If you’ve landed an interview for an engineering lab technician role congratulations! This means your resume and credentials have impressed the hiring manager enough to want to meet you. However the real test will come during the interview itself when you’ll need to demonstrate both your technical abilities and your soft skills.
Engineering lab techs play a crucial role in test labs and manufacturing facilities. You’ll be tasked with setting up, operating and maintaining sensitive lab equipment, accurately collecting and analyzing data, adhering to safety standards, and coordinating with engineers on projects. It’s a role that requires precision, organization and communication skills.
To help you have a stellar interview and land the job here are 15 of the most common engineering lab technician interview questions along with tips on how to craft winning answers
1. What lab equipment do you have experience using?
This question checks how much experience you have with the kinds of tools that will be used in the job. The interviewer wants to know you can safely operate their lab equipment skillfully.
Tips:
- Name the specific equipment you’re familiar with that’s relevant to the job.
- Highlight experience with sophisticated analytical instruments.
- Discuss your expertise in calibration, operation and maintenance.
Example In my previous lab assistant roles I gained extensive experience operating SEM and XRF equipment to analyze material properties. I also regularly used oscilloscopes signal generators, power supplies and precision multimeters for circuit testing. Having handled sensitive equipment worth millions of dollars, I understand the care and precision needed to calibrate and operate these instruments skillfully while delivering accurate results.
2. What steps do you take to avoid contamination in the lab?
This question evaluates your understanding of lab safety protocols and ability to maintain a pristine lab environment. Contamination can completely ruin samples and experiments.
Tips:
- Emphasize following approved safety procedures thoroughly.
- Discuss sterilizing equipment, wearing PPE, and maintaining organization.
- Highlight importance of immediately addressing any risks.
Example: To prevent contamination, I start by rigorously sterilizing all equipment and surfaces between uses. I wear lab coats and protective gear at all times when working with chemicals or specimens. During testing, I work methodically, never rushing protocols, to avoid errors. I adhere to safety guidelines and immediately address any spills or risks. Maintaining a pristine lab is critical for successful experiments, so I take contamination prevention extremely seriously.
3. What were your previous responsibilities in a lab setting?
This allows you to demonstrate your direct lab experience. The interviewer is looking to confirm you have the right background and can handle core tasks.
Tips:
- Focus on technical responsibilities relevant to the role.
- Emphasize accuracy, timeliness and following protocols.
- Discuss both independent and collaborative work.
Example: As a quality control lab technician, my key duties included operating testing equipment to analyze product samples for defects. I prepared detailed reports with statistics, tables and charts on my findings to share with the engineering team. I was also responsible for calibrating and maintaining lab equipment to ensure consistency. In this role, I worked both independently while conducting rigorous testing, and collaboratively with engineers to ensure we met product specifications. The attention to detail and communication skills I honed will enable me to thrive in this lab technician position.
4. What sterilization methods are you familiar with?
This question tests your knowledge of proper sterilization procedures to keep tools and workstations contamination-free. Keeping a pristine lab environment is critical.
Tips:
- Demonstrate understanding of sterilization best practices like autoclaving.
- Discuss experience actually sterilizing tools, equipment and work areas.
- Emphasize the importance of sterilization for sample integrity.
Example: I am well-versed in a range of sterilization methods including using autoclaves or chemical disinfectants for tools and equipment. I wipe down counters and work areas with 70% isopropyl alcohol before and after each use. I also sterilize tools like pipettes, spatulas and containers between each use to prevent any cross-contamination between samples. Maintaining properly sterilized tools and workstations is a top priority of mine to support accurate test results.
5. What is your approach to working with large sets of data?
This evaluates your ability to collect, organize, analyze and report on large volumes of data – a key aspect of the lab tech role.
Tips:
- Demonstrate you are proficient with data analysis programs like Excel, Python or R.
- Discuss experience identifying trends and creating visualizations.
- Highlight your attention to detail to avoid errors.
Example: I have experience efficiently gathering large datasets from equipment sensors, organizing the raw data in Excel spreadsheets, analyzing to identify trends and patterns, and creating charts to visualize key data points. I double check all data entry to avoid errors that could undermine results. I then synthesize findings into presentations, reports or spec sheets to share with stakeholders. My Excel skills combined with my careful, detail-oriented approach enables me to skillfully handle large datasets critical for the role.
6. What lab equipment do you have experience using?
This question evaluates your hands-on experience with the types of equipment utilized in the role. The interviewer wants to know you can safely operate their lab equipment skillfully.
Tips:
- Name the specific equipment you’re familiar with that’s relevant to the job.
- Highlight experience with sophisticated analytical instruments.
- Discuss your expertise in calibration, operation and maintenance.
Example: In my previous lab assistant roles, I gained extensive experience operating SEM and XRF equipment to analyze material properties. I also regularly used oscilloscopes, signal generators, power supplies and precision multimeters for circuit testing. Having handled sensitive equipment worth millions of dollars, I understand the care and precision needed to calibrate and operate these instruments skillfully while delivering accurate results.
7. What steps do you take to avoid contamination in the lab?
This question evaluates your understanding of lab safety protocols and ability to maintain a pristine lab environment. Contamination can completely ruin samples and experiments.
Tips:
- Emphasize following approved safety procedures thoroughly.
- Discuss sterilizing equipment, wearing PPE, and maintaining organization.
- Highlight importance of immediately addressing any risks.
Example: To prevent contamination, I start by rigorously sterilizing all equipment and surfaces between uses. I wear lab coats and protective gear at all times when working with chemicals or specimens. During testing, I work methodically, never rushing protocols, to avoid errors. I adhere to safety guidelines and immediately address any spills or risks. Maintaining a pristine lab is critical for successful experiments, so I take contamination prevention extremely seriously.
8. What were your previous responsibilities in a lab setting?
This allows you to demonstrate your direct lab experience. The interviewer is looking to confirm you have the right background and can handle core tasks.
Tips:
- Focus on technical responsibilities relevant to the role.
- Emphasize accuracy, timeliness and following protocols.
- Discuss both independent and collaborative work.
Example: As a quality control lab technician, my key duties included operating testing equipment to analyze product samples for defects. I prepared detailed reports with statistics, tables and charts on my findings to share with the engineering team. I was also responsible for calibrating and maintaining lab equipment to ensure consistency. In this role, I worked both independently while conducting rigorous testing, and collaboratively with engineers to ensure we met product specifications. The attention to detail and communication skills I honed will enable me to thrive in this lab technician position.
9. What sterilization methods are you familiar with?
This question tests your knowledge of proper sterilization procedures to keep tools and workstations contamination-free. Keeping a pristine lab environment is critical.
Tips:
- Demonstrate understanding of sterilization best practices like autoclaving.
- Discuss experience actually sterilizing tools, equipment and work areas.
- Emphasize the importance of sterilization for sample integrity.
Example: I am well-versed in a range of sterilization methods including using autoclaves or chemical disinfectants for tools and equipment. I wipe down counters and work areas with 70% isopropyl alcohol before and after each use. I also sterilize tools like pipettes, spatulas and containers between each use to prevent any cross-contamination between samples. Maintaining properly sterilized tools and workstations is a top priority of mine to support accurate test results.
10. What is your approach to working with large sets of data?
This evaluates your ability to collect, organize, analyze and report on large volumes of data – a key aspect of the lab tech role.
Tips:
- Demonstrate you are proficient with data analysis programs like Excel, Python or R.
- Discuss experience identifying trends and creating visualizations.
- Highlight your attention to detail to avoid errors.
Example: I have experience efficiently gathering large datasets from equipment sensors, organizing the raw data in Excel spreadsheets, analyzing to identify trends an
1 What are the factors on which the gas sterilization depends on?
Gas sterilization depends on factors like
- Concentration of the gas
- Humidity
- Time of exposure
- Temperature
- Nature of the load
1 Explain what is co-chromatography?
By comparing the chromatic comparison with a known substance, co-chromatography can find a substance that isn’t known.
LABORATORY TECHNICIAN Interview Questions & Answers! (How To Pass A Lab Technician Interview!)
FAQ
Why should we hire you as a laboratory technician?
What is laboratory technician in engineering?
What do Interviewers look for in a lab technician?
Interviewers prefer lab technicians with excellent attention to detail and self-discipline. This question helps them understand your skills and conveys your ability to work as a lab technician. When answering, show your passion for science, ability to use lab equipment and soft skills.
What questions should a lab technician ask in an interview?
Most interviews will include questions about your personality, qualifications, experience and how well you would fit the job. In this article, we review examples of various lab technician interview questions and sample answers to some of the most common questions. How did you get interested in the field of lab technician work?
What questions do engineers ask in a job interview?
Provide an example of a successful project you have completed as an engineering technician. This question will allow the interviewer to assess your technical skill and ability to work on complex projects. They’ll want to hear about the details of the project, the challenge you faced, and how you overcame it.
Why is a lab technician interview important?
Second, it gives the interviewer an opportunity to see how the lab technician would handle a situation where they are asked a question that they do not know the answer to. Finally, it allows the interviewer to get a sense of the lab technician’s communication skills. -What is your educational background?
