Alexion Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharmaceutical company developing life-transforming therapies for patients with the rarest of diseases. So, it stands to reason that they are also looking for a rare combination in their employees. BioSpace we spoke with Alexion’s Head of Talent Acquisition, Matt McSherry, to find out just what those key ingredients are.
- Alexion is driven by patients, integrity, empowering people and innovating for solutions. Seeks the same in the ideal employee.
- Getting noticed by Alexion requires a rare combination of talent and transparency.
- Alexion is dialed into the employee experience transformation.
- Drive and dedication are wanted.
- Ace the interview by articulating your fit with Alexion’s company culture.
Alexion Pharmaceuticals is a global biopharmaceutical company developing life-transforming therapies for patients with the rarest of diseases. So, it stands to reason that they are also looking for a rare combination in their employees. BioSpace we spoke with Alexion’s Head of Talent Acquisition, Matt McSherry, to find out just what those key ingredients are.
“Alexion’s four culture values drive our business and our recruitment. These values are: serve patients, act with integrity, empower people and innovate for solutions. We truly live these values and look for people who share these values,” McSherry said.
What You Need to Know About Alexion
Founded in 1992, Alexion is headquartered in Boston, with an international home base in Zürich, Switzerland. With a strong global presence, Alexion employs more than 4,000 people in locations across Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America.
The company’s focus is on severe rare diseases with unmet needs, such as Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). PNH is a chronic, progressive, debilitating and life-threatening ultra-rare blood disorder characterized by complement-mediated hemolysis, or the destruction of red blood cells. In 2007, Alexion launched Solaris (eculizumab), a first-in-class terminal complement inhibitor, to treat PNH, as well as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Solaris is only one of five drugs the company has commercialized since its inception.
Alexion is Looking for Talented, Driven People
One might imagine that it takes a particular type of mindset to dig deep and create medicines for these kinds of disorders.
“Beyond technical capability, Alexion is looking for people who share our values, will help continue to establish our purpose-driven culture, and are additive to our culture, such as those who are open-minded, ethical, empathetic, have a strong work ethic and are adaptable and resilient,” McSherry said.
He added that Alexion is looking to build a holistic culture of innovation to drive the same on the scientific front.
“We want our people to bring their unique experiences, both professional and personal, to enhance our perspectives and ideas. This is the common thread for everyone that works at Alexion- a shared interest and passion for our culture value,” McSherry said. “We are patient-centric, act with integrity, empower each other, and are always looking to innovate. We actively evaluate candidates based on these values, as well as their technical expertise.”
How to Get Noticed by Alexion:
When recruiting for new positions, Alexion looks for that rare combination of talent, integrity and transparency. If you possess these traits, you may just be hearing from Matt McSherry.
“We want you to be yourself. At Alexion, we are looking to create the conditions for all to feel a true sense of belonging, so it is very important to be authentic and transparent,” he said. “Tell us what is important to you, your motivations and aspirations - what you can bring to Alexion, and what Alexion can do for you. We know our values mean different things to different people, so identify what resonates most with you and find a way to tell that story with your resume.”
The life sciences industry is collaborative and connected, and this doesn’t only apply to the medicine.
“I also encourage anyone interested in Alexion to leverage your network, especially if you know or can get an introduction to someone at Alexion who can be an advocate for you,” McSherry said.
How to Ace an Interview with Alexion:
The interview phase is where both Alexion and the candidate can determine if they are a good mutual fit. An important part of that decision-making process centers on a clear understanding of the company’s place in the life sciences realm.
McSherry explained that Alexion has the resources to open the door to opportunity, and that successful candidates will demonstrate the ability and eagerness to walk through it.
“Understanding where Alexion fits into the broader life science community should be considered,” McSherry said. “Alexion has size and scale. We are a global company with more than 4,000 people. We are not a small start-up, and we are not a company with 100,000 people. We are in a sweet spot where, with our size and scale, we have the resources to empower our people, to be innovative and agile to move quickly. Because Alexion moves at a fast pace, the expectation is that, regardless of one’s level or role, everyone is hands-on, will roll up their sleeves, have the ability to pivot from strategy to execution and is accountable.”
If you are someone with this type of commitment, who thrives in an intense environment, you need to come to the interview ready to effectively communicate it.
“The people who do well in the interview process are able to authentically articulate what they bring to Alexion. They have a clear sense of how they will be additive to Alexion and to the role. They also allowed us to peel back the layers and get to know them in an open and genuine way by sharing their experiences, their accomplishments, and their impact,” McSherry said.
How Does Alexion Envision the Employee Experience?
Our current largely work-from-home culture has left many workers mired in a sense of disconnectedness.
According to data from an ongoing home working study of more than 145,000 workers, conducted by employee experience index Leesman, “Over a third of home workers (35%) feel disconnected to their organization when working from home and a further 31% feel disconnected to their colleagues.”
It appears that Alexion is dialed into the employee experience transformation that has been accelerated by our current situation.
“At Alexion, we highly value the employee experience. We want all our employees to have a sense of purpose in the work they do, feel their work is fulfilling, be recognized for their efforts and accomplishments, feel appropriately rewarded for their work, and feel a true sense of belonging,” McSherry said. “Alexion continues to invest in our scientific pipeline, which means there is opportunity across all disciplines and regions within the company.”
If Alexion sounds like the right place for you, McSherry encourages you to apply on their website at: https://alexion.com/your-career/career-opportunities.
