The biotech industry is vast and includes quality control, research & development, operations, and consulting to support diagnostics, food & consumer products, pharmaceuticals, and conservation efforts. Despite the wide range of career paths falling under this umbrella, there are a few universal interview preparation tips and strategies all job seekers should consider.
- Be prepared to demonstrate your technical skills
- Technical interview questions are common in this field and are designed to assess your technical competence, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills as they relate to the role. Below are a couple of examples:
- Question 1: “How do you prepare a buffer solution with a specific pH? Can you calculate the amount of solute needed?”
- This question tests your ability to perform a fundamental task required for the role. There’s no trick to answering it, your response should demonstrate your understanding of buffer preparation.
- Question 2: “What would you do if a critical piece of equipment failed during an experiment?”
- This question evaluates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in a high-pressure scenario. The interviewer wants to see how you approach troubleshooting, assess the impact of the failure, consider alternative solutions, and ensure the integrity of the experiment.
- Question 1: “How do you prepare a buffer solution with a specific pH? Can you calculate the amount of solute needed?”
- Technical interview questions are common in this field and are designed to assess your technical competence, attention to detail, and problem-solving skills as they relate to the role. Below are a couple of examples:
- Use Examples From Your Experience To Showcase Your Interpersonal Skills
- Behavioral questions are designed to assess transferable skills such as research, collaboration, and attention to detail. When asked about interpersonal skills, it’s important to reference specific examples from your experience that demonstrate them in action.
- Example Question: “Describe a time when you worked with a team to overcome a challenge in a lab setting.”
- To effectively answer this question, start by identifying a specific instance where you collaborated to solve a problem in a lab setting and provide context for the interviewer. Next, focus on how you addressed the challenge, including the steps you took, your role in the process, and any resources or strategies you used. Lastly, wrap up your response with a brief summary of the outcome. You could choose to highlight the resolution, explain what you learned from this experience, or describe how you would approach a similar situation in the future.
- Research The Company and Understand Their Pipeline
- In addition to researching yourself and your skills, a key aspect of interview preparation is developing a strong understanding of the position and company you’re pursuing. Many organizations provide overviews of their pipelines on their websites, but if you have trouble finding that information, clinicaltrials.gov can be a great resource.
- If you’re interviewing with a large company that has a diverse pipeline spanning various stages of development, focus on specific diseases, treatments, or technologies that align with their core areas or most innovative work. Having a high-level understanding of the organization’s focus areas, recent advancements, and potential obstacles not only demonstrates genuine interest during the interview, but can also help you engage in meaningful small talk.
Ready to practice your interview skills? Big Interview is a free interview practice platform available to all Binghamton University students. Additionally, 1:1 career consulting appointments for interview prep and mock interviews can be scheduled through hireBING by Handshake.
