20 Charles River Laboratories Interview Questions and Answers

Charles River Laboratories is a global provider of drug discovery, development, and manufacturing services. The company has helped to develop over half of the new drugs approved by the FDA in the last decade.

If you’re interviewing for a job at Charles River Laboratories, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your experience, qualifications, and availability. In this guide, we’ve compiled a list of sample Charles River Laboratories interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Charles River Laboratories Interview Process

The interview process at Charles River Laboratories can vary depending on the position you are applying for. Generally, there are two stages to the interview process: a phone screen and an in-person interview. The phone screen is usually conducted by a recruiter and is used to get a general idea of your qualifications and interest in the position. The in-person interview is usually conducted by a panel of managers and scientists who will ask you more specific questions about your experience and skills. The entire process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

1. What is your experience with lab equipment?

This question can help the interviewer determine your experience with specific equipment used in a Charles River Laboratories environment. Use examples from previous work experiences to highlight your knowledge and skills with lab equipment, including safety protocols for using it.

Example: “In my last position as a research scientist at XYZ Company, I was responsible for maintaining all of the lab equipment. This included calibrating instruments regularly and ensuring that they were functioning properly. If any equipment needed repairs or replacement, I would order parts or new equipment and schedule technicians to install them. In addition to maintaining equipment, I also helped train other employees on how to use the equipment.”

2. Tell me about a time you had to prioritize multiple tasks and how you handled it.

This question can help the interviewer determine how you manage your time and prioritize tasks. Use examples from previous work experiences to show that you are organized, efficient and able to meet deadlines.

Example: “At my current position, I have a lot of responsibilities including managing projects, overseeing staff members and ensuring quality control measures are met. In addition to these duties, I also need to ensure all regulatory requirements are met and submit reports on time. To balance all of these tasks, I use project management software to create weekly schedules for myself and my team. This helps me stay organized and ensures we’re meeting our deadlines.”

3. Why do you want to work at Charles River Laboratories?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are a good fit for their company. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention something specific about the company that attracted you to apply in the first place.

Example: “I applied to work at Charles River Laboratories because I was impressed with your commitment to animal welfare. I have always been passionate about animals, so I would love to work somewhere where my values align with the company’s. I also really like how open and friendly everyone seems to be here. It makes me feel excited to come into work every day.”

4. Do you have any experience working with animals?

Charles River Laboratories is a global leader in animal testing, so it’s likely that you’ll be working with animals if you’re hired. The company wants to know whether you have experience handling and caring for animals. If you do, share your story about how you got started. If you don’t, explain why not and what you would do if faced with this situation.

Example: “I’ve always been interested in science, but I never thought of myself as someone who could work with animals until my senior year of college when I took an introductory biology class. My professor was passionate about the field and shared stories about her experiences working at Charles River Laboratories. She inspired me to pursue a career in research.”

5. How would you deal with an upset customer?

This question can help interviewers assess your customer service skills. They want to know how you would handle a situation that could potentially damage the company’s reputation. In your answer, demonstrate your ability to empathize with customers and resolve their concerns.

Example: “I once had a client who was upset because they didn’t receive their results in time for an important meeting. I apologized for the inconvenience and explained why there was a delay. Then, I offered to resend the report at no charge. The client appreciated my honesty and agreed to wait for the new report. It arrived on time, and the client used it to make an informed decision.”

6. Describe a time where you were successful in getting a large gift or donation.

This question is a great way to show your leadership skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the name of the donor or company that gave you the gift or donation and how it helped your organization.

Example: “When I was working for my previous employer, we were trying to get a large donation from a local business owner. We had been in talks with him for months about making a sizable donation, but he kept putting us off. Finally, I called him up and asked if we could meet at his office. He agreed, so I brought along two other members of our team who also wanted to discuss donations with him.

We all sat down together and talked about what our organization did and why he should donate to us. After talking for a while, he finally agreed to give us $10,000. It took some teamwork, but we got the job done.”

7. Have you ever worked on a project that didn’t go well, what did you learn from it?

This question can help the interviewer get a better understanding of your problem-solving skills. When answering this question, it can be beneficial to mention a time when you faced challenges and overcame them.

Example: “In my previous role as a research scientist, I was working on a project that involved testing different types of medications for their effectiveness in treating certain diseases. During the process, we found that some of the medications were not effective at all. This led me to reevaluate our methods and change how we conducted the tests. We then retested the medications and found that they worked well with some patients but not others.”

8. Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your manager, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you handle conflict and whether you’re able to respectfully disagree with your manager. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a time when you disagreed but still managed to work well with your manager or supervisor.

Example: “When I first started working at Charles River Laboratories, my manager asked me to do something that I didn’t think was safe for the animals in our care. I politely told her that I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing it because of my concern for animal safety. She understood where I was coming from and we discussed other options. In the end, she agreed with my decision.”

9. What are some of the most important qualities for a scientist?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the necessary skills and abilities to succeed in a role at Charles River Laboratories. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention some of your own personal qualities that make you successful as a scientist.

Example: “I believe one of the most important qualities for a scientist is curiosity. I am always asking questions about how things work or why they happen. Another quality I think is essential is problem-solving ability. Scientists are constantly faced with challenges, so being able to solve problems quickly is an important skill. Finally, I think communication skills are vital because scientists often need to explain their research to others.”

10. If you saw something unsafe happening in the lab, what would you do?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you would react to a potentially dangerous situation in the workplace. Use your answer to highlight your ability to recognize and respond to unsafe situations, as well as your commitment to safety in the lab.

Example: “If I saw something unsafe happening in the lab, I would first make sure that everyone was aware of the issue. Then, if it was safe for me to do so, I would address the problem myself. If not, I would alert my supervisor or other management staff member about the situation and let them handle it. Safety is one of my top priorities, so I would always take steps to ensure the safety of myself and others in the lab.”

11. Are you comfortable handling live animals?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your comfort level with handling animals. If you have no experience working with live animals, it’s important to explain how comfortable you are with handling them and what kind of training or experience you have that makes you feel confident in your abilities.

Example: “I’ve worked with live animals before, but I’m not as experienced as some other candidates. However, I am very comfortable handling small rodents like mice and rats. In my previous role, I was responsible for feeding and cleaning up after the lab animals. I also helped train new employees on proper animal care.”

12. What are your long term career goals?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you are a good fit for their company. They want to know that you have goals and aspirations beyond your current position. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about what you hope to achieve in your career. You should also show that you’re willing to work hard to get there.

Example: “My long term goal is to become a research scientist. I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, so I would love to spend my days conducting experiments and analyzing data. However, I understand that getting to that point will take years of education and experience. For now, I’m happy to continue working at Charles River Laboratories as an animal care technician.”

13. What kind of research experience do you have?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your background and experience. It’s important to highlight any unique or interesting projects you’ve worked on, especially if they relate to the job description.

Example: “I have extensive research experience in both animal and human testing. I started working with animals when I was 16 years old at my local pet store where I learned how to care for different species of animals. In college, I volunteered as a test subject for several psychology classes. After graduating, I got a job at a pharmaceutical company where I tested new drugs on humans.”

14. Can you tell me about a time when you had a conflict with another employee? How did you resolve it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you resolve conflicts with others and your ability to work as part of a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a specific example from your past that shows your conflict resolution skills and teamwork abilities.

Example: “In my last position, I had a disagreement with one of my coworkers about an experiment we were conducting together. We talked about our disagreements and decided to come up with a compromise solution. This allowed us to continue working together while also finding a solution that worked for both of us.”

15. What was one time you struggled as a leader?

This question can help interviewers understand how you respond to challenges and learn from them. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation where you struggled as a leader and what steps you took to improve your skills or the outcome of the situation.

Example: “When I first started my current role at Charles River Laboratories, there was an issue with one of our projects that led to some clients not receiving their products on time. As a result, we lost several customers. I immediately met with my team to discuss the issue and find ways to prevent similar situations in the future. We created a new system for tracking orders so we could more accurately predict when they would ship out. This helped us avoid similar issues in the future.”

16. Tell us about a time when you made a mistake.

Employers ask this question to see how you respond to challenges. They want to know that you can learn from your mistakes and grow as a professional. When answering, be sure to focus on the steps you took to correct the mistake and what you learned from it.

Example: “When I first started working in my current role, I was responsible for sending out an email newsletter to our clients. Unfortunately, I forgot to include one of our client’s contact information in the newsletter. The client called me right away to let me know they didn’t receive the newsletter. I apologized profusely and assured them I would send another newsletter with their information included. I also sent them a personal apology email explaining what happened. Thankfully, they were understanding and appreciated my efforts to make things right.”

17. Explain the scientific method to us.

The scientific method is a process that scientists use to test hypotheses and theories. It’s important for employees at Charles River Laboratories to understand the scientific method because it’s used in their daily work. Your answer should show that you know how to apply the scientific method to your research.

Example: “The scientific method is a process of testing a hypothesis or theory by performing experiments. I learned about the scientific method when I was studying biology in college, and I’ve been using it ever since. The first step is to form a question or hypothesis. Then, you need to gather data through observation and experimentation. After this, you analyze the data and draw conclusions from it. Finally, you can either reject or modify your original hypothesis.”

18. What is your favorite part about being a scientist?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and interests. It also helps employers see if you are passionate about your work, which can be an important quality in a scientist. When answering this question, try to focus on one or two specific aspects of being a scientist that you enjoy most.

Example: “My favorite part about being a scientist is getting to solve problems. I love finding solutions to complex issues and figuring out how to make things better. My second favorite thing is working with other scientists. I find it so interesting to hear what everyone else is working on and learning from each other.”

19. What is your experience with science education?

Charles River Laboratories is a global leader in providing quality research services. They also have an interest in supporting science education and promoting STEM careers for students. Your answer should show that you are committed to the advancement of science education, especially among young people.

Example: “I believe it’s important to encourage young people to pursue careers in science. I volunteer at my local high school as a mentor for their robotics team. We’ve won several awards over the past few years, including first place at the state competition last year. It’s rewarding to see these students develop their skills and confidence while working on this project.”

20. What process and planning would you do to prepare for an upcoming class you were teaching?

This question is a great way to show your ability to plan and organize. It also shows the interviewer that you are willing to take on extra responsibilities, such as teaching classes. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention how you would prepare for the class and what steps you would take to ensure everything was ready before students arrived.

Example: “I would first make sure I had all of the necessary materials for the class. Then, I would create an outline of the topics I wanted to cover in the class and decide which resources I would use to teach each topic. Finally, I would practice my presentation so I could feel confident when presenting to the class.”