Laboratory Technician Interview Questions & Answers
Laboratory Technicians support laboratory-based scientific investigations by carrying out routine technical tasks and experiments. Lab Technicians work with laboratory equipment to analyze samples or substances, they conduct tests on those samples or substances, and report on their findings.
Laboratory Technicians often work in research and development facilities in areas as diverse as hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies, food manufacturers, diagnostic labs and chemical companies where they help to create or improve processes, techniques, equipment, products or materials.
Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Laboratory Technician or
an employer preparing to interview candidates for Laboratory Technician position,
these Laboratory Technician interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.
Laboratory Technician Interview Questions
Below are a list of some skill-based Laboratory Technician interview questions.
- Can you describe your experience with laboratory equipment and instruments?
- How do you ensure accuracy and precision in your laboratory work?
- Can you explain your knowledge of laboratory safety protocols and procedures?
- How do you handle the organization and maintenance of laboratory samples and inventory?
- Can you describe your experience with data analysis and interpretation in the laboratory?
- How do you handle troubleshooting and problem-solving in the laboratory?
- Can you provide an example of a complex experiment or project you have worked on in the laboratory and how you approached it?
- How do you prioritize tasks and manage your time effectively in a laboratory setting?
- Can you describe your experience with quality control and quality assurance in the laboratory?
- How do you ensure compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines in the laboratory?
- Can you explain your experience with laboratory documentation and record-keeping?
- How do you handle communication and collaboration with other laboratory staff members?
- Can you describe your experience with maintaining and troubleshooting laboratory equipment?
- Can you provide an example of a situation where you had to handle an unexpected challenge or problem in the laboratory and how you resolved it?
- You are working in the laboratory and encounter a situation where a sample is contaminated. How would you handle this situation?
- Imagine that you are responsible for performing a critical test, and there is a power outage in the laboratory. How would you proceed?
- You are given a set of instructions for an experiment, but you notice that there is an error in the procedure. How would you address this issue?
- You have multiple tasks assigned to you, and they all have the same deadline. How would you prioritize and manage your time to ensure completion?
- You are working on a project with a team of colleagues, and there is a difference of opinion on the approach to take. How would you handle this situation and ensure effective collaboration?
- A coworker in the laboratory is consistently not following safety protocols. How would you address this concern?
- You discover that a laboratory instrument is malfunctioning during an important experiment. How would you troubleshoot and resolve this issue?
- Can you explain the process of calibrating laboratory equipment?
- What is the purpose of a spectrophotometer, and how does it work?
- Describe the steps involved in preparing and staining a microscope slide.
- How do you ensure proper storage and disposal of hazardous chemicals in the laboratory?
- Can you explain the principles and techniques involved in PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) analysis?
- You receive a request from a researcher to expedite the analysis of their samples due to an urgent deadline. However, you have a backlog of other samples to process. How would you handle this situation?
- You are responsible for maintaining inventory and supplies in the laboratory, and you notice that a critical reagent is running low. How would you ensure timely restocking to avoid disruption in the workflow?
- During an experiment, you encounter unexpected results that contradict the expected outcome. How would you investigate and analyze these results to determine the cause?
- How do you stay updated with the latest developments and technologies in the field of laboratory science?
Laboratory Technician Interview Questions and Answers
Every interview is different and the questions may vary.
However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.
Below are some common questions you'd expect during Laboratory Technician interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.
- What is Your Salary Expectation?
- Are You a Leader or a Follower?
- Tell Me About Yourself
- Why Should We Hire You?
- What is Your Greatest Strength?
- What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
- Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
- Why Do You Want This Job?
- What is Your Greatest Weakness?
- Do You Have Any Questions for Us?