Interview preparation plan: Specialty Representative - Primary Care (Repatha) - Manhattan NY at Amgen

Practice questions (6)

1. Describe a situation where you convinced someone of an idea.
2. Tell me about a conflict with a colleague/manager and how you resolved it.
3. Tell me about a project where you collaborated with other teams.
4. What are the key benefits and mechanisms of Repatha?
5. How would you position Repatha against its main competitors?
6. Discuss a comprehensive strategy you would implement to penetrate a new market for Repatha.

Questions to ask the interviewer (8)

• Can you describe the culture at Amgen and how it supports team collaboration?
• What does success look like in this Specialty Representative role?
• How does this team approach cross-departmental projects?
• What opportunities for professional development does Amgen offer?
• What challenges does the team currently face in the market?
• How does leadership support the team during market fluctuations?
• What is Amgen's long-term strategy for product innovation?
• In what ways does Amgen foster diversity and inclusion within teams?

Study topics (8)

• Repatha clinical profile, indications, and differentiation

  Study how Repatha (evolocumab) works as a PCSK9 inhibitor, the patient populations it is used for, and the outcomes data that support its value in lowering LDL-C and reducing cardiovascular risk. This is essential because the role requires communicating Amgen’s clinical benefits clearly to medical professionals and positioning the product appropriately versus alternatives.

• Lipid management guidelines and cardiology treatment pathways

  Review current ACC/AHA and related guideline concepts for ASCVD risk reduction, LDL-C targets, statin optimization, and when to consider add-on therapy such as PCSK9 inhibitors. This matters because primary care prescribers often follow stepwise treatment algorithms, and you will need to speak credibly about where Repatha fits in therapy.

• Pharmacy benefit, prior authorization, and payer navigation

  Learn the basics of the U.S. payer landscape for specialty drugs, including prior authorization, step therapy, formulary access, copay support, and how patients move from prescription to fill. The job description explicitly mentions helping customers navigate the complex payer environment, so interviewers will likely probe how you handle access barriers and reimbursement friction.

• Primary care customer segmentation in Manhattan

  Study how to prioritize and tailor messaging for PCPs, internists, cardiologists, and high-volume urban practices in Manhattan, including differences in patient mix, referral behavior, and time constraints. Local market knowledge is a preferred qualification, and strong territory planning is critical in a dense, competitive market.

• Pharmaceutical sales process and compliant selling

  Review the end-to-end field sales process: pre-call planning, objection handling, closing next steps, follow-up, and use of both in-person and virtual engagement. Also study compliance basics such as off-label restrictions, fair balance, adverse event reporting, and appropriate promotional conduct, since specialty rep interviews often test professionalism and judgment.

• Amgen company strategy, therapeutic areas, and culture

  Learn Amgen’s mission, major therapeutic focus areas, and how the company frames innovation, patient impact, and performance. You should also review Amgen’s core competencies listed in the posting—Planning and Organizing, Leveraging Business/Industry/Technical Knowledge, Communicating with Impact, Driving for Results, and Cultivating Relationships—because interview questions are likely to map directly to them.

• Territory management and sales planning for field execution

  Prepare to discuss how you would build a territory plan, segment accounts, prioritize high-opportunity offices, and track call objectives and follow-up activity. The role is field-based and revenue-oriented, so interviewers will want evidence that you can manage a territory like a business and deliver results consistently.

• Behavioral interview stories for healthcare and relationship selling

  Develop STAR-format examples that show resilience, influencing skills, cross-functional collaboration, problem solving, and achievement against quota or goals. This role emphasizes driving for results and cultivating relationships, so strong stories about handling objections, winning new business, and working through access issues will be especially important.