Microbiologist interview questions

Basic questions

1. What does a normal working day look like for a Microbiologist?
2. Which instruments, tools or software do you use most as a Microbiologist?
3. Which safety rules do you follow in the lab or in the field?
4. How do you record your work and your results?
5. What is the difference between accuracy and precision?
6. How do you make sure your samples or data are of good quality?
7. What is a standard operating procedure, or SOP, and why is it used?
8. Tell me about a research or lab project you have worked on.

Practical questions

1. Your result is very different from what you expected. What do you do?
2. How do you plan an experiment, test or survey before you start?
3. An instrument or software gives strange readings. How do you handle it?
4. How do you explain your findings to someone who is not a scientist?
5. As a Microbiologist, how do you keep up with new methods and research?
6. As a Microbiologist, how do you avoid contamination or bias in your work?
7. You have many samples or datasets to finish by Friday. How do you plan?
8. How do you check whether a result is really meaningful and not just chance?

What interviewers want to hear

Strong answers usually touch on:

• Answer with a real example: the situation, what you did, and the result, ideally with a number.
• Keep each answer to about a minute; make your main point in the first two sentences.
• Expect follow-ups. Good interviewers dig into what you just said.