Thank you for applying to BioStart. Before your interview, please read through the Applicant Guide so you’re familiar with the program schedule, expectations, and the kinds of roles BioStart prepares candidates for.

The questions below are what we’ll be discussing during your interview. We share them in advance so you can reflect on your experiences and come prepared to talk through them.

Interview Questions

1. Could you tell me a bit about your professional background? This can include work experience, education, volunteer work, or other relevant experiences. If applicable, what led you to leave your most recent position?

2. What motivated you to apply to BioStart, and what about the program made it feel like a good fit for where you are in your career?

3. BioStart takes place virtually via Zoom from June 8 to 19, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our learning materials are hosted online and require the use of a mouse and keyboard. Can you walk me through what participation would look like for you during that time, including your schedule, access to reliable internet and a computer, and any commitments you may need to plan around?

4. In the Applicant Guide, we highlighted several types of positions that BioStart can prepare candidates for. Which roles stood out to you, and why do they seem like a good fit for your strengths and interests?

5. Biomanufacturing roles can be physically and mentally demanding: long shifts, PPE, repetitive work, strict documentation, and sometimes overnight schedules. What parts of that environment do you think you’d handle well, and what parts might be harder for you?

6. Think about a time you had to learn something new that did not come naturally to you. This could be a task at work, a subject in school, or a new skill. What made it challenging, and how did you go about learning it?

7. In manufacturing environments, accountability and accuracy are important. Even small oversights can affect product quality or worker safety. Tell me about a time at work or school when you made a mistake. What happened, and what steps did you take to prevent it from happening again?

8. Processes in manufacturing are typically designed with safety in mind. Can you describe a time at work or school that you noticed a procedure being ignored? How did you handle it?

9. Manufacturing jobs are team oriented. Tell me about a time at work or school when you had to work with others to get something done correctly. What challenges came up, and how did you handle them?