Back to BlogScience Job Interviews: How to Prepare & Questions to Expect
Breaking into the science world – or moving up within it - requires more than just a great CV and stellar certifications. The interview is your chance to demonstrate your problem-solving abilities, technical knowledge, communication skills and show how you’re a good fit for the team.
Whether you’re a fresh graduate or a seasoned researcher, here is how you can prepare and what to expect for your science job interview.
How to Prepare for a Science Job Interview
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Research the Role and Organisation
Before the interview, you will want to take time researching the role and organisation. Ensure that you understand the specific role you’re applying for - what skills and expertise does it require?
Employers will also want to see that you understand the broader mission of the lab, department or company. Look into their ongoing projects, recent publications and key personnel, alongside researching the tools and methodologies they use in-house.
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Be Ready to Discuss Your Work
Be prepared to discuss your own research clearly and concisely, tailoring your explanation for different audiences (technical and non-technical). You should be able to describe your current thesis or project in layman’s terms, highlighting your individual contributions. Practice explaining your project’s methods, goals, results and challenges and be prepared to explain this with or without slides.
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Brush Up on Your Technical Knowledge
It is likely that in your interview you will be asked technical questions to test your depth of knowledge. Be sure to revisit the core principles in your field and brush up on your knowledge of different design and data analysis techniques, relevant statistical methods and any equipment, software or programming tools that are mentioned in the job description.
Questions to Expect in a Science Job Interview
Science interviews tend to involve a blend of technical, problem-solving and behavioural questions.
Technical Questions
These questions test your understanding of theories and terminology relevant to the field. For example:
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"How would you design an experiment to test [hypothesis]?"
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“Describe the experimental design for your last project.”
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"What are the key differences between [two scientific concepts]?"
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"How do you ensure the validity and reliability of your experimental results?"
Problem-Solving Questions
Scientific interview questions about problem-solving assess a candidate’s ability to approach, analyse, and resolve challenges in a scientific context. For example:
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“You have conflicting results from two experiments—how do you proceed?”
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“Tell me about a time when you pre-emptively addressed a complex problem before it escalated.”
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“How do you determine when to solve a problem on your own or ask for help?”
Behavioural Questions
Behavioural interview questions aim to assess a candidate’s past behaviours and indicators of their future performance. For example:
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"Tell me about a time you worked effectively as part of a team."
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"Describe a situation where you had to make a difficult decision with limited information."
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“How do you manage deadlines under pressure?”
TIP: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to answer behavioural questions.
Don’t forget to ask the interviewer questions to show that you are interested and invested in the role. For example, you could ask…
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What does success in this role look like?
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What opportunities exist for training or advancement?
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What are the expectations for this role in the first 6–12 months?
Final Tips
Science interviews can be tough, but with the right preparation – understanding the role, practising clear communication and anticipating questions – you should be well-equipped for any STEM-related interview that comes your way!
Don’t forget to dress appropriately, practice out loud and send a thank you email to reiterate your interest once the interview is over.
Good Luck!
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