1. Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018
11/28/2018
Top 10 Interview Tips
Lauren Celano
CEO, Propel Careers
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

2. Tip 10: Research the Organization / Interviewers
Organization website
Press releases / Other news
Conferences
Publications
Presentations
Grants
Industry Reports
Intellectual property
LinkedIn / ResearchGate
Through personal connections
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

3. Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018
Tip 9: Self Reflect
Why do you want this specific role?
Why do you want to work for the organization or the specific department?
What skills are relevant to the organization, department, team?
What are you looking for in a role? Or in an Organization, Culture, or Team?
What kind of career trajectory do you want?
What else is important to you?
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4. Tip 8: Know who you are speaking with
If HR: Usually a more “general” discussion
If Hiring Manager: Usually a more “technical” discussion
Tailor your responses accordingly
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5. Tip 7: Not Everyone sees your Resume and Cover Letter
HR Person
Hiring Manager
Interviewers
Maybe
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6. Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018
Tip 6: Analyze Position Qualifications Hard Skills – Green. Soft Skills – Purple.
Role: Data Manager II, Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH)
The Data Manager will lead data coordination, data management and data analysis for global maternal and child health research projects. We are working on several newborn and child survival projects focused on the discovery of interventions to improve child health and the delivery of care in underserved settings. The research is conducted jointly between the Harvard Chan School of Public Health and BCH.
Requirements
A degree in health science, public health, epidemiology, or closely related field, including course work in biostatistics or computerized analytic techniques.
Knowledge of global maternal and child health research
The analytical skills to handle complex clinical research data in an organized, accurate and timely manner.
A knowledge of and proficiency in a range of data management and statistical software (e.g. SAS, SPSS, relational clinical data management products, web based EDC).
A proven capability of attention to detail and accuracy on complex analytical data management.
Supervisory skills and experience.
Work requires knowledge of FDA regulations and ICH GCPs guidelines.
Experience working in teams
Strong verbal and written communication skills
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

7. Points You might be asked about during your Interview
Hard Skills
Degree: health science, public health, epidemiology, or closely related field biostatistics or computerized analytic techniques
global maternal and child health research
analytical skills for clinical research data
data management and statistical software (e.g. SAS, SPSS, relational clinical data management products, web based EDC)
FDA regulations and ICH GCPs guidelines
Soft Skills
attention to detail and accuracy
supervisory skills and experience
working in teams
verbal and written communication skills
work in a team
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

8. Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018
DO’S AND DONT’S
Focus on your skills and accomplishments
Do not focus on everything you don’t know
If you have not done something that the organization is looking for
Do find examples to show how you can learn this/ get up to speed
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9. Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018
Tip 5: Practice
Practice scenarios
Receive unbiased feedback
What emotions trigger your confidence or make you nervous?
How you are branding yourself
who are you?
how are you different from 1,000 ‘s of other people?
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

10. Typical Interview Questions
Why are you interested in this role?
Why are you interested in our organization?
Tell me more about your background…
What are you most proud of?
What applicable skills do you have that are relevant to this role?
What are your career goals? (i.e. where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years)
What biggest benefit would you bring to this group/department if you were to join us?
What type of environment do you thrive in?
What type of management style are you looking to work in?
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

11. Tip 4: Behavioral Interviewing Questions – Prepare Using STAR Method
Situation:  The context within which a job was performed or a challenge was encountered.
Task: a description of your responsibility to deliver in that situation.  
Action: how did you complete the task or endeavor to meet the challenge.  
Result: what was the outcome or result generated by the action taken.
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12. HOW DO YOU HANDLE A CHALLENGE
11/28/2018
Sample Response:
One of my projects during my senior year involved using a novel method and no one in the lab had experience with this research. To learn how to do this, I sought advice and guidance from outside sources. I read through papers with similar methods, contacted PI’s, and spoke with KOL’s for best practices. By taking advantage of the resources available to me, I perfected the technique. Now this is a model system that others use.
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

13. Sample Behavioral Interviewing Questions
11/28/2018
Have you ever had to motivate others? Tell me about such an experience.
Tell me about a time when you learned from a mistake?
How do you deal with conflict?
If you could go back and start your research project from scratch (knowing what you know now), what would you change?
What is your biggest weakness?
Tell me a time when you managed a project or process? What worked well and what would you change?
Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
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14. Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018
Tip 3: Interview Tips
Wait for the interviewer to finish asking a question, then speak
Listening is Key!
Keep answers succinct (~30 seconds – 1 minute). This enables interviewers to ask you many questions to learn about your background.
If you don’t know the answer to something, say so, and say that you will follow up.
Then DO follow-up.
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

15. Tip 2: Questions to Ask the Interviewers15
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16. Examples of Questions to Ask During an Interview
Manager/Boss
How would you describe the department’s culture?
What are the top three things that I could do upon joining the department to make it a better place?
What is your management style?
What type of people thrive here the most?
Can you describe a typical day or week?
What are the growth plans/strategy for the department/organization/lab over the next 1, 3, 5 years?
What excites you most about the department?
What is an area that the department needs to work on?
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

17. Examples of Questions to Ask During an Interview
Colleagues
What is the culture of group?
What are the team dynamics?
What are the main areas I could help you with when I join?
What excites you most about the department?
Can you describe a typical day or week?
What growth opportunities exist?
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

18. Examples of Questions to Ask During an Interview
Head of Department, or Executive Leadership
What are the organization’s goals over the next 1, 3, 5 years?
What is the vision for the organization?
How will your work impact the organization?
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

19. Tip 1: INTERVIEW DRESS Dress professionally – I prefer a suit
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

20. Final Tip :Thank You Letter / Email
Send within 48 hrs.
Write an thanking the individuals that you met with for their time.
Customize it: Mention something that you talked about during your interview.
Do not send everyone the same , since the interviewing team oftentimes compares follow-up s.
Show your interest again in the role and state your desire to be a part of the team.
Optional: follow up with a hand written note – this will definitely help you to stand out.
Confidential; Not for Distribution. November 28, 2018

21. Contact Details: Connect with Propel
11/28/2018
Full time jobs and Internships
Coaching:
Resume, LinkedIn, Job Search, etc
Newsletter
Networking Events
Lauren Celano
Founder and CEO
Propel Careers
cell:
Facebook: Propel Careers
LinkedIn: Propel Careers
Web: