David Marchman

Director, Recruiting

This blog is focused on a pivotal stage of the interview journey with Formation Bio. At Formation Bio we are focused on hiring and retaining a team with diverse perspectives and backgrounds, in order to learn from and challenge each other. And to support that effort, we have implemented the Formation Values Interview (FVI). This article is designed to help you grasp the essence of the FVI and provide guidance on how you can prepare.


The FVI is a distinctive component of the hiring process at Formation Bio. It evaluates candidates' alignment with our

. This interview shifts the focus from the role-specific interview topics to your approach to problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and decision-making. The FVI is an important part of our comprehensive hiring process, giving us a unique opportunity to see how well you align with our team and working environment.

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Why is this interview important to Formation Bio?

At Formation Bio, our progress is driven by a team that upholds our shared values and helps jointly build our culture. The FVI ensures that as our business evolves, we maintain a work environment where diverse viewpoints are embraced and every individual has the opportunity to excel. Your performance in this interview offers insights into your potential contributions to our inclusive culture.

Who conducts the Formation Values Interview?

This interview is conducted by Formation Bio employees who are specifically trained for these interviews. Your interviewer may be from a department different from the one you are applying to. This cross-departmental approach is integral to our culture at Formation Bio, as it reflects our commitment to cross-functional collaboration and a holistic appreciation of our company ethos.

Preparing for the Interview: Tips for Success

 that are central to Formation Bio. Reflect on how these align with your own principles and experiences.

: Think about instances where you have demonstrated these values in your professional life. Be prepared to share these stories in a structured way, highlighting your role and the outcomes.

Experience in Giving and Receiving Feedback:

 Be prepared to discuss specific instances where you have effectively given and received feedback. Highlight your approach to constructive criticism, how you incorporate feedback into your work, and its impact on your professional development.

 Formation Bio’s employee population is made up of people from a wide array of personal, professional, and geographic backgrounds, and inclusivity is key to how we work together. Consider how you have contributed to creating inclusive work environments in the past and be prepared to discuss these experiences.

 Be prepared to discuss how you approach problem-solving and decision-making, particularly in challenging or unfamiliar situations and with colleagues who may have differing opinions than you.

 Reflect on your communication style and ability to work in teams.

 The FVI is also an opportunity for you to understand our culture better. Feel free to ask questions about our values, team dynamics, and how we put our principles into practice.

The Formation Values Interview (FVI) is a distinctive component of the hiring process at Formation Bio, focused on evaluating candidates' alignment with our

Navigating the Formation Values Interview

 is to bring new treatments to patients faster and more efficiently. From a hiring perspective, that means we’re always looking for great people who can help us achieve that and we always want to set clear expectations upfront.

Mission and Purpose at Formation Bio

We agree that New York City’s pay transparency law creates a more efficient and transparent hiring process. It also helps us achieve fair, equitable, competitive compensation for all (in and out of Formation Bio).

We believe in focusing on hiring and retaining a diverse team. All of our job postings will be crystal-clear about compensation ranges candidates can expect. You will never see an unrealistic compensation range on our site to fulfill the requirements.

Why Do Companies Need Pay Transparency Rules

Pay Transparency laws are intended to add clarity for both candidates and employees on company compensation, while also addressing and hopefully decreasing historical pay gaps among the NYC workforce.

As of November 1, 2022, NYC Local Law 32 requires employers hiring in New York City to disclose the good faith minimum and maximum annual base salary or hourly wage for a job, promotion, or transfer opportunity they have established in any advertisement for the position.

This law covers all employers with four or more employees, provided at least one of those employees works in New York City, and applies to any advertisement for a job that can or will be performed in New York City.

New York City isn’t the first to enact a salary transparency law. Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, Rhode Island, Washington, and California, all have similar legislation pending elsewhere.

You should expect to see more and more transparency about compensation as more states start adopting these laws.

Some Formation Bio roles are hybrid positions, while others are fully remote. Having some employees based in other states has raised the question of how location may come into play when determining compensation.

We’ve decided to anchor all pay to New York City even for remote roles, no matter where you live. That means you can accept a remote position and get paid the same as the other people doing the same work somewhere else, and your salary won’t be changed or calibrated if you move.

So as you review open Formation Bio jobs in the U.S., no matter where you are — you won’t have a different range whether you live in NYC or Ohio. This is not required by law but something we believe will continue to foster inclusivity and transparency.

In order to craft a compelling offer, we think about compensation holistically to include salary, equity, benefits and perks. Our current benefits offerings at Formation Bio include access to health, vision, and dental insurance, a healthcare and dependent care FSA, pre-tax commuter benefits, access to a 401k plan, short- and long-term disability and life insurance. Every year we evaluate the cost of these benefits and do what we can to bring down the portion that employees are responsible for.


We also offer flexibility in where our employees choose to work from, with remote, hybrid and in-person options. All Formies receive reimbursement for their at-home office set-up in their first paycheck. We have a flexible PTO policy, generous parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents, and career development resources for Formies at any stage in their professional journey. This includes in-house training, access to external resources, and a self-driven learning & development stipend that renews annually. We have built a culture that is supportive, collaborative, and focused on growth that we’d love for you to be a part of.


Learn more about benefits and working at Formation Bio on our

You don’t have to be based in NYC. Unless specified otherwise in the job description, you don’t have to be based in NYC just because your pay will now be anchored to this market.

We won’t base our offer on your current/past salary. We pay based on job function and level — not pay history. When extending an offer within the posted pay range, we’ll consider your experience level and skill set, among other objective factors.

Compensation will remain competitive. We weigh market and data-driven salary sources to identify the target average for the positions we seek to fill. Then, we arrive at a salary range that we believe is fair and competitive.

Sustaining an Equitable Approach to Compensation

Publishing salary bands is a good step forward, but on its own, it is not enough to foster systemic change and achieve true pay equity.

Here’s what else we’re doing to sustain an equitable approach to compensation at Formation Bio:

Continuing to conduct clear review processes for performance, promotion, and compensation, with objective criteria for promotions

Reviewing compensation for all employees twice per year and before finalizing salary increases, conducting demographic pay analyses to spot and correct potential pay gaps

Sharing compensation ranges with all existing employees for their role during our twice-per-year compensation review cycles

Offering compensation fluency education and training on our approach & philosophy

So… What Will My Compensation Look Like?

Go find out! Check out our current job postings 

 to review open jobs and their salary ranges.

And if any ranges don’t match your expectations, please apply anyway– we may be able to find another position for you.

We disclose salary ranges for all open roles at Formation Bio. Learn more about our compensation philosophy.

Articles by David Marchman

Navigating the Formation Values Interview

Pay Transparency at Formation Bio