Clinical Research Coordinator Interview Questions

Clinical Research Coordinator Interview Questions & Answers

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1. 1.

   How do you stay on top of new governing regulations?

   How to Answer

   It is crucial in this role to stay on top of governing regulations. Regulatory compliance is essential for clinical research studies, but it can sometimes be difficult to navigate. Describe how you stay compliant with new regulations and any tricks you have found in your career.
   
   

    Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: " I understand how essential it is to stay compliant with governing regulations. I attend a conference in the field every six months and schedule time once a month to look at the [xxx] website to see if there is anything I missed. I'd love an email list that automatically updated me, so please let me know if you know of a good one."

2. 2.

   When have you shown excellent communication skills in your work?

   How to Answer

   Clinical Research Coordinators must have excellent written and verbal communication skills. CRCs need to ensure that patients understand complex research protocols in easy-to-understand terms. In addition to working with patients, CRCs work closely with co-workers, key stakeholders, sponsors, ancillaries, and regulatory agents. The interviewer wants to see how you communicate to make sure you are the best candidate for the position.
   
   

    Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I believe my excellent communication skills are shown in my work daily. Between having to communicate clearly and concisely when speaking with participants to communicating using written and verbal communication to regulatory boards and oversight committees. I can communicate at a level where participants, co-workers, and regulatory agents understand the message I am trying to convey."

3. 3.

   What attracts you to our area of research?

   How to Answer

   The interviewer wants to see what interests you and why. If you have a personal reason this area of research interests you, describe your reason. Let your passion show when answering this question.
   
   

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Krista Wenz wrote: "This area of research interests me because of personal reasons. My mother has struggled with obesity her entire life, which has caused many health problems for her. Doing clinical trials on diets that affect blood sugar and how it can help with obesity gives me hope that we can find a solution to help my mother and many others who struggle."

4. 4.

   What extra measures have you enacted solely to increase patient safety?

   How to Answer

   Clinical Research Coordinators are a vital link between the research team, sponsors, and patients and need to ensure the studies run smoothly while protecting the patient's health and safety. Clinical Research Coordinators are exposed to vital patient information. They need to keep the patient's health information secure while screening patients to be sure they fit the guidelines of the trial. Describe measures you have taken to increase the safety of your patients. The interviewer wants to hear that the safety of your patients is your primary concern.
   
   

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Krista Wenz wrote: "In my previous position, I did not feel like the patients had a clear understanding of the complex research protocols. In my opinion, the previous CRC did not explain the informed consent process very well at a level the patients could understand. When I was hired, I developed guidelines on how to inform the patients at a level they could understand to increase their safety. Once they patients had a clear understanding of the protocols, I felt they were more capable of making an informed decision."

5. 5.

   How would your coworkers describe you?

   How to Answer

   The interviewer wants to hear what traits your coworkers would use to describe you. This question gives the interviewer an idea of what type of work ethic you possess and your personality traits. They want to hear that you are a team player and that you work well with others. Try to keep your answer limited to three words your coworkers would use to describe you as it pertains to this position.
   
   

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I think my coworkers would describe me as organized, empathetic, and honest. I am extremely organized and keep spreadsheets for every aspect of my job. I am empathetic and truly care about my patients and their well-being. I am honest and will tell patients if I think they are not a good fit for a trial and will tell my coworkers my honest opinion of anything they ask."

6. 6.

   What can you bring to this company?

   How to Answer

   The interviewer already has your resume and knows your background. The interviewer wants to see if you understand what challenges the company has and how you will fit into their organization. Read the job description carefully and research the company. Then connect your skills to what the company needs, so you stand out as the top candidate for the position.
   
   

    Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I understand you have difficulty finding Clinical Research Coordinators with over five years of experience. What I bring to this company is 16 years of experience and knowledge, with a proven track record of successful trials and patient satisfaction."

7. 7.

   What are your salary expectations?

   How to Answer

   The job posting typically will have a salary range depending on experience. If the range were posted, a good answer would be that your salary expectations are in line with your experience and qualifications. Or, you can answer that you are open to discussing the salary. Make sure your salary expectations are in line with what they are offering.
   
   

    Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I see that you are offering a salary range of $85,000 to $95,000 per year. Based on my qualifications and experience, I believe that is fair. I am sure we can discuss and come to an agreement on my salary expectations."

8. 8.

   Tell me about a time when you worked with a person who did things very differently than you. How did you get the job done?

   How to Answer

   Everyone has different styles and ways of getting work accomplished. It does not mean one person's way of doing something is better than another person's. The interviewer wants to see how you work with diverse groups of people and that you are a team player.
   
   

    Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I do my best to find out where someone is coming from whenever I perceive that their work style differs from mine. I do my best to name it in a nonjudgemental way so that it's out in the open. If I do this right, people usually smile and laugh and are actually pleased that I noticed what they were good at. Then I try to negotiate work-flow as constructively as possible so that everyone is comfortable while completing the project."

9. 9.

   How would you motivate your team for an upcoming trial?

   How to Answer

   Clinical Research Coordinators need to be good role models and leaders. Clinical trials can sometimes be stressful, and the interviewer wants to hear how you motivate others to get a job done. Describe your motivational techniques and how they have been successful for you.
   
   

    Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I would begin by telling my team members the deadlines and goal, so they know the logistics. Then I would tell them the bigger shared goal so they could buy in. I'd let them talk about it a bit and ask them to think of creative ways to accomplish the goal that would be fun. Then I'd try to make a metric for success and break up the work so everyone could measure their contribution. I might even have a mini-competition."

10. 10.

    When have you used logic in solving a problem?

    How to Answer

    The interviewer wants to hear that you are a logical person who can solve problems on your own. Logical people tend to be self-starters and require little supervision. How you answer this question will show the interviewer your personality and judgment skills.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "Aside from the formal logic that we are all taught to use in our biomedical training and work, I tend to switch to logic to solve problems. I find that using my past experiences helps when recruiting study participants, and my reasoning skills come in handy when problem-solving."

11. 11.

    When have you adapted quickly and effectively to a change in your working conditions?

    How to Answer

    Being able to adapt quickly to change is a strong skill for a Clinical Research Coordinator to have. A great Clinical Research Coordinator needs to anticipate problems before they arise to help prevent potential punitive actions. The interviewer wants to see how you adapt to change and crises in the workplace, which shows your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Describe a time when you had to quickly and effectively adapt to change in the work environment.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "Not too long ago, we had a clinical trial that was just about to come to a close. I had a patient who wanted to withdraw three days before the trial ended because her husband was not supportive of her decision to participate. If she dropped out of the trial it would have been devastating. I made an appointment with the patient and her husband and convinced her husband that the patient was not being harmed and what her withdrawal would mean to the trial. He agreed she could continue, and all went well after that."

12. 12.

    When have you overlooked an important detail in a previous trial?

    How to Answer

    The interviewer wants to see how you handle challenging situations and how easily you can admit you made a mistake. Owning up to a mistake that was made or an important detail that was overlooked shows that you have a sense of integrity and that you are humble enough to admit to a failure. The key to answering this question is to describe what detail was overlooked and explain what you learned from your mistake.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: " When I first started as a Clinical Research Coordinator, I had a trial where a sponsor provided me with evidence of their clinical trial insurance. What I failed to notice was the limit of their policy was insufficient for the trial. It was brought to my attention by my manager, and we were able to fix the problem before the trial started. Since then, I am extra diligent when going over the documentation that is needed for a trial and have never encountered another problem."

13. 13.

    Tell me about your previous experience coordinating clinical research studies.

    How to Answer

    The interviewer wants to see what your experience has been coordinating clinical research trials to ensure you have the qualifications needed for the position. Give an example of your most memorable or remarkable clinical research study and how you coordinated it.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I recently coordinated a clinical research study to evaluate how the keto diet affects those with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of the study was to see if the diet helped patients maintain their glucose levels at a low but healthy level. I recruited the subjects through referrals from private medical practices, I put the subjects through the screening process, and I enrolled those who were eligible to enroll in the trial."

14. 14.

    When have you turned a negative relationship with a coworker into a positive relationship?

    How to Answer

    Conflict resolution is important in any profession. The interviewer wants to see how you handle conflict and turn a negative experience into a positive one. Describe a time where you had an issue with a coworker and turned it into a positive situation. Be sure you do not speak negatively about your coworker, which shows poor judgment and character.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I had a coworker who was always late to work without an explanation. The other coworkers were having to cover for him, creating a problem within the team. When I approached him privately, he became very defensive and hostile, telling me to mind my own business. I did not enjoy working with him and dreaded going to work. After a few days of feeling this way, I had enough. I asked my coworker to lunch, and he accepted. I told him how the team and myself were feeling and asked how we could fix this situation. He said he was going through a divorce and had to drop off his child at school every morning since his wife just up and left, and that is why he was always late. After talking with me, he realized how his tardiness affected his work and relationship with the team. I asked if there was anything we could do to help and suggested changing his working hours to a later start time. He was appreciative of the gesture and was not late to work anymore. After that, everyone was happy."

15. 15.

    Are you comfortable traveling to various locations that may be conducting our research trials?

    How to Answer

    Working as a Clinical Research Coordinator typically requires a lot of travel. If you are working as a Clinical Research Coordinator, you probably already know this. The interviewer is looking to see if you will be available for travel or if you have other commitments that will interfere. Be honest and give your availability and anything that might stand in the way of traveling.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I have worked in this field for the past seven years and understand that traveling is a huge component of my job. I am comfortable traveling to various locations. I have two young children, but traveling does not interfere with my home life. I have a husband who works from home and watches the kids when I am gone. And, my mother lives next door to us and can watch the kids if my husband needs help. I have a great support system that understands traveling is part of my job."

16. 16.

    When have you had difficulty instructing any member of your staff on how to perform the necessary trial measures?

    How to Answer

    The interviewer is looking for someone who has good leadership skills and who knows how to troubleshoot. Explain a time that you had difficulty training a staff member and what you did to resolve the issue. Be sure you do not talk negatively about the staff member, and describe how you turned a negative situation into a positive.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "About six months ago, I had hired a registered nurse with 15 years experience to assist with screening patients for clinical trials. She did exceptional in her interview and had great references. However, after one month, I noticed some patients who participated in the trial should not have passed the screening process. When I asked the nurse why the patients had passed the screening, she admitted that she had never worked in clinical trials and did not know the procedure. After that, I went over the process and worked with her screening the next round of patients so she would understand how it was done."

17. 17.

    How do you motivate yourself when you have a heavy workload?

    How to Answer

    Clinical Research Coordinators often have heavy workloads combined with lots of travel time. Describe how you stay motivated to complete your workload without becoming overwhelmed. Explain what methods or techniques you use to complete heavy workloads.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I typically have a heavy workload and have found techniques over the years to keep me motivated. I always have a spreadsheet for the work that needs to be done and find a lot of satisfaction when I check tasks off that I have completed. In addition, seeing my workload become smaller keeps me motivated to keep moving forward."

18. 18.

    When have you and your previous team had difficulty recruiting study participants? How did you overcome this obstacle?

    How to Answer

    It can be difficult to recruit study participants for certain trials. If you have had a situation where you and your team had difficulty recruiting study participants, describe how you overcame that obstacle. It might be that you partnered with physicians, you chose a patient recruitment company, or you advertised in a major newspaper or on the television or radio. The interviewer wants to see your troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "My team and I had difficulty recruiting study participants for a clinical trial on left ventricular assist devices. We overcame the obstacle by hiring a patient recruitment company specializing in recruiting participants, specifically targeting those in need of this device but whose insurance would not cover the procedure. After hiring the recruitment company, we had enough participants to complete the study."

19. 19.

    What do you do to handle the stresses of working as a Clinical Trial Research Coordinator?

    How to Answer

    Working as a Clinical Trial Research Coordinator can be a stressful position. With the heavy workload and traveling often, the stress of the job can get to some people. The interviewer wants to hear that you can stay calm and not get overwhelmed too easily. Describe any stress-reducing techniques you have to keep your stress levels down.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I actually work well under pressure and do not get stressed out too easily. But, I do understand the stresses of this position and incorporate stress-reducing activities into my life. For example, every morning, I spend 30 minutes planning my day, so I am organized and ready to go. I also spend 30 minutes every evening doing some type of exercise, which includes yoga, walking my dog, and riding my bike. I find when I am organized every morning and exercise every evening, it helps keep my stress levels down."

20. 20.

    What is your greatest strength?

    How to Answer

    This is a common interview question as the interviewer wants to hear what you value and what you believe is a strong attribute. Describe what you believe is your greatest strength as it pertains to the position you are interviewing for. For example, strong leadership skills, empathy, organizational skills, and work ethic are wonderful strengths to have as a Clinical Research Coordinator.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I believe my greatest strength is my leadership skills. I have always worked well with a team and can take direction very well. However, I prefer to lead a team and find that I am a strong leader because I have worked my way up and understand what every position entails."

21. 21.

    Why are you leaving your current position?

    How to Answer

    The interviewer wants to hear why you decided to leave your current position and work for their company. If you are leaving your current position because of an issue with a coworker or supervisor, refrain from talking negatively about anyone. You can describe your situation as one where you could not experience the growth you can with their organization or another personal reason.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I am leaving my current position because I have a two-hour commute every day, and it is impacting my time with my family. I feel I am missing a lot while sitting in traffic every day. If your organization hired me, my commute time would be reduced to only 45 minutes a day. I feel that is valuable time that I could be spending with my loved ones."

22. 22.

    How would your previous boss describe you?

    How to Answer

    This question is asked because most people will be honest as to what their boss thinks of them. The interviewer wants to hear what qualities you would bring to their organization. The previous employer can be called for a reference, so the interviewer wants to see that your answer aligns with your previous boss.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "My last boss would say that I am reliable, organized, a hard worker who does not mind putting in extra hours, and a strong team player. These are all qualities that I look forward to bringing to your organization."

23. 23.

    What do you like to do outside of work?

    How to Answer

    This question gives the interviewer an idea of your personality and interests outside of work. There is no wrong answer but refrain from describing any activities that might be construed as unethical or indecent. For example, you would not want to tell the interviewer that you like to go club-hopping or go to pole-dancing classes.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "I have many interests outside of work. I enjoy being outdoors and spend a lot of time kayaking, mountain biking, trail running, and camping with my family. I also recently took up painting and find it is a great stress release. I can tap into my creative side, which is nice after working with analytics all day."

24. 24.

    If you could work in any other profession, what would it be?

    How to Answer

    This is another question where the interviewer wants some insight as to what interests you. However, the best answer is to choose a profession that is closely related to the position you are interviewing for, or at least in the same field. Choose a similar job that might be above your experience level, which shows you are committed to your profession.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "It is difficult for me to imagine working in any other profession. I love the career choice I have made and do not plan on changing careers at this stage in my life. I have worked as a Clinical Research Coordinator for thirteen years and feel confident in my skills."

25. 25.

    If you were offered this position, when could you start?

    How to Answer

    It is considerate to give your employer at least two weeks' notice if you are currently working. That shows the interviewer that you are respectful of your employer. If you are not currently working, tell the interviewer you are available immediately. That shows you are enthusiastic to start working for their organization.
    
    

     Answer Example

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Krista Wenz wrote: "As I am currently employed, I need to give my employer two weeks' notice, which I would do immediately after being offered the position. So, I would be available to start two weeks after the job offer. If my employer was able to fill my position sooner, I could start here before then."