Talk about a challenge that you faced in a previous position and how you overcame that challenge.

"In a previous role, I was working with several clients at the same time. I had one client in particular who would often ask for last-minute testing to be rushed. I would do all that I could to get the testing accomplished in the small window of time that he was giving. At one point, this client's rush tests were starting to result in a delay for other clients' tests. I spoke to the client and explained that there are many testing requests each day. I told him that I completely understood that his testing was important, but other clients also had very important tests to run, and I needed to be fair to them. The client and I agreed that asking for less than a 24-hour turnaround on testing for his company was not always reasonable and that, to provide quality and timely results, we would ask that only emergency testing be given a rush request."

The scientific industry can be very challenging. It is fast-paced and constantly changing. The interviewer wants to hear that you can handle a challenge professionally. Provide an example of a time you faced a challenge, such as meeting a deadline, quickly changing priorities, or a challenging client that you were working with. Describe the steps that you took to overcome that particular challenge.

What do you consider to be your greatest strength?

"My greatest strength is my ability to keep a positive mindset while working under pressure. At times, biochemistry can be challenging but I thrive under pressure and that is when I do my best work. I keep a positive outlook instead of getting frustrated because I feel that allowing stress to get to me can cause my work to suffer. I try to keep a positive mindset and focus on the goal that I am working towards."

The interviewer wants to hear you describe traits and skills that relate directly to the position that you have applied for. You should connect your greatest strength to the position that you are interviewing for so that the interviewer can see that you would make a great addition to their company.

In your opinion, what is your greatest weakness?

"My greatest weakness is that I am too critical of myself. At times I look back at a project that I completed and think about how I could have done something differently or better. I have a hard time not looking for ways that I could improve my work even when it was completed well."

The interviewer wants to see that you recognize that there are skills you could improve and that you are willing to learn and grow. Identify a skill that you could improve and relate that to the position that you are applying to while showing that this weakness would not interfere with your ability to be successful in the position.

What makes you the ideal biochemistry technician for our company?

"I believe that I am the ideal biochemistry technician for your company because I am very passionate about the field and I have the ability to make an impact on the world through medication experiments. I am especially excited about the opportunity to work on the chemical studies of existing medications for children. Often, there are many recalls in children's medications. I would be determined to work on improving medications before they are available in the community so that there were fewer negative consequences, resulting in recalls. I am very determined to reach my career goals, and I am looking for a company where I can use my skillset and continue to grow over time."

The interviewer is looking for you to discuss what sets you apart from other candidates. You should speak to what you hope to contribute to the company through your work. Talk about how your qualities can benefit the company. If you are looking for longevity with the company, this is a great time to express that as well.

Do you anticipate having any challenges meeting the requirements of this position?

"After hearing about the expectations of the role and researching the company's website, I feel that I am fully qualified for the position and have the ability to meet the expectations of the role. I do not anticipate having any challenges."

The interviewer wants to know if there are any parts of the position that you may have trouble with. Review the job posting in detail before the interview. Visit the company website before interviewing to be sure that you can ask any questions that you may have. Most importantly, ask the interviewer questions and specifics of the position. Once you feel educated about the role, take a minute to think about any aspects of the position that may be challenging for you or if there is any piece of the role that you are not sure you qualify for. If after hearing about the position, you feel confident in meeting the expectations of the role, reassure the interviewer of that at this time.

Where do you see yourself in your career in five years?

"Within the next five years, I hope to be in a leadership role in a biochemistry department so that I can pass down my expertise to newer scientists. I have learned so much from senior-level employees throughout my career and I want to be a resource and mentor for scientists that are working to grow their skillset."

The interviewer would like you to describe your short-term and long-term goals here. The scientific field is very competitive, and employers are looking for candidates that show an interest in longevity with the company. If you have goals of moving into a higher-level position, this is when you should elaborate on that. If you are interested in being part of a specific research or experimental project, you could mention that here as well. Avoid giving brief answers, such as 'I am looking to grow within a company.' Go into detail about the goals that you have and why they are your goals.

What do you look for in a company culture when interviewing for a new position?

"I prefer a company culture that focuses on work-life balance. I believe that everyone, including myself, can best complete their work tasks when they are taking care of themselves outside of work. While my work is very important to me, it is also important that I can attend required appointments and take time to travel and spend free time with my family and friends. It is very important to me that employers prioritize a work-life balance for their employees."

Company culture has to do with behaviors within an organization. Company culture is a reflection of that company's values, purpose, communication standards, and the way that they work together and in the community. Company culture is also what the company expects of its employees and what the employees can expect from the company. The interviewer wants to know what you value in an organization. They want to hear not only what would initially draw your interest in a company, but what would ultimately make you want to continue working for that employer. Maybe you want to work for a company that is transparent and gives frequent updates on financial information. Maybe you wish to work for an employer that is very flexible and allows its workforce to complete some of their tasks from home.

What keeps you motivated in your everyday work life?

"What motivates me is my passion for helping others through science each day. I am very results-oriented so it is amazing to see products that I've tested go into the market to help the community."

The interviewer is interested in what gets you excited each day - what keeps you working towards your goals and motivates you to continue growing and moving forward in your career. Talk about what keeps you coming back to work each day. Maybe there is someone that you look up to that motivates you to do well. Maybe there is a certain goal that you are trying to reach that keeps you pushing forward each day. Avoid saying things like 'getting my paycheck motivates me.' The interviewer wants to hear about something that you are passionate about that keeps you from giving up at work.

In your opinion, why is laboratory safety and following standard laboratory practices so important?

"I have learned a lot about laboratory safety and standard lab practices throughout my career as well as in college. I know that lab safety is important because making the smallest mistake can result in an injury or a chemical hazard. I have always worn proper personal protective equipment and followed proper disposal rules for chemicals. I know that not following standard lab practices can result in having to complete rework and it can invalidate testing. I always make safety a top priority and follow standard lab practices to the best of my ability."

The interviewer wants to know that you understand laboratory rules and the importance of safety while working in a laboratory. Think back to the safety training that you have completed as part of earning your degree, as well as any knowledge of standard laboratory safety that you have obtained through on-the-job experience. Talk about why safety is of such importance in the lab and why it is important to follow lab rules and procedures.

What initially made you apply to a role with our company?

"I heard about the opening through a former schoolmate who currently works for your company. He has had nothing but positive comments about the company culture and the transparency from upper management. I am extremely impressed with the company values and mission statement and it seems to align well with my goals and values."

The interviewer wants to hear about how you heard of the company, and they want to see that you took the time to research their organization. Tell the interviewer what caught your attention when visiting the company website. Maybe you have a friend that works for the company; explain what that friend told you that made you want to work there. If you have heard great things about the culture of the organization or are interested in a specific research program or possible growth opportunities with the company, this would be a great time to bring it up. You'll want to demonstrate that you took the time to look into the company before interviewing by giving specific examples of things that piqued your interest while doing research.

Do you feel that you are detail oriented? If so, how?

"I do feel that I am very detail-oriented. I am very critical of my work and review any testing that I have done more than once before sending it along to be validated. There are also times that I am reviewing data if I have a light workload and I will go over the data more than once to be sure that I am not missing any errors. I have a very low error rate due to my detail-oriented approach."

Scientific roles require a great deal of attention to detail. The interviewer wants to hear that you pay attention to the smallest of details and that you are able to catch errors. Provide the interviewer with an example of how you pay attention to the details in your work.

What do you believe is your greatest asset as a biochemistry technician?

"I have had the ability to work with and learn from some very talented scientists throughout my career. I believe that I have a lot of scientific knowledge that cannot be obtained in a classroom from working with these experienced biochemistry scientists and I would like to pass that experience on to my teammates."

The interviewer wants to hear how you can be a resource in this biochemistry technician role. Describe what you learned from previous jobs, from schooling, and outside of work that may benefit you and the company if you were to be offered the role that you are interviewing for.

What interests you in a career as a biochemistry technician?

"I have always enjoyed science but I became truly interested in biochemistry because it is such a rewarding career. Many patients currently rely on medications and vaccinations to be produced in a chemistry lab. There are so many opportunities to make a difference in the lives of people through biochemistry, which makes me so excited to continue along this career path and to play a part in a company making a positive impact on the world."

The interviewer is looking for you to explain what influenced you to pursue a career in chemistry. Provide details about how and why you began working in the scientific field and why you ultimately decided on the path of chemistry. The interviewer is looking for you to display a genuine passion for science and provide details about why chemistry is important to you personally. Avoid giving short cliche answers like "I have always enjoyed science." This is your chance to show the interviewer that you are truly interested in the chemical technician position and get them excited about your candidacy.

What do you believe is the most important piece of a biochemistry technician's role?

"I believe that the most important piece of the role is the data review. While it is not my favorite part of the job, without the data being reviewed and validated, the testing is not valid or useful to the client."

The interviewer is asking this question to determine what piece of the role you believe is most impactful. This helps the interviewer to get an idea of what part of the role you will mostly focus on and what you find to be important about your work. Provide the interviewer with an explanation of what piece of the role you feel is the most important and what your reasoning is for believing in why that specific part of the position is so important.

Please provide us with your background in the scientific industry?

"In 2011, I graduated from Temple University with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. My first position was at Bellva Laboratories as an associate scientist where I was responsible for basic prep work for the senior scientists. After a year, I was promoted into a scientist I role where I was able to be more involved in scientific experiments and work independently. The majority of the work that I did in this role was for the development of pharmaceutical drugs. I accepted a position at Verma Labs in 2018 as a biochemistry technician and I am currently working in that role. I am responsible for the trailing of pharmaceutical drugs and mainly the side effects that are experienced. While I enjoy my role very much, I am very interested in working in biochemistry for children's medications which we do not work on at the company that I am currently with."

The interviewer is looking to hear about your scientific education as well as any professional work experience relating to the scientific field. Provide the interviewer with a summary of your prior work experience and your educational history along with any degrees that you have obtained.

What do you enjoy most about your current/most recent position?

"What I enjoy most about my current role is the non-routine client testing requests. I enjoy these requests because I am generally able to learn something from each of them because no two are the same. I really enjoy any time that I am able to be challenged and learn from my work experiences."

When answering a question about what you enjoyed most about a previous position, include positive experiences that can be transferable to the employer that you are interviewing for, such as learning new career-specific skills or career-specific training.

What has been your greatest accomplishment in you career as a biochemistry technician thus far?

"There are many pieces of my work that have been meaningful to me. I would say that working on a medication experimental study for a medicine that would relieve asthma symptoms in children was the most important piece of my work. I know how hard childhood asthma can be and how important it is to have immediate relief for a child during an asthma attack. This particular project did end in the medication being approved and it has been very successful for children, which is exciting to see."

The interviewer is asking this question because they want to hear about the types of work that make you proud. The interviewer is looking to hear that you have felt fulfilled and successful through your work. Talk about a project that you are particularly proud to have been a part of and why that specific project was so important to you. The interviewer wants to hear passion from you when you are talking about this career accomplishment.

If I called your current/most recent supervisor and asked what area your performance could most improve in, what would they say?

"If you were to contact my supervisor, I believe that she would say that I can most improve on my communication during team meetings. Many times in our biweekly team meetings, I am taking notes and trying to absorb what my teammates are saying and I tend to be a bit quiet. I know that I have a lot to offer with my experience and that if I actively work to speak up in these meetings, it is not only helping my peers to learn but it is also helping me in establishing leadership skills."

The interviewer is looking for you to be honest about the areas in which you can improve. Identify an improvement that you could make that would assist you in performing the functions of your position. This improvement can be something that was pointed out to you during a performance evaluation, in a one-on-one meeting or even something that you have noticed about yourself that could be improved upon.

What do you do to stay up to date with the continuous changes in technology?

"To stay updated and informed with any changes in scientific technology, I hold memberships to several scientific forums. I am also a member of a few groups on LinkedIn that host webinars on scientific technology. Additionally, the university that I graduated from holds two seminars a year where upcoming scientific technology advances are reviewed in detail."

The interviewer wants to hear that you are familiar with how and where to find the necessary resources to stay informed with the changes and updates in scientific technology. Provide the interviewer with any resources that you utilize to keep informed with changes in technology.

What do you feel is the most important skill a biochemistry technician should possess and why?

"In my opinion, the most important skill for a biochemistry technician to have is the ability to multitask. While you will have a pretty regular workload with routine testing, it is not unusual to have a curveball thrown at you with a rush testing request. I often need to multitask in my role to accommodate client needs and to complete all of my work in a timely manner."

The interviewer is looking to determine what skill you feel is the most important in the biochemistry technician role. Think about what skills you possess that make you great at your job. Describe to the interviewer which skill is the most important in your role and provide some reasoning as to why you feel that this skill is so important.

Please describe your ideal supervisor?

"I feel that I work best under a leader who has open communication and provides me with ongoing feedback. I feel that it is important for me to be able to trust my supervisor to talk any concerns over with me in order to have a successful working relationship."

The interviewer is asking this question to determine which type of leader you thrive under and what type of leader you may struggle with. This is about the supervisor that you worked best with and why you work so well with that individual. Talk about the traits that you are looking for in a leader.

What makes you look for a position outside of the company that you are working for?

"I am seeking a role outside of the company that I am currently working for because my role has become very routine and repetitive. I am looking for something more challenging where I can continue to grow my skillset. It seems that your company works on challenging projects and there is a career progression plan for employees. I feel that your company would be a great fit for me."

The interviewer is looking for you to provide an explanation of why you are currently seeking a new position and what makes you want to leave the company that you are currently working for. Talk about your reasoning for looking for a new role.

Tell us about a time when you demonstrated leadership skills?

"A few months ago, the company that I work for signed on a new client who required testing be run through a certain software program. The program was something that my team had not used before. I was all caught up on my work so I decided to do a few trial runs on the software. I was able to show others on my team how to utilize the software program and took lead on the first project for that client."

The interviewer is asking this question to evaluate if you can take charge and lead if necessary. Think about a time you took charge during a group project or in a previous position and how your skills can transfer into this role.

How do you best learn the tasks of a new position?

"I best learn the tasks of a new position by being hands-on. Once I complete a task that is hands-on, I am able to recall the steps of that task in the future. I usually will take some notes along the way to reflect back on what I've learned if needed."

To answer this question, describe how you best learn the responsibilities of a new position so that your interviewer knows what training techniques will work best during your orientation period. Think back to when you were in school, and talk about how you learned best in your classes. Think about when you began working in your prior positions and how you learned new tasks and duties. Maybe you learn best by reading or watching training videos. Maybe you learn best by listening to lectures and taking notes. Maybe you are more hands-on and learn best by observing a demonstration of a task and then trying to complete it yourself. Whichever way of learning works best for you, now is the time to discuss it.

When working with a group, what role do you typically take on?

"When working on a group project, I typically take on a leadership role. I think that I do a good job of determining the strengths of each group member and delegating tasks based on their specific skillsets. I don't mind holding myself and others accountable for each of our pieces of an assignment, and I find it very rewarding to lead a project that results in success."

The interviewer typically asks this question to determine what type of personality you have and what you are most comfortable with when it comes to teamwork. You may be comfortable taking notes that can be referred back to. Maybe you are most comfortable facilitating the discussions within the group and making sure that everyone stays on topic and that things proceed with ease. Maybe you prefer working in a leadership role in group work because you do a great job of delegating tasks and ensuring that everything comes together smoothly.

How do you go about working with an already established team when you begin a new position?

"When I begin working with a new team, I try to communicate openly with my new teammates and learn from them as much as I can. I keep in mind that they may perform work tasks differently than I was taught and that it can be an opportunity for me to learn a new way of completing a task. I am always very approachable and try my best to establish their trust over time through conversation and by giving them respect."

When starting a new position, you will often work with an existing department on a team that is already working together. Most times the members of those teams already know each other and how to best communicate with each other. When the interviewer asks this question, they want you to describe how you are going to establish trust with your new team members and begin a successful working relationship with the other members of your department. Explain how you would go about working with a team that already exists and has already established a healthy working relationship. Avoid cliche statements like "I work well with everyone" or "I am a likable person." Talk about how you would establish trust.

Tell us about a time that you had multiple tasks to complete. How did you prioritize your work?

"In my current role, we tend to get much busier in the spring. This past spring our company implemented a 72 hour turnaround time on routine testing. Normally, that would not have been a problem, however, since it was our busy season, we were already slightly behind on testing. I was successfully able to switch priorities as needed so that I could keep up with an increase in testing requests as well as perform all standard testing within 72 hours."

The interviewer is asking this question to determine if you can multitask or if you overwhelm easily. The interviewer wants to hear that you can complete quality work under pressure and that if unexpected tasks are delegated to you, you can reprioritize and complete your assigned work without being easily overwhelmed. Provide an example of a time you were given multiple assignments to work on. Tell the interviewer how you decided which task to prioritize.

Talk about a goal that you have had and what action steps you have taken towards achieving that goal?

"I have had a goal for myself to become fluent in German as I have had several clients from Germany and I feel that it would benefit my career and relationship building with clients if I were able to learn the language. I recently started taking online classes and listening to audio lessons in German. I am not fluent but I feel that if I continue to work at this goal, I will be able to achieve it."

The interviewer wants to hear that you set goals for yourself and that you actively work towards achieving those goals. Think about a goal that you have for yourself and what actions you have taken to work towards meeting that goal. This example can be a professional goal or a personal goal. Provide the interviewer with the details of a goal that you have for yourself and what actions you have taken to work towards accomplishing that particular goal.

Provide an example of a time that you had to quickly shift priorities?

"A few months ago a coworker resigned unexpectedly. I had a pretty full workload at that time but one of my former coworker's top clients asked for rush testing to be done. Before assisting them, I first looked at my workload and checked my task list. From there, I was able to rearrange my assignments to complete the rush testing in time for the client."

In the scientific industry, oftentimes an unexpected request will come from a client which will result in a need to shift priorities. The interviewer wants to hear that you are able to quickly rearrange your priorities without getting easily flustered. Talk about a time where you needed to change priorities in the workplace and how you were successfully able to do so.

Tell us about a time that you were able to identify a safety concern in the workplace. How did you address the concern and what was the outcome?

"In a previous role, a coworker was working with a chemical that had special disposal requirements. I witnessed this individual pour the chemical down a drain. Immediately, I told the individual that the chemical could not be put into the drain and that it could cause a serious hazard. I then picked up the lab phone and called our on-site emergency safety team to make them aware of what happened and they were able to come to the lab and resolve the concern."

The interviewer is asking this question to determine if you are able to identify safety concerns and if you are comfortable addressing those concerns in the workplace. The interviewer wants to hear that you take workplace safety seriously and that you have general knowledge of workplace safety. Describe a time when you identified a safety concern and how you handled the concern.

Describe a time that you disagreed with a coworker or client. How did you handle the disagreement?

"In my current role, I had a group leader who would openly address the errors of our team in our team meetings. At times, it was a bit degrading to employees on the team and embarrassing. I ended up having a lunch break at the same time as the group leader and while we were chatting, I suggested that she talk one on one with employees if they are having performance concerns rather than discuss them in group meetings. She took the feedback really well and realized how her approach may have been offending employees and causing morale issues. Going forward, she did not speak about performance issues in meetings."

The interviewer wants to hear that if you have a disagreement in the workplace, you are comfortable speaking up but that you will also handle the matter in a professional manner. Provide the interviewer with the details of a time that you had a disagreement in the workplace and what steps you took to resolve the disagreement.

Talk about a time that you had to make a difficult ethical decision?

"In my current role, I learned that a coworker was taking breaks to go to his car for a nap without clocking out. This person was also a friend, so it was not an easy decision to make, but I knew it was not ethical and was ultimately setting our team behind on testing when he was not there to complete his work. I ended up telling my supervisor about my coworker's breaks."

The interviewer wants to know that, if faced with a difficult ethical situation, you will make the right decision. Ethical decisions speak to an employee's honesty and integrity, which is important to any company. In the scientific field, it is especially important to report any ethical concerns, as some poor ethical decisions can result in the invalidation of data and testing. Talk about a time you were faced with an ethical decision or a time that you witnessed someone else making a poor ethical decision and how you handled it. Ethical decisions can involve reporting false data, false time reporting, and violating confidentiality, to name a few.

Tell us about a time that you made a mistake in your career and what steps you took to correct that mistake?

"In a previous role, I made a mistake when working with a chemical. The chemical was intended to process for two hours and I mistakingly moved on to the next step of the testing after about 20 minutes. This error invalidated the end result of the testing and I ultimately needed to repeat the testing the next day. I informed the client that there was an error that caused a setback in the testing and that I would need an extra day. The client was very understanding. Ultimately, this mistake taught me to review all details in advance before running any testing to avoid rework."

The interviewer wants to hear that you know that you are not perfect and have made mistakes. To answer this question, demonstrate that if you make a mistake, you will take responsibility for it and take the proper steps to correct it. Provide an example of a mistake that you have made in your career and describe the steps that you took to correct the mistake.

Biochemistry Technician Interview Questions

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1. Talk about a challenge that you faced in a previous position and how you overcame that challenge.
2. What do you consider to be your greatest strength?
3. In your opinion, what is your greatest weakness?
4. What makes you the ideal biochemistry technician for our company?
5. Do you anticipate having any challenges meeting the requirements of this position?
6. Where do you see yourself in your career in five years?
7. What do you look for in a company culture when interviewing for a new position?
8. What keeps you motivated in your everyday work life?
9. In your opinion, why is laboratory safety and following standard laboratory practices so important?
10. What initially made you apply to a role with our company?
11. Do you feel that you are detail oriented? If so, how?
12. What do you believe is your greatest asset as a biochemistry technician?
13. What interests you in a career as a biochemistry technician?
14. What do you believe is the most important piece of a biochemistry technician's role?
15. Please provide us with your background in the scientific industry?
16. What do you enjoy most about your current/most recent position?
17. What has been your greatest accomplishment in you career as a biochemistry technician thus far?
18. If I called your current/most recent supervisor and asked what area your performance could most improve in, what would they say?
19. What do you do to stay up to date with the continuous changes in technology?
20. What do you feel is the most important skill a biochemistry technician should possess and why?
21. Please describe your ideal supervisor?
22. What makes you look for a position outside of the company that you are working for?
23. Tell us about a time when you demonstrated leadership skills?
24. How do you best learn the tasks of a new position?
25. When working with a group, what role do you typically take on?
26. How do you go about working with an already established team when you begin a new position?
27. Tell us about a time that you had multiple tasks to complete. How did you prioritize your work?
28. Talk about a goal that you have had and what action steps you have taken towards achieving that goal?
29. Provide an example of a time that you had to quickly shift priorities?
30. Tell us about a time that you were able to identify a safety concern in the workplace. How did you address the concern and what was the outcome?
31. Describe a time that you disagreed with a coworker or client. How did you handle the disagreement?
32. Talk about a time that you had to make a difficult ethical decision?
33. Tell us about a time that you made a mistake in your career and what steps you took to correct that mistake?

Biochemistry Technician Interview Questions

1. Talk about a challenge that you faced in a previous position and how you overcame that challenge.

2. What do you consider to be your greatest strength?

3. In your opinion, what is your greatest weakness?

4. What makes you the ideal biochemistry technician for our company?

5. Do you anticipate having any challenges meeting the requirements of this position?

6. Where do you see yourself in your career in five years?

7. What do you look for in a company culture when interviewing for a new position?

8. What keeps you motivated in your everyday work life?

9. In your opinion, why is laboratory safety and following standard laboratory practices so important?

10. What initially made you apply to a role with our company?

11. Do you feel that you are detail oriented? If so, how?

12. What do you believe is your greatest asset as a biochemistry technician?

13. What interests you in a career as a biochemistry technician?

14. What do you believe is the most important piece of a biochemistry technician's role?

15. Please provide us with your background in the scientific industry?

16. What do you enjoy most about your current/most recent position?

17. What has been your greatest accomplishment in you career as a biochemistry technician thus far?

18. If I called your current/most recent supervisor and asked what area your performance could most improve in, what would they say?

19. What do you do to stay up to date with the continuous changes in technology?

20. What do you feel is the most important skill a biochemistry technician should possess and why?

21. Please describe your ideal supervisor?

22. What makes you look for a position outside of the company that you are working for?

23. Tell us about a time when you demonstrated leadership skills?

24. How do you best learn the tasks of a new position?

25. When working with a group, what role do you typically take on?

26. How do you go about working with an already established team when you begin a new position?

27. Tell us about a time that you had multiple tasks to complete. How did you prioritize your work?

28. Talk about a goal that you have had and what action steps you have taken towards achieving that goal?

29. Provide an example of a time that you had to quickly shift priorities?

30. Tell us about a time that you were able to identify a safety concern in the workplace. How did you address the concern and what was the outcome?

31. Describe a time that you disagreed with a coworker or client. How did you handle the disagreement?

32. Talk about a time that you had to make a difficult ethical decision?

33. Tell us about a time that you made a mistake in your career and what steps you took to correct that mistake?