Biological Technician Interview Questions & Answers

Biological technicians help biological and medical scientists conduct laboratory tests and experiments.

Interviewers look for candidates that demonstrate excellent skills such as:

• Communication skills
• Observational skills
• Critical-thinking skills
• Analytical skills
• Technical skills

In this blog, we discuss commonly asked interview questions during job interviews for Biological Technician positions. We also discuss the qualities that interviewers look for in successful candidates. In other words, we’re here to help you out!

Also, read more about frequently asked job interview questions here and check our job interview preparation checklist.

Skills Interviewers Look For In Successful Candidates

Below we discuss the skills you can highlight in your answers to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the job.

Analytical skills

Why interviewers are interested in your analytical skills:

Biological technicians need to conduct scientific experiments and analyses with accuracy and precision.

Communication skills

Why interviewers are interested in your communication skills:

Biological technicians must understand and follow the instructions of their managing scientists. They also need to communicate their processes and findings clearly in written reports.

Learn more about communication interview questions and how to answer them!

Critical-thinking skills

Why interviewers are interested in your critical-thinking skills:

Biological technicians draw conclusions from experimental results through sound reasoning and judgment.

Observational skills

Why interviewers are interested in your observational skills:

Biological technicians must constantly monitor their experiments. They need to keep a complete, accurate record of their work, including the conditions under which the experiment was carried out, the procedures they followed, and the results they obtained.

Technical skills

Why interviewers are interested in your technical skills:

Biological technicians need to set up and operate sophisticated equipment and instruments. They also may need to adjust equipment to ensure that experiments are conducted properly.

(source: bls.gov)

Biological Technician Job Interview Questions & Answers

During a job interview, the hiring manager wants to discuss several things. Think of your:

• Employment history
• Skills and abilities
• Accomplishments
• Job qualifications
• Educational background
• Career goals
• Personality

Below you find a list of commonly asked interview questions.

Examples Of General Biological Technician Interview Questions

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. How would you describe yourself?
3. Why do you want to work here?
4. What interests you about this position?
5. Walk me through your resume.
6. What motivates you?
7. Why are you leaving your current job?
8. Describe your work ethic.
9. What is your greatest strength?
10. How does your experience qualify you for this job?
11. What is your greatest weakness?
12. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
13. Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
14. What are your expectations for this position?
15. What are your career goals?
16. Why should we hire you?
17. What did you like most about your last position?
18. What did you like least about your last position?
19. How do you handle stress?
20. What is your greatest accomplishment?

Learn how to answer these common job interview questions!

Examples Of Specific Biological Technician Behavioral Interview Questions

Learn more about answering behavioral interview questions by using the STAR interview technique.

1. What is the most challenging project you have worked on? What did you learn from it?
2. How would you rate your communication skills? Can you give me a recent example of how you communicate processes and findings and write them down in reports?
3. Walk me through your laboratory experience. What tests do you enjoy most performing?
4. Have you developed a system to minimize the risk of errors in your work? Explain it to me.
5. Tell me about a time you thought out of the box to solve a problem working as a biological technician.
6. What skills do you think are essential for a biological technician to succeed? Can you give me an example of a time you successfully used those skills?
7. Tell me about the steps you take to stay up to date on new developments in the industry?
8. Do you consider yourself a strong critical-thinker? Can you give me an example?
9. Tell me about some of the most recent projects you have worked on.
10. Describe a time a project did not have the outcome you intended. What happened? What did you learn from the situation?

Learn more about questions to ask the interviewer during your job interview