Transcription
Hi there. My name is Richard McMunn from the interview training company, PassMyInterview.com. And in this tutorial, I am going to teach you how to pass a laboratory assistant interview. So if you have an interview coming up for a lab assistant job with any organization, please do make sure you stay tuned and watch this presentation from start to finish, because this is what I will cover: I am going to give you a list of laboratory assistant interview questions, the ones that I strongly recommend you prepare for. I will give you example answers to lab assistant interview questions to help you succeed. I will give you some brilliant tips on how you can be the standout candidate during your interview. And finally, I will tell you about further resources you can get access to to help you pass your lab assistant interview. So these are four reasons why you should stay tuned.
And just very quickly before we get started, a very warm welcome to this lab assistant interview training tutorial. My name is Richard McMunn; that is me there in the center of the screen. I've been helping people for over 20 years now to pass their interviews, and I always do that by giving you top-scoring answers you can't find anywhere else. On that basis, please make sure you subscribe to the channel so you don't miss out on any of the weekly content I am uploading. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn; I put my LinkedIn link in the description below the video. And please do make sure you give the video a like, because that motivates me and encourages me to create more for you. Thank you very much indeed.
The first question that we need to prepare for is, "Tell me about yourself and why you want to be a laboratory assistant." Now this is going to be the first lab assistant interview question that you need to answer, so we must ensure we provide a genuine, passionate answer that demonstrates that you can add value to their organization and carry out your duties to a quality standard and in line with working practices and procedures. Here is my suggested answer: "I'm a hard worker. I'm somebody who is always willing to learn, and I am passionate about research, scientific-based investigations, and making a difference in the work I undertake as a lab assistant. I first became interested in this role when I was younger, and that passion has never diminished. This means I care about the work I do; I care about my professional development; and I care about the standards I maintain whilst following strict working practices and procedures. I want to be a laboratory assistant because I enjoy working as part of a team, and the natural skills and the experience I possess are all a strong match for the job description and the person specification." That is a brilliant answer; it is in-depth, it is positive, and it sets you up with confidence for the remainder of your interview.
They can either pause the video if you want to and take a note of the questions and answers as I progress, or if you want to wait, I will tell you in a second where you can download my full set of 21 lab assistant interview questions and top-scoring answers, including the ones we are working through together today.
The next question: "Why do you want to work for our organization as a laboratory assistant?" Here is my tip for answering this question. Now this lab assistant question is guaranteed to feature at some stage during your interview. It is asked simply because the organization wants to know you have carried out some research into the work they do and also what has specifically attracted you to work there. So here is my suggested answer: "Why do you want to work for our organization as a laboratory assistant? Here we go. I've chosen your organization to work for as a lab assistant for the simple reason you have an impressive track record as an organization that always insists on quality work and high standards. Now, from my research, you train and support your staff well; the people who work here have many years' experience, and they are all passionate about the work they undertake. This is a place I will be able to learn from experts; I will be able to continually grow and develop; and I will get to immerse myself in challenging yet interesting medical research tasks that will enable me to put my skills to good use. If I am successful, I can genuinely see myself working here for a long period of time and becoming a highly effective and hardworking member of the lab team." That's a really good answer again.
Now, don't go anywhere because I still have more questions and answers to work through with you. But when you're ready, if you want to click that link in the top right-hand corner of the video, it takes you through to my website, PassMyInterview.com, where you can download my full set of 21 laboratory assistant interview questions and top-scoring answers, including the ones we are working through together right now.
The next question: "What are the most important skills and qualities needed to be a lab assistant?" Now, unless you fully understand the different aspects of this role, you will not become a competent laboratory assistant. Therefore, it is imperative that you read and understand the person specification before your interview. Well, I've done that for you, and here's a great answer to make sure you succeed: "There are 10 very important skills and qualities needed to be a lab assistant. These include exceptional attention to detail skills—but simply, you cannot make mistakes as a laboratory assistant—coupled with an ability to work accurately. It is important to be a strong communicator, both verbally and in writing. You need research and analytical skills, knowledge of lab processes, procedures, and equipment, and solid numerical, mathematical, and measurement skills. As a lab assistant, you need to be a great team worker and collaborator, because not only do you work with colleagues within the lab itself, you also work with external stakeholders and medical staff. To finally, you need knowledge of computer systems and research programs and the ability to create and maintain accurate records." That shows that you fully understand what you will be required to do on a day-to-day basis as a lab assistant, and that's important.
The next question: "Describe a time when you had to work under pressure and prioritize tasks." Now, as a lab assistant, you will have to work under pressure on a regular basis. Whilst working under pressure, it is imperative you follow strict lab rules and processes whilst also maintaining high standards and delivering quality work. Here is my suggested answer: "In a previous medical laboratory, I was part of a four-person team who were required to conduct complex experiments under strict predetermined conditions in order to either verify or reject University hypotheses. This was a great project for me to get involved with, simply because I had to work closely with others to conduct a significant number of experiments, all by following defined scientific procedures and under very strict time conditions. At the start of the work, we got together as a team; we discussed our objectives; we allocated tasks; and we set each other milestones in which to complete each project element by using a defined action plan. And by supporting each other throughout, we managed to complete the entire project before days to spare. It was a great experience, and it just served to reaffirm my passion of working with others on new and exciting medical research projects." As a great answer, because it is specific in nature, it shows how you worked under pressure; you used a set process for allocating tasks; and you completed all of the project with a few days to spare. So that shows that you can prioritize tasks and, more importantly, you can work as part of a team whilst under pressure. It's a great answer.
The next question, guaranteed to come up: "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" Now this interview question is guaranteed to feature at some stage during your lab assistant interview, and the truth is it's not an easy one to answer. I recommend you make sure your strengths outweigh your weaknesses. Here's a great way to respond to this tough lab assistant interview question: "My strengths include my ability to follow strict rules and laboratory procedures; my high standards of work—I will never make mistakes—my passion for scientific research, which means I will take responsibility for my own professional development; and my ability to work at pace whilst maintaining exceptional concentration levels. In respect of my weakness, I find it hard sometimes waiting for other people to complete their tasks while my own work is dependent on them. I never want to miss a deadline, and if someone is holding me back, I find it slightly frustrating. Having said that, another one of my strengths is my ability to communicate with others the importance of getting their particular task completed on time." I like that answer because your strengths clearly outweigh your weakness; your weakness is essentially impatience, but you are finding a way to overcome that by communicating with people the importance of making sure they get their work completed on time. So it's a very strong answer.
Now the next thing to do is do click that link in the top right-hand corner of the video, go through to my website at PassMyInterview.com, and you can take a look at my 21 laboratory assistant interview questions and you can also download the answers. I've also put some more useful tips on that page, so make sure you go through there right now and check that page out because it will make a difference to your performance at your lab assistant interview.
All that's left for me to say is I hope you've enjoyed that. Don't forget to subscribe to the channel. Thank you very much. Connect with me on LinkedIn and do give the video a like. Thank you very much for watching, and I wish you all the best for passing your lab assistant interview. Have a brilliant day.