Overview
Job interviews can be very daunting, especially when applying for a science-related job because many traditional interview tips do not apply. When talking up a biochemistry degree, the most important thing is to not simply discuss your education but to instead show the skills and critical thinking abilities that you have acquired.
Step 1
Prepare a summary of your skills and responsibilities if you have lab experience. This will be one of the first things that you will be asked, and it is important to have a comprehensive and coherent answer. Make a list of all of the techniques that you know, including Western blotting, PCR, working with agarose gels, chromatography, protein synthesis, circular dichroism, fluorimetry, spectrometry, FACS analysis, and immunological and radiological assays. Not only will the interviewer want to know what abilities you can provide, he or she will also want to know that you know what they are.
Step 2
Highlight your accomplishments. Although these should also be on your resume, bring them up during the interview. Talk about what you have achieved and how you were able to do so. If you have any publications in scientific journals, prepare a list of where you have been published (starting with such top-tier journals as Science, Nature and the Journal of Biochemistry, and continuing from there) and bring copies of the articles.
Step 3
Research the company or organization before you interview. This will allow you to intelligently discuss the work that the company does and will show that you have the ability to do research independently. It also will help you demonstrate your abilities to understand new concepts and apply what you know to new problems. Make sure you understand the areas they study and the techniques they use. If the lab uses immunological techniques, make sure that you understand what types of antibodies they use.
Step 4
Talk about your interests and how they led you to apply for this position. Explain how your employers want motivated workers. Detail what aspects of the company you find particularly intriguing. This will help you stand out from other applicants and will show thoughtfulness. Don’t focus only on their areas of research. Talk about your interest in their biochemical techniques as well. If they do protein-based work, talk about your interest in protein synthesis. If they do genetic work, mention an interest in molecular cloning.
Step 5
Come with ideas. Before your interview, pick a research question that the company is working on and develop a new approach. This can be as simple as suggesting a new target or recommending other approaches. This will demonstrate the critical thinking and tools that your biochemistry degree has provided.
References
Biospace.com: Biotech and Pharmaceutical News & Jobs
Biochemistry Job Interview Advice
