What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?

"My greatest weakness is that I sometimes work too much and need to maintain a better work/life balance. To improve this weakness, I have started scheduling dates with my wife and Zoom calls with my adult children once a week, I signed up for a yoga class three times a week, and I have a golf instructor I meet with every Sunday. Since I have placed these dates and appointments in my schedule, I have found I am maintaining a better balance between work and my personal life, which makes me a more effective employee."

This is a commonly asked interview question. The interviewer wants to hear that you are self-aware and have identified an area that could be improved. They also want to hear that you set goals and have found a way to improve upon this weakness, which shows determination and hard work. Choose a weakness relevant to the job but not one that could hinder you from being hired.

Tell me a time when you disagreed with your boss.

"I disagreed with my boss a few months ago when we were on a hiring panel for new lab assistants. She passed over one assistant I had previously worked with and highly recommended because she was nervous in the interview and did not interview well. I explained to my boss that I agreed the assistant did not interview well, but I knew she would be a great employee if my boss would give her a chance. I asked my boss to call the assistant back for a less formal interview to see if she would be more comfortable, and she agreed. After meeting with the lab assistant in a less formal environment, my boss decided to hire her."

Disagreements happen in the workplace, and the interviewer wants to hear how you resolve conflict. Do not speak negatively of your boss, as it makes you look bad in the interviewer's eyes. They want to see that you can remain calm, communicate your feelings, and have conflict-resolution skills, which are desirable traits to have. Explain when you disagreed with your boss and how you handled it.

What is your greatest strength? How does it help you as a virologist?

"My greatest strength is my leadership skills. This strength helps me as a virologist as I am confident in my ability to lead a research team, delegate tasks, and provide constructive feedback in a positive manner. I have a distinguished record of professional achievements as a teacher, scholar, and leader with extensive experience in an administrative role that includes budgetary oversight in biomedical research."

This question is commonly asked during interviews to see if your greatest strength is a quality or trait that would benefit the organization. Review the job announcement and use keywords the organization used when advertising the qualities they are seeking. For example, suppose the job announcement says they are looking for a critical thinking, dependable virologist with strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and leadership skills. You will then choose one of those specific keywords as your greatest strength, describing how it helps you as a virologist.

Do you work well on a team?

"Yes, I work very well on a team. In this profession, I am constantly working with research and multidisciplinary teams and value input from each team member. I feel that everyone has different ideas and experiences, and I enjoy teaching and learning from others. I work every day with a team of medical staff who work with patients and call me when I need to collect a sample to study. I then work with my lab assistants to identify if the patient has a viral infection. Teamwork is one of the best aspects of the job, in my opinion."

As a virologist, you must work well on a team. You will be supervising research teams and collaborating with other medical professionals. The interviewer wants to hear that you are a team player and that your leadership style aligns with their organization. Describe how well you work on a team while giving an example of your appreciation of teamwork.

If hired, when could you start?

"If hired, I could start in two weeks. I am currently employed, so I would need to give my supervisor two weeks' notice. If they can fill my position sooner, I would be able to start sooner than two weeks."

If you are currently employed, it is customary to give your employer two weeks' notice before you resign from your position. Giving notice shows the interviewer that you are respectful of your employer. If you are not employed, saying that you can start immediately shows your excitement and enthusiasm to start working for the organization. Give an answer based on your situation, and be sure to explain if you are currently employed or not.

This position requires travel 75% of the time, which we noted in the job announcement. If hired, would you be available to travel extensively?

"Yes, I saw that in the job announcement, and that is one of the reasons I applied to your organization. I enjoy traveling immensely, and traveling 75% of the time will not be an issue."

If you applied to the position and the company posted 75% travel in the job announcement, you must be okay with the requirement. The interviewer wants to hear that you read and understand the requirement and that it will not pose an issue if hired. Describe how extensive travel will not be an issue and your enthusiasm for traveling.

Why did you leave your previous job?

"I am leaving my current job and applying to your organization because I want the opportunity to advance my career. Your organization offers leadership and teaching opportunities which my current employer does not offer."

When an interviewer asks why you left your previous place of employment, they want to know what motivated you to leave. You may be looking for better career prospects, professional growth, or new work challenges. Or, it might be that your previous employer restructured the company, underwent an acquisition, or there are no career advancement prospects. Describe your reason for leaving while avoiding speaking negatively about the company, your supervisor, or your coworkers. If you left because you were fired, you will need to be honest and explain the circumstances of being let go and what you learned from that experience.

Who is the CEO of our organization?

"Your CEO is Brenda Walsh, who has been your CEO since 2004. Ms. Walsh started her career as a sales representative and worked her way up to the position of Chief Executive Officer over a 20-year span. The mission that Ms. Walsh has for your organization is to constantly strive to come up with ways that you can innovate and lead."

Before your interview, you'll want to learn as much as you can about the organization you will be interviewing with. You'll want to discover who the CEO is, how long they have been the CEO, and their mission for the organization. You can find who the CEO is by reviewing their website and LinkedIn profile. The interviewer wants to see that you have done your homework and are eager to learn all that you can.

Why are you the best candidate for us?

"The reason I am the best candidate for you is that I meet and exceed your requirements for the position. I have seven years of postdoctoral experience managing projects and collaborating with colleagues from different academic fields. I am dedicated, driven, and have excellent critical thinking and communication skills. I adhere to a rigorous work ethic and expect my team to do the same. For those reasons, I am the best candidate for your organization."

Interviewers will have many qualified candidates for the position, and they want you to tell them why you are unique from the other candidates and the best choice to hire. Now is the time to sell yourself by summarizing your experience, education, and qualities that would benefit the company if they hired you. Review the job announcement and use keywords the organization used when advertising the qualities they are seeking. For example, suppose the job announcement says they are looking for a dedicated, driven virologist with 3+ years of postdoctoral experience, project management, and strong interpersonal, critical thinking, and communication skills. In that case, you will use those specific keywords in your response.

Why should we hire you?

"The reason you should hire me is that I exceed your requirements for the position. I have ten years of postdoctoral experience, and I am compassionate and empathetic. I am a dependable, driven problem solver, and I adhere to a rigorous work ethic and expect my team to do the same. For those reasons, I am an excellent candidate for you to hire."

Interviewers will have many qualified candidates for the position, and they want you to tell them why you are unique from the other candidates and the best choice to hire. Now is the time to sell yourself by summarizing your experience, education, and qualities that would be an asset to the company if they hired you. Review the job announcement and use keywords the organization used when advertising the qualities they are seeking. For example, suppose the job announcement says they are looking for a compassionate, dependable virologist with 5+ years of postdoctoral experience, a strong work ethic, and problem-solving and interpersonal skills. In that case, you will use those specific keywords in your response.

Are you okay with working irregular hours?

"Yes, I am fine with working irregular hours. In my previous job, I worked in a hospital and was scheduled to work the day shift one month, the night shift the following month, and weekends and holidays as needed. I am comfortable working whenever you need me."

If irregular hours are required for the position, it would most likely have been noted in the job announcement. The interviewer wants to hear that you are flexible with your schedule and can accommodate their needs. Explain how you are available to work the hours that are needed if hired for the position.

What are your career goals?

" My career goals are to get hired by your organization and advance to a managerial role in the next two years. I am interested in a teaching position within the next five years and am excited to hear there is that opportunity within your company."

When an interviewer asks about your career goals, they want to see what professional goals you have set for yourself and if you see yourself with their organization in the future. It is costly to hire new employees, and the interviewer wants to know if your career goals include continued work with their company. Identifying your professional goals also shows the interviewer that you are driven, focused, and goal-oriented. Since the interviewer did not specify a time frame, you can answer with your short-term and long-term career goals.

What was your greatest accomplishment as a virologist?

"My greatest accomplishment was collaborating with a Chinese research team and discovering that viruses are spread from animals to humans in live and wet markets. We found that many emerging zoonotic and epizootic viral infections involve single-stranded RNA viruses, like the coronaviruses. These RNA viruses can cause severe, life-threatening infections in both animals and humans."

Working as a virologist, you most likely have many great accomplishments. Your first accomplishment might be completing medical school and receiving your medical license. Still, the interviewer wants to hear what your most significant achievement has been after working as a virologist. You may have discovered an innovative cure or treatment for a disease, been part of a research team that found a correlation between animals transferring viruses to humans, or received a prestigious award for your investigations. Describe what you consider your greatest accomplishment as a virologist.

How would you define teamwork?

"I define teamwork as a group of people collaborating to reach a common goal. Every person on the team has a different personality and skill set, and everyone can offer something to the team. To me, teamwork is also about having each other's backs and helping others when needed."

Teamwork is defined as 'the collaborative effort of a group to achieve a common goal or to complete a task in the most effective and efficient way.' When people work together on a team, they cooperate with others and provide constructive feedback while offering their skills and experience. The interviewer wants to hear how you define teamwork to ensure you are a good fit for the company culture.

What do you like to do in your free time?

"In my free time, I enjoy playing racquetball with my son, mountain biking, deep-sea fishing, and reading autobiographies. I also enrolled in a painting class that starts next week and will be learning how to paint with acrylics."

The interviewer will ask this question to gain insight into your personality and see your hobbies and interests outside of work. They also want to know that you have healthy ways to manage stress, which is extremely important in the medical profession. Briefly describe activities and hobbies you enjoy, such as playing a sport, hiking with your family, taking music classes, or gardening.

What has been your greatest professional accomplishment?

"My greatest professional accomplishment was receiving the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award for creating a system that replicates the Hepatitis C virus in the laboratory. This is my greatest professional accomplishment because the Lasker Awards are among the most respected awards in medicine."

Achieving a professional accomplishment requires hard work and goal-setting, which are desirable traits in a candidate. Interviewers will ask behavioral interview questions such as this to assess your skills and ambition to succeed. The interviewer can also determine what you consider an accomplishment and how you view success. Describe what you feel is your greatest professional achievement and why.

What three words would your former supervisor use to describe you?

"I have a copy of a letter of recommendation that my previous supervisor wrote for me if you would like to review it. In the letter, my former supervisor wrote that I am a dedicated employee with strong leadership and interpersonal skills. In the three years that I worked for the company, I never used a sick day and was always available for overtime when needed. My leadership and interpersonal skills fostered strong relationships with my team while motivating, inspiring, and encouraging them."

The interviewer wants to hear how your former supervisor would describe you to see if you have the qualities they are looking for in their ideal candidate. You can review a letter of recommendation or performance review and use three words your supervisor used to describe you, with examples for each. If you have a copy of a letter of recommendation, you can offer it to the interviewer along with your response.

What has been your greatest non-professional achievement?

"My greatest non-professional achievement is seeing a young girl that I mentor graduate from college with a bachelor's degree in biomedical science. I started as a big sister through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America organization and was placed with a young girl who was six years old. She came from an abusive background and was timid and frightened of so many things. Over the years of us working together, she became more open and talkative, and she expressed an interest in science. I mentored her towards fulfilling her dreams of becoming a scientist and helped her enroll in college. It was my greatest accomplishment seeing her walk onto the stage to receive her diploma."

When an interviewer asks about your greatest non-professional achievement, they want to learn more about your personality and what inspires and motivates you. A non-professional achievement could be training and completing an Ironman competition, doing charity work, mentoring a young child, or setting up a nonprofit organization to help others. Describe what your greatest non-professional achievement is and why it is important to you.

What have you done in the past year to better yourself as a virologist?

"In the past year, I participated in many things that have improved my work as a virologist. I attended an annual conference on advancing technologies in virology and collaborated with a colleague, and published a research paper on the COVID-19 Delta Variant. I also participate in virology forums weekly and receive email alerts from a reputable journal when new content is uploaded."

There are many things you could have done in the past year to better yourself as a virologist. You may have attended a conference or seminar, subscribed to a medical journal, participated in a lecture, or attended classes for continuing education units. The interviewer wants to hear that you take your profession seriously and constantly look for improving yourself as a virologist.

Why did you choose a career as a virologist?

"I chose a career as a virologist after working as a lab assistant. I was interested in the research I was conducting but was drawn to the role of the virologist. I enjoy leading teams and coaching others, so I applied to medical school and began working on achieving my goal of becoming a virologist."

The interviewer asks why you chose a career as a virologist to learn about your motivation, interests, and personality. They want to see how passionate and driven you are about your profession. Describe how you became interested in becoming a virologist, whether through a professor, a friend or family member, book or television, or another means.

Are you happy with your career as a virologist?

"Yes, I am extremely happy with my career choice. I love that I am part of a team that identifies new viruses, and we work together to help keep the public safe. I cannot think of another job I would enjoy as much as working as a virologist."

Employers want to hire individuals who are happy with their work. People who are not satisfied with their job tend to be less dependable, less productive, and decrease employee morale. As a virologist, you are in a leadership position, and the interviewer wants to hire someone who is happy and will work well with the team. Describe how glad you are with your career choice and explain why your job makes you want to go to work each day.

What have your achievements been to date?

"To date, I have achieved my medical degree, discovered a correlation between the transmission of HIV in the blood of animals to humans, and was awarded the National Institutes of Health Director's Pioneer Award. I have also been published over 30 times in the 'Journal of General Virology,' and have written and published 15 top-selling books on clinical virology."

The interviewer is asking what you have professionally achieved in your career. You can answer with degrees you have earned, special awards or recognition, identifying a new virus or cure, or a ground-breaking investigation you performed. The interviewer can read your achievements on your resume, but there may be some you could not list. Briefly explain your achievements to date.

What motivates you as a virologist?

"What motivates me as a virologist is when my team and I assist in vaccine development. When we develop a vaccine against a particular virus, I know that our contribution will help others worldwide. For that reason, I am motivated to go to work each day."

There could be many factors that motivate you when working as a virologist. It might be that you are motivated to help the community against viral outbreaks, or you enjoy working with teams of researchers. Whatever your reason is will give the interviewer a glimpse into your personality and what drives you in your profession. Explain what keeps you motivated to go to work each day.

What is your secret to a successful career as a virologist?

"My secret to a successful career as a virologist is to have goals to continuously seek higher education and to stay on top of the latest technology and advancements in the field."

This interview question is similar to asking what motivates you or if you are happy with your career as a virologist. The interviewer wants to see what type of employee you will be and what drives and motivates you to succeed in your career. Describe what you believe to be your secret to being a successful virologist.

What are you doing to keep current in technology?

"I stay current in technology by attending seminars for continuing education units, subscribing to virology journals, participating in online forums, and attending annual virology conferences."

Technology is constantly evolving, and virologists must keep current with these advancements. You can attend annual conferences, virology journals you can subscribe to, and blogs and forums you can participate in. The interviewer wants to see that they can depend on you to stay current with technological advancements if hired.

Tell me about your education. How has it prepared you for a career as a virologist?

"I received my bachelor's degree in chemistry from Cal State Fullerton and my Ph.D. in medical sciences from Harvard University. My education has prepared me for a career as a virologist by providing me with the best training on the methods of researching biomedical problems. Harvard University intentionally keeps the virology graduate program small, so there is a greater faculty-to-student ratio and more hands-on experience."

Even though your educational background is on your resume, the interviewer wants to hear where you went to school, what you studied, what degrees you have, and how your schooling prepared you for a career as a virologist. Give the interviewer a brief journey of how you became a virologist.

Do you have any questions about the position?

"Yes, I do have a question about the position. If hired, what would a typical day look like for me in this position?"

When asked if you have any questions about the position or the company, you always want to respond in the affirmative. Asking a question or two shows that you are eager to work for their organization and want to know all you can about the position. Review the job announcement before the interview and make sure to ask a question that was not answered on the job announcement.

What do you know about our organization?

"What I have discovered when doing my research is your CEO is Ricardo Hernandez, who founded the organization in 2013. Your mission is to discover and deliver innovative medications that will solve serious health issues today while addressing tomorrow's medical challenges. Your organization accomplishes your mission by offering several key therapeutic areas, such as virology, immunology, women's health, oncology, and neuroscience. Since the organization was founded, you have been named every year to the SP Global Dow Jones Sustainability Index for your ESG work."

Before your interview, you want to learn as much as you can about the organization. You want to discover who the CEO is, who founded the organization and in what year, the company's size, awards they have been given, their mission statement, and their field of research. You can research their website, online reviews, social media, visit the organization, and talk to staff. The interviewer wants to see that you have done your homework and are eager to learn all that you can.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

"In five years, I see myself as the director of your National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory. I am extremely interested in your strategic plan over the next ten years and want to be part of the organization's growth and recruitment of new faculty members."

When an interviewer asks where you see yourself in five years, they want to see what professional goals you have set for yourself and if you see yourself with their organization in the future. It is costly to hire new employees, and the interviewer wants to know if you see yourself with their company in the next five years. Identifying your professional goals also shows the interviewer that you are driven, focused, and goal-oriented.

Do you have any questions for me?

"Yes, I do have one question. If hired, what shift would I be working?"

Interviewers will often ask if you have any questions for them at the end of the interview. It is always recommended to ask a question or two about the company or position to show your enthusiasm for learning all about the organization. Make sure to avoid asking a question that could be answered when doing your research or when reading the job announcement.

How do you keep track of work so that it gets done on time?

"I have tried several different types of project management tools and have found Trello to be the best one for my team and me. If you are not familiar with Trello, it is an online collaboration tool that organizes our projects into boards. I can look at the board and quickly see who is working on a particular project, I can automate tasks, and all members of the team can work together to meet deadlines."

As a virologist, it is essential that you are organized, so work gets done on time and all deadlines are met. The interviewer wants to see how you prioritize your work and determine if you have the organizational skills the company is looking for in an employee. Describe what project management tools you and your team use to stay organized and meet deadlines.

Do you manage your time well?

"I manage my time very well. I pride myself on my organizational skills and meeting or beating every deadline. I manage my time by listing tasks that need to be accomplished each day and reviewing that list each morning. That way, I know what my day looks like and what needs to be prioritized. This method has worked very well for me over the years."

When an interviewer asks this question, they want to see how you prioritize your work and how organized you are. A desirable employee meets deadlines, is dependable, and has excellent organizational skills. Describe how you manage your time and what administrative tools you use to manage your time and meet deadlines.

How do you evaluate success?

"I evaluate success by how well my team works together and grows. I believe success is reaching my goals while empowering my team to do the same, all while meeting the company's objectives. Success can be achieved by anyone with the right leadership skills, dedication, and work ethic."

Interviewers ask this question to help them determine what kind of employee you might be by evaluating your work ethic and leadership skills. How you respond shows the interviewer how hard you work to meet goals, how well you prioritize, and that you will be a productive and successful employee and leader.

Tell me a problem you recently faced where you were unsure of the answer. How did you research the problem and find the correct solution?

"I was recently called by a lab assistant who had never seen red blood cells look the way they did under the microscope and wanted my opinion. I also had never seen red blood cells cluster in a uniform and engineered way that they did. I researched online to see if other medical professionals had identified the same, and discovered it was due to a particular ingredient in a vaccine the patient had recently been given."

When interviewers ask to tell them a problem you faced and how you found a solution, they are looking to see how you solve problems using critical-thinking skills. Working as a virologist requires you to have problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and the interviewer wants to know how you work in this situation. Describe a problem you recently faced and how you found the correct solution.

How have you handled a problem with a supervisor?

"I had a problem with my previous supervisor who would micromanage my research team and me. She was a new supervisor who was hired after my previous manager retired, and she was unfamiliar with how my team and I worked. My responsibility was to supervise my team, and my supervisor's role was to supervise me. She would give tasks to my team without consulting with me first, and it became confusing for my research staff. I asked my supervisor if we could have a meeting, and we met in her office. I calmly explained that my job was to supervise my staff, and her job was to supervise me. I described that it was confusing my research team when she assigned tasks without consulting with me first. She was surprised and unaware of my position and explained how her previous role was to supervise the virologist and the team. My supervisor apologized and said she would assign tasks to me next time. We never had an issue after that."

When interviewers ask how you handled a problem with a supervisor or coworker, they want to see how you handle conflict in the workplace. It is a desirable quality to remain calm while communicating with your supervisor in a private setting. Describe a problem you had with a supervisor and how you came to a resolution. Avoid speaking negatively about your supervisor while highlighting your conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.

Virologist Interview Questions

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1. What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?
2. Tell me a time when you disagreed with your boss.
3. What is your greatest strength? How does it help you as a virologist?
4. Do you work well on a team?
5. If hired, when could you start?
6. This position requires travel 75% of the time, which we noted in the job announcement. If hired, would you be available to travel extensively?
7. Why did you leave your previous job?
8. Who is the CEO of our organization?
9. Why are you the best candidate for us?
10. Why should we hire you?
11. Are you okay with working irregular hours?
12. What are your career goals?
13. What was your greatest accomplishment as a virologist?
14. How would you define teamwork?
15. What do you like to do in your free time?
16. What has been your greatest professional accomplishment?
17. What three words would your former supervisor use to describe you?
18. What has been your greatest non-professional achievement?
19. What have you done in the past year to better yourself as a virologist?
20. Why did you choose a career as a virologist?
21. Are you happy with your career as a virologist?
22. What have your achievements been to date?
23. What motivates you as a virologist?
24. What is your secret to a successful career as a virologist?
25. What are you doing to keep current in technology?
26. Tell me about your education. How has it prepared you for a career as a virologist?
27. Do you have any questions about the position?
28. What do you know about our organization?
29. Where do you see yourself in five years?
30. Do you have any questions for me?
31. How do you keep track of work so that it gets done on time?
32. Do you manage your time well?
33. How do you evaluate success?
34. Tell me a problem you recently faced where you were unsure of the answer. How did you research the problem and find the correct solution?
35. How have you handled a problem with a supervisor?

Virologist Interview Questions

1. What is your greatest weakness? What are you doing to improve it?

2. Tell me a time when you disagreed with your boss.

3. What is your greatest strength? How does it help you as a virologist?

4. Do you work well on a team?

5. If hired, when could you start?

6. This position requires travel 75% of the time, which we noted in the job announcement. If hired, would you be available to travel extensively?

7. Why did you leave your previous job?

8. Who is the CEO of our organization?

9. Why are you the best candidate for us?

10. Why should we hire you?

11. Are you okay with working irregular hours?

12. What are your career goals?

13. What was your greatest accomplishment as a virologist?

14. How would you define teamwork?

15. What do you like to do in your free time?

16. What has been your greatest professional accomplishment?

17. What three words would your former supervisor use to describe you?

18. What has been your greatest non-professional achievement?

19. What have you done in the past year to better yourself as a virologist?

20. Why did you choose a career as a virologist?

21. Are you happy with your career as a virologist?

22. What have your achievements been to date?

23. What motivates you as a virologist?

24. What is your secret to a successful career as a virologist?

25. What are you doing to keep current in technology?

26. Tell me about your education. How has it prepared you for a career as a virologist?

27. Do you have any questions about the position?

28. What do you know about our organization?

29. Where do you see yourself in five years?

30. Do you have any questions for me?

31. How do you keep track of work so that it gets done on time?

32. Do you manage your time well?

33. How do you evaluate success?

34. Tell me a problem you recently faced where you were unsure of the answer. How did you research the problem and find the correct solution?

35. How have you handled a problem with a supervisor?