Top Ten Interview Questions for Scientific Industry Jobs
At the BPS meeting I went to a panel discussing the top ten interview questions for industry jobs, and how to respond to them. The responses are generic so you should elaborate with details specific to the company and position you are interviewing for.
Contents
Section titled “Contents”- Tell me about yourself?
- Why are you interested in a job in industry?
- What are your salary expectations?
- Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years?
- What is your greatest strength?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- Tell me about a conflict with your past boss and how you resolved it?
- Tell me something you have done in your life that you are proud of?
- What other positions are you applying to?
- Do you have any questions for me?
- Follow-up
1. Tell me about yourself?
Section titled “1. Tell me about yourself?”What they REALLY want to know is how you see yourself relative to your position
A.) I like X, I got trained in X by X University by Dr.X I had X publications. My goal is to now take my experience and apply it to this position by ….
2. Why are you interested in a job in industry?
Section titled “2. Why are you interested in a job in industry?”The question I was asked most BY FAR. What they REALLY want to know is your sense of commitment to a new environment and a sense you know what you are getting yourself in to.
A.) I have had X great years in an academic setting. Now I’m ready for a change and to begin my next challenge. I have a friend in Industry and we have talked about his/her position. I really think I would like daily life in industry.
3. What are your salary expectations?
Section titled “3. What are your salary expectations?”What they REALLY want to know is how well you know your skill set and how much you are worth. You should have a number in mind from places like salary.com and glassdoor.com, but you really want to dance around this one.
A.) I have really enjoyed my time here at X. I can already tell I would love to work here and I am sure if you make an offer, it will be fair and based off of my training and experience.
4. Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years?
Section titled “4. Where do you see yourself in 5/10 years?”What they REALLY want to know is the sense of commitment you have to the job, and is it worth their time to train you. Will you stick around.
A.) I am intrested in this company becasue It will let me use my current skills to help this orginization grow. I hope to be a part of that growth in the coming years. I am hopefull oppertunities will open up internally that time and I can rise up into new exciting roles.
5. What is your greatest strength?
Section titled “5. What is your greatest strength?”What they REALLY want to know is what attributes qualify you for this specific job. Be sure to talk about non-technical components as well.
A.) Aside from having strength in X (independent problem solving, method development, device fabrication, ect.), I also have skills in X (communication, writing, working in teams, ect.). Back in gradschool I…(anecdote highlighting your skills)
6. What is your greatest weakness?
Section titled “6. What is your greatest weakness?”What they REALLY want to know is can you be open about yourself.
A.) Although it is’nt a big part of my current job, I did not get many opportunities to X (write, work in a team, mentor students, ect.). I have already started reading books about how to improve this and I am working to improve it
7. Tell me about a conflict with your past boss and how you resolved it?
Section titled “7. Tell me about a conflict with your past boss and how you resolved it?”What they REALLY want to know is how you resolve conflict.
A.) Although we really did’nt have any major conflicts, we did have a difference of opinion when…(Insert anecdote of how a you came to compromise with your mentor)
8. Tell me something you have done in your life that you are proud of?
Section titled “8. Tell me something you have done in your life that you are proud of?”What they REALLY want to know is how you solved a BIG challenge.
A.) (recount a challenge and your role in solving it. Discuss the project and your contribution to the solution. Try to use a challenge that reflects the job and solutions that highlight attributes they are looking for.)
9. What other positions are you applying to?
Section titled “9. What other positions are you applying to?”What they REALLY want to know is how consistent your message is regarding your place in that company.
A.) I have done my research, and I know exactly what I want to do. I’m putting all my available time and energy into finding job X. If I can’t find that specific job, I will explore doing (related job that shares qualities with what you are applying for).
10. Do you have any questions for me?
Section titled “10. Do you have any questions for me?”What they REALLY want to know is how well you know them and how prepared you are for this interview. DO YOUR HOMEWORK, KNOW WHO THEY ARE AND THEIR VALUES.
A.) I saw something on your company website that mentioned X. Could you tell me more about that?