QuintilesIMS, now known as IQVIA, operates at the intersection of advanced analytics, technology solutions, and clinical research services within the life sciences industry. The company is committed to leveraging data science to drive healthcare innovation and improve patient outcomes globally.

A Data Analyst at IQVIA plays a critical role, focusing on data de-identification, advanced analytics, and managing data workflows to support healthcare research and development. This position requires strong technical skills in SQL, Python, and statistical analysis, along with effective communication and problem-solving abilities.

If you're ready to make a significant impact in healthcare and thrive in a dynamic environment, this guide will walk you through the interview process, common questions, and valuable tips to succeed. Let's get started!

Submitting Your Application

The first step is to submit a compelling application that reflects your technical skills and interest in joining Quintilesims as a data analyst. Whether you were contacted by a Quintilesims recruiter or have taken the initiative yourself, carefully review the job description and tailor your CV according to the prerequisites.

Tailoring your CV may include identifying specific keywords that the hiring manager might use to filter resumes and crafting a targeted cover letter. Furthermore, don’t forget to highlight relevant skills and mention your work experiences.

Recruiter/Hiring Manager Call Screening

If your CV happens to be among the shortlisted few, a recruiter from the Quintilesims Talent Acquisition Team will make contact and verify key details like your experiences and skill level. Behavioral questions may also be a part of the screening process.

In some cases, the Quintilesims data analyst hiring manager stays present during the screening round to answer your queries about the role and the company itself. They may also indulge in surface-level technical and behavioral discussions.

The whole recruiter call should take about 30 minutes.

Technical Virtual Interview

Successfully navigating the recruiter round will present you with an invitation for the technical screening round. Technical screening for the Quintilesims data analyst role usually is conducted through virtual means, including video conference and screen sharing. Questions in this 1-hour long interview stage may revolve around Quintilesims’ data systems, ETL pipelines, and SQL queries.

In the case of data analyst roles, take-home assignments regarding product metrics, analytics, and data visualization are incorporated. Apart from these, your proficiency against hypothesis testing, probability distributions, and machine learning fundamentals may also be assessed during the round.

Depending on the seniority of the position, case studies and similar real-scenario problems may also be assigned.

Onsite Interview Rounds

Followed by a second recruiter call outlining the next stage, you’ll be invited to attend the onsite interview loop. Multiple interview rounds, varying with the role, will be conducted during your day at the Quintilesims office. Your technical prowess, including programming and ML modeling capabilities, will be evaluated against the finalized candidates throughout these interviews.

If you were assigned take-home exercises, a presentation round may also await you during the onsite interview for the data analyst role at Quintilesims.

Quick Tips For Quintilesims Data Analyst Interviews

You should plan to brush up on any technical skills and try as many practice interview questions and mock interviews as possible. A few tips for acing your Quintilesims interview include:

• Understand Healthcare Context: Quintilesims deals heavily with healthcare data analytics. Familiarize yourself with basic healthcare concepts, epidemiology, and clinical trials processes.
• Sharpen SQL & Data Analysis Skills: The technical interview stages will assess your proficiency in SQL and data analytics. Practice using data sets to derive meaningful insights and clinical data trends.
• Prepare Behavioral Answers: Quintilesims values how well you can fit into their collaborative environment. Practice behavioral questions, especially those involving conflict resolution, team collaboration, and project challenges.

Typically, interviews at IQVIA vary by role and team, but commonly Data Analyst interviews follow a fairly standardized process across these question topics.

• Why are job applications decreasing despite stable job postings? You observe that the number of job postings per day has remained stable, but the number of applicants has been decreasing. What could be the reasons for this trend?

• What would you do if friend requests on Facebook are down 10%? A product manager at Facebook informs you that friend requests have decreased by 10%. How would you approach this issue?

• How would you assess the validity of a .04 p-value in an AB test? Your company is running an AB test to increase conversion rates on a landing page. The PM finds a p-value of .04. How would you evaluate the validity of this result?

• How would you analyze the performance of a new LinkedIn feature without an AB test? LinkedIn launched a feature allowing candidates to message hiring managers directly during the interview process. Due to engineering constraints, an AB test wasn't possible. How would you analyze the feature's performance?

• Should Square hire a customer success manager or offer a free trial for a new product? Square's CEO wants to hire a customer success manager for a new software product, while another executive suggests offering a free trial instead. What would be your recommendation?

• Develop a function str_map to determine if a one-to-one correspondence exists between characters of two strings at the same positions. Given two strings, string1, and string2, write a function str_map to determine if there exists a one-to-one correspondence (bijection) between the characters of string1 and string2.

• Build a logistic regression model from scratch using gradient descent and log-likelihood as the loss function. Create a logistic regression model from scratch without an intercept term. Use basic gradient descent (with Newton's method) for optimization and the log-likelihood as the loss function. Do not include a penalty term. You may use numpy and pandas but not scikit-learn. Return the parameters of the regression.

• How would you build a fraud detection model using a dataset of 600,000 credit card transactions? Imagine you work at a major credit card company and are given a dataset of 600,000 credit card transactions. Describe your approach to building a fraud detection model.

• How would you interpret coefficients of logistic regression for categorical and boolean variables? Explain how to interpret the coefficients of logistic regression when dealing with categorical and boolean variables.

• How would you tackle multicollinearity in multiple linear regression? Describe the methods you would use to address multicollinearity in a multiple linear regression model.

• How would you design a facial recognition system for employee clock-in and secure access? You work as an ML engineer for a large company that wants to implement a facial recognition system for employee clock-in, clock-out, and access to secure systems, including temporary contract consultants. How would you design this system?

• How would you handle data preparation for building a machine learning model using imbalanced data? Explain the steps you would take to prepare data for building a machine learning model when dealing with imbalanced data.

• How would you interpret coefficients of logistic regression for categorical and boolean variables? Explain how to interpret the coefficients of logistic regression when dealing with categorical and boolean variables.

• How would you design a machine learning model to classify major health issues based on health features? You work as a machine learning engineer for a health insurance company. Design a model that classifies if an individual will undergo major health issues based on a set of health features.

• What metrics and statistical methods would you use to identify dishonest users in a sports tracking app? You work for a company with a sports app that tracks running, jogging, and cycling data. Formulate a method to identify users who might be cheating, such as driving a car while claiming to be on a bike ride. Specify the metrics and statistical methods you would analyze.

What is the average salary for a Data Analyst at Quintilesims?

Q: What is the interview process like at QuintilesIMS for a Data Analyst position? The interview process typically involves three stages: an initial HR call for behavioral questions, a technical round focusing on SQL, Python, and Machine Learning concepts, and a final stage which may include case studies and a presentation. Overall, the process is thorough and aims to assess both technical skills and cultural fit.

Q: What technical skills are required for the Data Analyst position at QuintilesIMS? You should have strong skills in SQL, Python, and Machine Learning. Experience with Linux environments, Bash scripting, and MySQL is also beneficial. Understanding of linear and logistic regression, as well as the ability to troubleshoot and automate tasks, will bolster your application.

Q: How should I prepare for the interview at QuintilesIMS? Research the company and their work in the healthcare analytics space. Practice common technical questions related to SQL, Python, and case studies by using resources like Interview Query. Be prepared to discuss your past experiences, technical projects, and how you manage conflicts within a team.

Q: What is expected from a Data Analyst at QuintilesIMS? You will monitor data pipelines, perform technical support, document processes, and contribute to onboarding new data feeds. In addition, you must ensure compliance with data security and privacy regulations and be comfortable working in diverse team environments.

Q: What makes working at QuintilesIMS appealing? QuintilesIMS is at the forefront of healthcare innovation. Working here gives you a chance to contribute to significant advancements in healthcare by leveraging big data and artificial intelligence. The company offers a collaborative work environment and the opportunity to work on projects that have a meaningful impact on global health.

If you're eager to dive into a dynamic role where your data skills can directly contribute to advancements in healthcare, the Data Analyst position at QuintilesIMS might be the perfect fit for you. The interview process, though rigorous, showcases their commitment to finding top-notch talent. From SQL and Python questions to complex case studies, preparing thoroughly can make a significant difference. To better equip yourself, explore our comprehensive IQVIA Interview Guide on Interview Query. Our guide is packed with insights and practice questions to help you excel. At Interview Query, we provide an extensive toolkit designed to enhance your interview performance across various roles and companies. Delve into our resources, and get ready to shine in your Data Analyst interview at IQVIA. Good luck with your interview!