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2027 Operations Development Program Intern (Undergraduate)

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Administrative

Posted Aug 3, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You may be asked to support process improvements. Walk me through a process you improved, even a small one.

What they are checking: Concrete improvement experience at any scale.

How do you get up to speed on an operation you have never seen in the first two weeks?

What they are checking: Learning approach, which decides whether a short internship produces anything.

Tell me about a time you worked with people much more experienced than you. What did you do to be useful?

What they are checking: Contributing without either overstepping or waiting to be told.

What technical or leadership skill do you most want to build this summer?

What they are checking: A specific development goal, which the posting frames the program around.

This is a 2027 summer program for undergraduates in North Chicago, posted well ahead of the summer alongside AbbVie's other early recruiting. Why operations rather than another function?

What they are checking: That they chose the function deliberately rather than applying broadly.

What would you do

You would analyze data and prepare project updates. How do you present a finding to people who know the process far better than you?

What they are checking: Communicating as the least experienced person in the room.

Eleven weeks is short. How would you scope a project so it finishes?

What they are checking: Realistic scoping, the single biggest cause of wasted internships.

What would you want to leave behind when the eleven weeks end?

What they are checking: Thinking about handover, which distinguishes a serious intern.

About the work

This is an eleven-week operations internship. What do you understand about what operations means at a pharmaceutical company?

What they are checking: Whether they know it covers manufacturing, supply chain, quality and engineering.

Pharmaceutical operations are heavily regulated. How would that change how you approach a process change?

What they are checking: Awareness that you cannot simply change a validated process.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at AbbVie from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Spend your summer working with energetic colleagues and inspirational leaders while gaining world-class experience in one of the most dynamic organizations in the pharmaceutical industry. This is the experience participants can expect in the Operations Development Program Internship at AbbVie. This internship is designed for students who want to build technical, operational, and leadership skills while contributing to meaningful projects across AbbVie Operations. Interns gain exposure to real business challenges, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and learn how Operations supports AbbVie’s mission to deliver innovative solutions for patients. Operations Development Program Internship: As an AbbVie Operations Development Program Intern, you will participate in a paid, 11-week summer program working on meaningful assignments that have a real impact on our business and patients worldwide. AbbVie’s global Operations organization offers opportunities to work in a variety of functional areas, with assignments aligned to business needs, your field of study, and your skills. During the internship, participants may be responsible for analyzing data, supporting process improvements, preparing project updates, collaborating with site and functional teams, and presenting recommendations to business stakeholders. Assignments are designed to help interns strengthen technical problem-solving, communication, and project execution skills in a professional Operations environment. Past examples of projects have included: • Product and process optimization in a manufacturing facility • Quality systems data analysis to identify compliance trends • Optimize an enzyme to catalyze a challenging step in the synthesis of a recently approved product AbbVie’s worldwide business offers you an opportunity for a variety of potential work experiences that are aligned to a variety of functional areas, including those listed below. Interns will be placed in assignments based on business needs and skill set. • Manufacturing, Engineering & Contract • Quality • Product Development, Science & Technology Locations: Operations Development Program Interns will be placed in one of the following U.S. locations based on business needs, academic background, and skill set. • Branchburg, New Jersey • Irvine, California • Lake County, Illinois • Waco, Texas • Worcester, Massachusetts AbbVie strongly considers high-performing interns as candidates for the Operations Development Program after graduation. AbbVie’s ODP is a three-year rotational program with three separate work assignments across a variety of functional areas within Operations. The program is designed to develop AbbVie’s future leaders by providing broad business exposure, global perspective, and opportunities for skill-building and professional development. Minimum Qualifications: • Must be currently enrolled in university, pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, chemistry, or related major discipline • Must be enrolled in a university for the semester following the internship and be expected to graduate within one year after completing the internship • Expected graduation date between December 2027 – June 2028 • Demonstrated leadership skills (i.e., extracurricular activities or projects) • Demonstrated critical thinking skills, including the ability to analyze information, evaluate alternatives, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, team-based environment • Mobility is a key requirement because this internship serves as a pipeline to AbbVie’s Operations Development Program. ODP members are expected to complete at least one assignment at a U.S. Operations plant and rotate to different sites based on business needs. • Must be authorized to work in the United States without requiring sponsorship now or in the future. Preferred Qualifications: • Excellent problem-solving, written, and verbal skills • Exceptional interpersonal, leadership, and project management skills • Proven track record of teamwork, adaptability, innovation, initiative, and integrity Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​ • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​ • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​ • This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. ​ Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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