Sample Interview Questions
Students are encouraged to book an advising appointment for a mock interview to prepare for interviews, but you can also use these questions for self-study. You can book your advising appointment on campusBRIDGE.
You can also partner with a friend and they can ask you a sample question while you answer to practice interviewing.
- Tell us about your education and work experiences that have prepared you for this position.
- What techniques have you used before or are you familiar with? (eg. gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry)
- What steps would you take if there were a chemical spill in the lab?
- Give an example of a time when you prepared and tested samples under strict quality control measures? How did you ensure compliance?
- Tell me about a situation where you had to handle a challenging sample preparation. What was the issue, and how did you solve it?
- Describe a situation that illustrates your ability to pay attention to details. You can select an example from your work, volunteer, or academic experience.
- Describe a time when you helped develop or optimize an analytical method. What changes did you implement, and what was the outcome?
- Tell me about a time when you had to maintain or repair equipment. What was the issue, and how did you handle it?
- Have you ever identified an issue with an instrument before it became a major problem? What actions did you take?
- Give an example of a time when you had to analyze and interpret complex data. How did you ensure accuracy and clarity in reporting?
- Tell me about a situation where you noticed an inconsistency in your data. What did you do to verify and correct it?
- Tell me about a time when you had to complete a detailed and precise task under strict guidelines. How did you ensure accuracy and maintain high-quality standards?"
- Chemists often have to work within a team. Describe a difficult situation in which you were required to establish and build working relationships.
- Give me an example of a time when you faced a lot of obstacles to achieve a goal.
- Describe a time when you identified a potential safety hazard in the lab. How did you address it?
- Have you ever had to enforce safety protocols with a team member or colleague? How did you handle the situation?
- Tell me about a conflict you have had with a supervisor. What was the conflict about and was it resolved?
- When you begin a new project how do you prioritize the tasks involved?
- Have you ever missed a deadline? What were the circumstances?
- Based on your research into our company, which project are you most interested in joining? Why are you interested in that project? What skills could you bring to that project?
Some questions prepared with ChatGPT