Laboratory Assistant
Practice Interview Questions
Give a brief background on yourself.
My name is Ashleigh. I was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. I attended a private school from kindergarten to 8th grade and went to high school at West Valley in Millwood. Currently, I am enrolled at Eastern Washington University and I plan to graduate with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology with the Biotech option. From my time at Eastern, I have participated in different laboratory settings whether it was practicing sterile lab technique while working with P. arguinosa or presenting on relevant topics regarding course content or even testing mice immune response by running ELISAs. I am interested in joining a collaborative and welcoming team that will support my professional development all while running diagnostic tests that will assist physicians in patient diagnoses and treatment plans. My interest in medicine and healthcare stems as inspiration from both my mother and my older sister who are dedicating their lives to patient care. From the lab work I have completed as well as the coursework that builds the foundation for understanding different areas of biology, I believe I have the skills that will help me perform the expected tasks of a Lab Assistant.
What motivated you to pursue this position?
My motivation to pursue a career as a Lab Assistant stems from my strong interest in the intricacies of laboratory science, my passion for pathology, and providing quality care to patients. I realized that the work setting that a Lab Assistant resides in fits what kind of workspace I thrive in as I have learned from my past laboratory experiences. I appreciate that PRL emphasizes its purpose around serving patients and performing diagnostics to get results. The role that a Lab Assistant encompasses is one that understands compliance to safety regulations, is willing to multi-task and complete each task with caution and urgency and provides support to team members for each task they carry out.
How do you prioritize tasks when working in a fast-paced lab environment?
In a fast-paced laboratory environment, I believe that effective task prioritization is crucial. I focus on a systematic approach by first assessing the urgency and importance of each task. By using the tools at my disposal, I find that keeping a notepad near me with a list of tasks that need to be completed is tremendoulously helpful. In addition to this, I would make an effort to clearly communicate with team members to coordinate efforts with the purpose of ensuring that each task is addressed without compromising safety or accuracy.
If we were to offer you the position, how soon could you start?
I sincerely appreciate this opportunity to have your time and consideration. With my current experience and qualifications, I believe that I am an excellent fit for your team and I would like to use my skills provided by my degree I am completing to better benefit your organization. This being said, I do not have the availability to start the position until June 15th but believe that I would make an incredibly valuable asset to your team and would be worth the wait. I would be available before that date to complete any remote onboarding, HR paperwork, or compliance training. I would like to start as soon as I am graduated so that I can be attentive to my tasks and focus on providing quality patient care to those who choose PRL.
Questions after the Interview
If I started in this role today, who would I be reporting to?
How will my performance be measured in this role?
What type of Laboratory Information System or software will I be using on a daily basis?
Based on our conversation, is there any part of my background or qualifications you would like me to clarify?
What are the next steps? / What does the timeline for training and onboarding look like?