your role.

2. At Ethicon, our products are focused on helping surgeons and operating room staff provide excellent results for the patients they are operating on. Do you have any personal experience with this product line?

3. Have you ever had a time where your ethics were tested on the job? What was the situation and how did you handle it?

4. Talk about a time that you gave your opinion or viewpoint when you normally wouldn't have in that situation. What compelled you to speak up and what was the outcome?

5. Many of our projects have very strict timelines. Tell me about a time you missed a deadline or deliverable and how you handled it.

6. At Ethicon, our organization is highly matrixed with US and global partners on our teams. How have you navigated this kind of environment in the past?

7. At Ethicon, an important piece of our Credo is our employees having a sense of security, fulfillment and purpose in their work. What does it take for you to find purpose and fulfillment in the work that you do?

8. In the medical device industry, there is a lot of industry jargon and lingo and many acronyms to learn to understand the business. What are some strategies you've used to acclimate quickly when you've started a new job in the past?

9. At Ethicon, giving back to the community is really important to us. What are you doing in your current position to give back?

10. What unique traits will you bring to our team here at Ethicon?

11. Part of the Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson Credo states that we will strive to provide value and reduce costs to our customers. What are ways that you are resourceful in helping to reduce costs in your work?

12. In the medical device industry, it is important our teams are cohesive so we can continue to drive excellence. Tell me about a time you gave feedback to a peer?

13. What is a work accomplishment you feel very proud about that you'd like to share?

14. How do you want to grow your career within the medical device industry?

15. What importance do you feel that feedback from your customers and/or colleagues plays in your work? Have you every proactively sought out feedback in your work?

16. At Ethicon, we believe in continuous feedback so we can all improve. When is a time you received constructive feedback?

17. Do you have any direct experience working with surgery focused products or in healthcare in general? If not, what will be important for you to transition effectively into this role?

18. Here at Ethicon, our quality focus extends to product stewardship and sustainability in regard to them being eco-friendly. What types of sustainability programs do you have experience working with during your career to this point?

19. At Ethicon, we've been voted a best place to work. What kind of working environment do you thrive in?

20. In the medical device industry, we are highly regulated by the FDA and other entities. What experience do you have working with regulatory bodies?

21. In the medical device industry, a background in science is really helpful so you can learn how our products work and help save lives. Tell me more about your background in health sciences or anatomy.

22. At Ethicon, we continuously strive to use data to improve our work quality. How do you use data in your work to make sure that your work is the best possible?

23. At Ethicon, our medical device products touch lives throughout the world. We have offices in over 20 countries. Tell me about experience you have working with a global workforce.

24. Give an example of a time that you showed great commitment to a customer or colleague that you worked with. Why was the commitment necessary and what helped make the committed relationship successful?

25. The technology in the medical device industry is changing rapidly. At Ethicon, we are investing in new technology to help patients and our teams do their jobs more effectively. How do you keep up to speed with changing technology?

26. At Ethicon, we have worked very hard to make sure our workforce is inclusive and represents our customer population. Tell me about your experience in working with diverse groups of people in a work setting.

27. At Ethicon, our medical devices can truly change people's lives. Sometimes, though, a patient may have a question or concern about one of our devices. How have you handled a difficult customer interaction in a previous position?

28. What interests you about working in the medical device industry?