<p>I have an interview for a lab assistant job at a local medical research center. I was surprised at the mention of an interview. Does anyone know what types of questions will arise? has anyone ever had to interview for such a position?</p>
<p>bump....im in the same position! i have no idea what to expect...</p>
<p>They'll ask you about any previous lab experiences you've had, what techniques you're familiar with, whether or not you work well with people, etc. They'll probably ask "Why should I hire you over another qualified candidate" or maybe "If I called the PI at the lab that you worked in, what would he or she say about you?" Nothing terribly shocking or anything. Just be sure to know enough about your projects you've been working on to talk about it.</p>
<p>what if we have zero lab experience?</p>
<p>You could talk about the lab experience you've had through your coursework or maybe talk about your work ethic. If you have no experience, you probably won't get the job.</p>
<p>then how does one obtain a position in the first place to gain experience?</p>
<p>oh jeez..</p>
<p>which came first...the chicken or the egg?</p>
<p>You usually obtain a position after you've taken a few courses with labs and done well in them.</p>
<p>D has a lab intern position this summer. Her interview (back in March) really was more along the lines of "will you fit in with the rest of the lab personalities" than an actual interview. There were no real interview-like questions, and she really didn't have to sell herself. I think by the time your resume, credentials and course work have been reviewed, and have been determined to be what they are looking for, it's more of a "fit" issue. She's been working since early May and is loving it; this week she is doing an experiment on her own.</p>