PPD Mock Interview

Practice 35 PPD interview questions covering clinical research, drug development, and pharmaceutical operations.

Question 24 of 35

Do you understand what a 'double-blind' trial is?

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Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

Understanding the differences between the various types of clinical trials is essential when working in research. Any time you can answer an interviewer's question with confidence and correct knowledge, you increase your chances of being offered employment.

Krista Wenz

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

"A 'double-blind' trial is a clinical trial in which neither patients nor the study staff knows which participants are receiving the experimental drug and which are receiving a placebo or standard treatment."

Krista Wenz

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

"Yes, I do understand 'double-blind' trials. In this type of trial, like a controlled trial, one group of participants receives the experimental drug or treatment while another group receives a placebo or standard treatment. In a 'double-blind,' the difference is that neither the staff working the trial nor the participants are aware which group is receiving which treatment."

Krista Wenz

Krista Wenz has been on thousands of interview panels hiring EMS professionals and firefighters for public and private agencies.

Focus on giving a brief description of a double-blind trial. The interviewer wants to determine whether you know the difference between a double-blind clinical trial and other types of trials.

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Anonymous Answer

A double-blind trial is one that none of the participants know who is getting the placebo or the actual trial drug or treatment.

Marcie's Feedback

You are partly correct. Don't forget to mention that the researchers don't know who is receiving the placebo or various treatments during the trial either. Be sure to brush up on all of these technical terms prior to the interview so you can speak knowledgeably and comprehensively to the interviewer about them. Good job!

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35PPD Interview Questions & Answers

General

1.Do you have an understanding of what a 'control' or 'control group' is?

General

2.Are you familiar with what 'expanded access' means?

Discovery

3.If a patient wants to participate in a clinical trial but wants the physician conducting the experiment to provide all of his care during the time the trial is being conducted, what would be the most appropriate advice?

Education

4.PPD is supportive of our employee's continuing education efforts. Have you ever thought of going back to school?

Discovery

5.Are you familiar with the difference between diagnostic trials and screening trials?

Discovery

6.What made you choose a career in research?

Discovery

7.Why do you feel that participation in a clinical trial is a positive decision?

Discovery

8.What would you tell a patient who is asking about some of the things they should expect while participating in a clinical trial?

Discovery

9.PPD likes to encourage a healthy work/life balance. What are some things you like to do make sure you have a healthy balance between work and your personal life?

Discovery

10.CROs work with multiple clients nationally and internationally, which means employees are often expected to juggle time zones and adhere to the sponsor's tight deadlines. What are some things you do to help manage your time efficiently?

Discovery

11.Knowing that both CROs and pharmaceutical companies conduct research and trials, what do you think would be an advantage working with a CRO rather than seeking employment with a large pharmaceutical company?

General

12.What are some of the risks associated with being a participant in a clinical trial?

General

13.Are you familiar with what a protocol is with regard to clinical research?

Discovery

14.At the end of the day, what makes you feel like you have done a good job or have been successful?

Behavioral

15.What is something that causes you stress at work and how do you try to overcome it?

Discovery

16.If you had your choice of a research project to work with, what would you choose?

Discovery

17.PPD tries to accommodate employees with regard to scheduling preferences as much as possible. Is there a particular schedule that would be a better fit with your personal/family responsibilities?

Discovery

18.With regard to salary, PPD tries to be fair to all employees. However, salary is often commensurate with experience. What are your thoughts regarding someone working the same job as you being paid a higher rate due to experience level?

Discovery

19.If you were the person responsible for hiring at PPD, what characteristics would you look for in a candidate, and do you feel that you possess those traits?

Discovery

20.If a trial participant asks you to explain what a placebo is and why it may be used, what would your answer be?

Discovery

21.While PPD likes to employ people who have plans to work for us long-term, it is understandable that sometimes plans change. Do you anticipate any significant changes in your life within the next 3-5 years?

General

22.What is a 'controlled' clinical trial?

Discovery

23.Contract Research Organizations such as PPD employ people from many different backgrounds with a variety of skills. Have you ever worked with a very diverse group of people?

General

24.Do you understand what a 'double-blind' trial is?

Discovery

25.Have you ever participated in efforts to secure funding for clinical research?

General

26.Do you know what pharmacokinetic studies are?

Discovery

27.What are some things that you would like for others to notice about your personality?

Discovery

28.What are your thoughts regarding people who become participants in a clinical trial but leave before the trial ends?

Situational

29.Can you think of a time you had a disagreement with a boss or coworker, and if so, how was it resolved?

Behavioral

30.What do you think your best and worst qualities are?

Discovery

31.What do you like to do in your free time?

Discovery

32.How did you hear about this position?

Direct

33.We require all candidates to submit to a pre-employment drug screen. Will there be an issue passing the drug screen?

Direct

34.This position requires out of town travel at times. Will traveling be a problem for you?

Behavioral

PPD Mock Interview

Do you understand what a 'double-blind' trial is?

35PPD Interview Questions & Answers

1.Do you have an understanding of what a 'control' or 'control group' is?

2.Are you familiar with what 'expanded access' means?

3.If a patient wants to participate in a clinical trial but wants the physician conducting the experiment to provide all of his care during the time the trial is being conducted, what would be the most appropriate advice?

4.PPD is supportive of our employee's continuing education efforts. Have you ever thought of going back to school?

5.Are you familiar with the difference between diagnostic trials and screening trials?

6.What made you choose a career in research?

7.Why do you feel that participation in a clinical trial is a positive decision?

8.What would you tell a patient who is asking about some of the things they should expect while participating in a clinical trial?

9.PPD likes to encourage a healthy work/life balance. What are some things you like to do make sure you have a healthy balance between work and your personal life?

10.CROs work with multiple clients nationally and internationally, which means employees are often expected to juggle time zones and adhere to the sponsor's tight deadlines. What are some things you do to help manage your time efficiently?

11.Knowing that both CROs and pharmaceutical companies conduct research and trials, what do you think would be an advantage working with a CRO rather than seeking employment with a large pharmaceutical company?

12.What are some of the risks associated with being a participant in a clinical trial?

13.Are you familiar with what a protocol is with regard to clinical research?

14.At the end of the day, what makes you feel like you have done a good job or have been successful?

15.What is something that causes you stress at work and how do you try to overcome it?

16.If you had your choice of a research project to work with, what would you choose?

17.PPD tries to accommodate employees with regard to scheduling preferences as much as possible. Is there a particular schedule that would be a better fit with your personal/family responsibilities?

18.With regard to salary, PPD tries to be fair to all employees. However, salary is often commensurate with experience. What are your thoughts regarding someone working the same job as you being paid a higher rate due to experience level?

19.If you were the person responsible for hiring at PPD, what characteristics would you look for in a candidate, and do you feel that you possess those traits?

20.If a trial participant asks you to explain what a placebo is and why it may be used, what would your answer be?

21.While PPD likes to employ people who have plans to work for us long-term, it is understandable that sometimes plans change. Do you anticipate any significant changes in your life within the next 3-5 years?

22.What is a 'controlled' clinical trial?

23.Contract Research Organizations such as PPD employ people from many different backgrounds with a variety of skills. Have you ever worked with a very diverse group of people?

24.Do you understand what a 'double-blind' trial is?

25.Have you ever participated in efforts to secure funding for clinical research?

26.Do you know what pharmacokinetic studies are?

27.What are some things that you would like for others to notice about your personality?

28.What are your thoughts regarding people who become participants in a clinical trial but leave before the trial ends?

29.Can you think of a time you had a disagreement with a boss or coworker, and if so, how was it resolved?

30.What do you think your best and worst qualities are?

31.What do you like to do in your free time?

32.How did you hear about this position?

33.We require all candidates to submit to a pre-employment drug screen. Will there be an issue passing the drug screen?

34.This position requires out of town travel at times. Will traveling be a problem for you?

35.Would you describe yourself as a detail-oriented person?