Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Mock Interview
Master 26 LLNL interview questions covering security clearances, technical expertise, and mission-driven research.
Question 1 of 26
At Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory we seek to hire those who think outside the box. When was the last time you made a suggestion for workplace improvement? What was the outcome?
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Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
The interviewer would like to know if you are an engaged employee; offering suggestions and providing more profound thought when it comes to processing improvement in the workplace. Give an example of a time when you suggested an improvement in the workplace. It can be big or small! Did anything significant come out of your suggestion?
Ryan Brunner has over ten years of experience recruiting, interviewing, and hiring candidates in the healthcare, public service, and private manufacturing/distribution industries.
"Last year I made a recommendation for our office to incorporate a recycling program. We were going through a lot of single-use coffee pods. It bothered me how wasteful it all seemed. I presented a spreadsheet to my supervisor comparing the single-use pods vs. investing in a built-in coffee machine. The savings over two years were significant, and my boss has now presented my idea to our head office. It feels nice to be heard in the workplace, so I continue to keep my eyes out for opportunities for process improvements."
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A few months into working at my current lab, I realized there was a lot of inconsistency in the way people were using the analytical equipment. As I was learning how to use instruments, some people would say certain steps were optional, others would say they were mandatory. More seriously, as lab members graduated, they sometimes took with them the only knowledge of how to operate an instrument. I took the initiative to survey the entire lab for what instruments they were comfortable operating and had them fill out a template for instrument Standard Operating Procedures that I drafted. I managed the drafting of the SOPs by their primary users, editing of the documents by other primary users, and their approval by senior lab members. Now, we have a centralized location on DropBox where the authoritative SOPs for all of the laboratory equipment live, and new lab hires as well as people learning new instruments have a concise sheet to reference to ensure instruments are being used properly.
Stephanie's Feedback
Wow! This is a really wonderful example. You clearly articulate how you identified an area for improvement and the steps you took to implement a new plan that will improve the lab operations going forward. This is a very strong, well-balanced response.
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