It started with an initial HR conversation checking for my knowledge, experience, motivation and languages. After that, there was a follow up call with the hiring manager pending the same questions. After this there was an on site day to read through medical papers and make a presentation for Abbvie (in 1 hour)

A former colleague of mine who works for Abbvie sent my CV to the hiring manager for a position that fit my skillset and therapeutic expertise area. The same day the hiring manager reached out to me saying how excited they were to receive my CV and how hard it was to find someone with my experience in this particular therapeutic area. They set up a phone interview for a few days later. And then contacted my current employer and previous employer the same day they talked to me, without letting me know. While my current employer knew I was thinking about looking for a new position, they were out of town on vacation and I didn't have a chance to talk to them about this opportunity. So by the time my employer got back in town, they already had all these ideas in their head that I had gone behind their back and lied to them about my intentions when I told them a few days earlier I was going to start looking. They assumed if someone was already asking for references that it was late in the process and had been in the works for weeks. I tried to explain what actually happened, but was irritated that my employer was contacted without my permission or even letting me know in advance. I did go for in person interview. It went really well. Everyone basically acted like I was already part of the team. We discussed salary and start date. And again I was told how impressed that were with my CV and experience. And how hard it is to hard find someone with experience in that specific therapeutic area. I was told I would be contacted by the end of the week with a final decision, as they were debriefing that afternoon. The end of the week came and went with no update. The following Tuesday I reached back out and was told by hiring manager that they were traveling and would be in touch the next day. I didn't hear anything the next day either. Finally, the following day, they reached out to me to tell me they had decided to go with an internal candidate instead. No idea what changed in those last few days... The former colleague who originally recommended me told me if they had known I was up against an internal candidate, they would have told me don't even bother, because the internal candidate pretty much always gets the spot. They just have to interview outside candidates as well due to corporate policy. I thought it was extremely unprofessional how I was treated and strung along when I apparently never had a chance. Also... they helped to burn bridges at my current employer by contacting them without my permission when they were never really planning on hiring me. Additionally, I was never refunded for the uber fees I had to pay to get to the interview. If you are interested in working for Abbvie, I'd be sure to ask if they are interviewing internal candidates for the position before wasting your time.