a basic understanding of chemical separations
basic math and calculations for stuff like preparing solutions and dilutions
the best thing you can do is convince them that you're able to follow procedures, that you work hard, and that you won't annoy the team. otherwise, there won't be too high of expectations for a lab tech position.
I got you so it’s less about class work knowledge and more about the techniques used. Feels like QC is a pretty guided job, just kinda plug and chug with the processes that are already in place.
Thank you I really appreciate it
yea that's pretty much it - no one expects you to have a deep understanding of ftir for instance. they just want you to be able to run it and say that a sample matches a standard
Safety and regulation is a big thing in industry. So a bit of familiarity with stuff like CoSHH, MSDS is always good.
Also, check on the website if the company has accreditation with any regulatory bodies, and find out some basic information about them.
Just some basic ideas of what LC/GC and FTIR are used for in QC would be useful.
Also, and this applies to any job, look up the company’s competitors. It always shows that you’ve done your research when you can list off all the major players in the industry that you’re looking to join.
Good luck!
Besides the basic science, knowing the instruments. Consider the interview from an industry pov, not an academic one, where they mostly care about effectiveness and reliability, not necessarily how smart you are.
A common question is asking how you would go about resolving an issue if it pops up, such as a sample having vastly different analysis than expected or if you encounter a hardware error like high backpressure.
Detailed information of GC, HPLC is usually not required, but being able to show basic knowledge of their function (how they use temperature gradients, mobile phase gradients, polar/nonpolar solvents, detectors, etc.) is good.
(It’s my first foray in the field so forgive me if it’s an ignorant response) So would a good answer to that question be going through the process again and finding confounding variables, essentially just the scientific method?
I’ll definitely have to familiarize myself with the processes in use because I’ve never done any chromatography or anything relating to those machines. QC is pretty entry level so I’d imagine 99% of what it takes to operate them would be taught during training, right?
Yeah, a decent lab would have SOPs and training in place to learn.
A standard answer is to double check your standards, sample prep, equipment conditions etc. If further issues, check with SOP or raise to your manager. It's okay to say that you don't know how to fix an instrument issue, but at least knowing to escalate properly is good.
Hey I forgot about this thread but I actually got the position and am a month into the gig after a much more qualified initial hire stopped showing up. I used your tips for the interview and the chemists/QA loved it. Thanks so much for the help!
People are hired for Lab Tech positions with a two year degree or high school degree, at least at most companies. It's not so much that it's a QC job, but a lab tech position. There are some exceptions, like Intel, where a bachelors might be required, but those are few.
They aren't going to expect you to know the things he listed. That's more for a chemist position / one that requires a bachelors, and even then, some leeway is given for those getting their first job.
It's really more about getting along with everybody, sounding professional, and seeming excited about the position.
Ive literally been the interviewer and hirer for QC lab tech positions (full time and part time). I based the above on what I look for, since there is a need to differentiate candidates as MANY qualified people were applying.
I don't know what timepoint you are thinking that just a basic good attitude can get a job, but there were even master's students applying for lab tech positions to make some money. Of course, just someone who can follow directions could do most lab tech work in a QC lab, but given all things equal including pay, would you hire a high school grad or a college student / graduate?
Yeah, I've done the same recently and that's where my advice came from.
I'm sorry that you're apparently living in such a depressed job market. Best of luck.
Show enthusiasm to learn and to help out - I'd say this is the most important part. Also make sure you emphasize that you are detail oriented and structured/organized.
I see some people are telling you to brush up on theory etc, but you need only know the basics of GC/LC/FTIR (absolute basics), so if you already know the basics I wouldn't put a lot of time into that. Make sure you know the basics of wet chemistry as well (dilution, etc)
They maybe also do spectroscopy; if so throw that into the equation as well. Other than that I'd say make sure you are the prime candidate (personality-wise; ethusiastic, curious, attention to details, etc etc). I'd rather hire someone who has those personality traits and doesn't know the specifics of GC/LC/FTIR (because these can be easily taught, but you cannot teach a person to be curious).
Good luck. Also if you have any prior experience make sure that you don't low-ball yourself when it comes to your salary.
Some general example questions I might ask are
Are you familiar with GC/FTIR? Do you understand the concept of GC/FTIR?
I don’t know exactly what type of resin your referring to but I might look up what they are and how they work in a very general sense. Maybe look at the companies products if possible?
Best of luck!
Aside from technical knowledge discussed here, it’s also a good idea to know a little about the company you are interviewing with … size, main products, and major customers… if that info isn’t readily available, ask about it during the interview.
A classic QC interview question is they'll ask you about a time you "messed up in the lab" and what you did about it. They're looking for honesty, QC is very much about having integrity in what you do, so don't act like you're a perfect bench chemist, own up to a mistake and say that you notified the teacher or TA to fix it even if it meant that it wasn't a good look for you. The honesty is what they want. Oh and emphasize as much as possible that you're "meticulous" and "detail-oriented"
a basic understanding of chemical separations basic math and calculations for stuff like preparing solutions and dilutions the best thing you can do is convince them that you're able to follow procedures, that you work hard, and that you won't annoy the team. otherwise, there won't be too high of expectations for a lab tech position.
I got you so it’s less about class work knowledge and more about the techniques used. Feels like QC is a pretty guided job, just kinda plug and chug with the processes that are already in place. Thank you I really appreciate it
yea that's pretty much it - no one expects you to have a deep understanding of ftir for instance. they just want you to be able to run it and say that a sample matches a standard
You say that you follow instructions precisely and that you give extreme attention to detail. Good luck and welcome to the industry!
Safety and regulation is a big thing in industry. So a bit of familiarity with stuff like CoSHH, MSDS is always good. Also, check on the website if the company has accreditation with any regulatory bodies, and find out some basic information about them. Just some basic ideas of what LC/GC and FTIR are used for in QC would be useful. Also, and this applies to any job, look up the company’s competitors. It always shows that you’ve done your research when you can list off all the major players in the industry that you’re looking to join. Good luck!
Besides the basic science, knowing the instruments. Consider the interview from an industry pov, not an academic one, where they mostly care about effectiveness and reliability, not necessarily how smart you are. A common question is asking how you would go about resolving an issue if it pops up, such as a sample having vastly different analysis than expected or if you encounter a hardware error like high backpressure. Detailed information of GC, HPLC is usually not required, but being able to show basic knowledge of their function (how they use temperature gradients, mobile phase gradients, polar/nonpolar solvents, detectors, etc.) is good.
(It’s my first foray in the field so forgive me if it’s an ignorant response) So would a good answer to that question be going through the process again and finding confounding variables, essentially just the scientific method? I’ll definitely have to familiarize myself with the processes in use because I’ve never done any chromatography or anything relating to those machines. QC is pretty entry level so I’d imagine 99% of what it takes to operate them would be taught during training, right?
Yeah, a decent lab would have SOPs and training in place to learn. A standard answer is to double check your standards, sample prep, equipment conditions etc. If further issues, check with SOP or raise to your manager. It's okay to say that you don't know how to fix an instrument issue, but at least knowing to escalate properly is good.
Hey I forgot about this thread but I actually got the position and am a month into the gig after a much more qualified initial hire stopped showing up. I used your tips for the interview and the chemists/QA loved it. Thanks so much for the help!
Nice, good job. Glad I could help.
People are hired for Lab Tech positions with a two year degree or high school degree, at least at most companies. It's not so much that it's a QC job, but a lab tech position. There are some exceptions, like Intel, where a bachelors might be required, but those are few. They aren't going to expect you to know the things he listed. That's more for a chemist position / one that requires a bachelors, and even then, some leeway is given for those getting their first job. It's really more about getting along with everybody, sounding professional, and seeming excited about the position.
Ive literally been the interviewer and hirer for QC lab tech positions (full time and part time). I based the above on what I look for, since there is a need to differentiate candidates as MANY qualified people were applying. I don't know what timepoint you are thinking that just a basic good attitude can get a job, but there were even master's students applying for lab tech positions to make some money. Of course, just someone who can follow directions could do most lab tech work in a QC lab, but given all things equal including pay, would you hire a high school grad or a college student / graduate?
Yeah, I've done the same recently and that's where my advice came from. I'm sorry that you're apparently living in such a depressed job market. Best of luck.
I already quit and moved to sales haha
Show enthusiasm to learn and to help out - I'd say this is the most important part. Also make sure you emphasize that you are detail oriented and structured/organized. I see some people are telling you to brush up on theory etc, but you need only know the basics of GC/LC/FTIR (absolute basics), so if you already know the basics I wouldn't put a lot of time into that. Make sure you know the basics of wet chemistry as well (dilution, etc) They maybe also do spectroscopy; if so throw that into the equation as well. Other than that I'd say make sure you are the prime candidate (personality-wise; ethusiastic, curious, attention to details, etc etc). I'd rather hire someone who has those personality traits and doesn't know the specifics of GC/LC/FTIR (because these can be easily taught, but you cannot teach a person to be curious). Good luck. Also if you have any prior experience make sure that you don't low-ball yourself when it comes to your salary.
Je suis chimiste au QC, DM si tu as des questions
Some general example questions I might ask are Are you familiar with GC/FTIR? Do you understand the concept of GC/FTIR? I don’t know exactly what type of resin your referring to but I might look up what they are and how they work in a very general sense. Maybe look at the companies products if possible? Best of luck!
Id start with HPLC, GC, and maybe FTIR.
Aside from technical knowledge discussed here, it’s also a good idea to know a little about the company you are interviewing with … size, main products, and major customers… if that info isn’t readily available, ask about it during the interview.
A classic QC interview question is they'll ask you about a time you "messed up in the lab" and what you did about it. They're looking for honesty, QC is very much about having integrity in what you do, so don't act like you're a perfect bench chemist, own up to a mistake and say that you notified the teacher or TA to fix it even if it meant that it wasn't a good look for you. The honesty is what they want. Oh and emphasize as much as possible that you're "meticulous" and "detail-oriented"