20 GRAIL Interview Questions and Answers

GRAIL is a life sciences company whose mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured. The company is headquartered in Menlo Park, California and was founded in 2016 by Jeff Huber and Akshay Kothari.

If you’re interviewing for a job at GRAIL, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your qualifications, work history, and availability. In this guide, we’ve assembled a list of GRAIL interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

GRAIL Interview Process

The interview process at GRAIL can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require at least a phone screening with a recruiter, followed by one or more interviews with members of the team. For some positions, there may also be a take-home project. The interview process can be lengthy, and some candidates report feeling ghosted after completing all of the interviews.

1. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing the biotechnology industry today?

This question can help interviewers understand your knowledge of the industry and how you might approach challenges. Use examples from your experience to explain what you think is a challenge, why it’s challenging and how you would address it.

Example: “The biggest challenge facing the biotechnology industry today is finding qualified employees. There are many jobs available in this field, but there aren’t enough people with the right skills to fill them. I believe that we need to start training more students for these positions so they’re ready when they graduate. We also need to encourage current professionals to pursue careers in biotechnology.”

2. Tell me about a time when you had to work with someone that was difficult to get along with, how did you handle it?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you work with others and your ability to resolve conflict. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation or person and explain what steps you took to improve the relationship.

Example: “In my last role as an IT specialist, I worked with a developer who was very quiet and didn’t like to ask for help when he needed it. This made it difficult to collaborate on projects because we weren’t communicating well. To solve this problem, I started asking him questions about his current project so that he would feel comfortable enough to speak up more often. He appreciated the extra attention and began speaking up more in meetings.”

3. Do you have any experience working in a laboratory setting?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have experience working in a laboratory setting and can apply your skills to this role. If you do not have any experience, consider describing how you would approach a new lab environment.

Example: “I worked as a research assistant for two years at my university where I studied the effects of different types of music on sleep patterns. This was my first job out of college, so it helped me learn how to work with others and manage my time effectively. It also taught me how to use various equipment like computers, microscopes and other tools.”

4. How would you deal with an upset customer or client?

This question can help interviewers assess your customer service skills. They want to know that you have the ability to diffuse a situation and resolve it quickly. In your answer, try to highlight your problem-solving abilities and communication skills.

Example: “I would first apologize for any inconvenience or frustration they experienced. Then I would ask them what I could do to make things right. If there was something I could fix immediately, I would do so. If not, I would offer an alternative solution or compensation. I believe in treating customers with respect and making sure their needs are met.”

5. What are your thoughts on GRAIL’s mission?

This question is a great way to see how much you know about the company’s mission and values. It also gives you an opportunity to show your enthusiasm for the job. When answering this question, make sure to include specific details from the company’s website or other sources that explain what GRAIL does.

Example: “I think it’s amazing that GRAIL is working to create a world where everyone has access to healthcare. I’ve always been passionate about helping others, so I would love to be part of a team that makes such a positive impact on people’s lives.”

6. Explain GRAIL’s business model to us.

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the company’s business model. It also allows you to show how well you understand it and can apply it in real-world situations.

Example: “GRAIL’s business model is based on three main pillars: data ownership, privacy protection and monetization. The first pillar means that users own their data and have full control over it. They decide who has access to it and when. The second pillar refers to the fact that GRAIL protects its users’ privacy by encrypting all their data. This makes sure no one else can see or use it without permission. Finally, the third pillar is about making money from selling anonymized user data.”

7. Why do you want to work at GRAIL?

This question can help the interviewer get to know you better and understand why you are a good fit for their company. Use your answer to highlight any personal connections you have with GRAIL or how you learned about the position. You can also use this opportunity to show enthusiasm for the role and discuss what excites you most about working at the company.

Example: “I want to work at GRAIL because I am passionate about helping people live healthier lives. My sister has been using GRAIL’s products for years, and she always raves about how much they’ve helped her feel more energized and less stressed. When I saw that there was an open position here, I knew it would be a great way to combine my passion for health and wellness with my background in customer service.”

8. Describe a time where you helped troubleshoot a problem with a piece of software.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work with software. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention the steps you took to troubleshoot the issue and how you solved it.

Example: “At my previous job, I was working on a project that required me to use GRAIL. One day, when I opened up the program, it would not load properly. After trying to fix the issue myself for about an hour, I decided to call in my supervisor. Together, we were able to figure out that there was a bug in the system. We then worked together to find a solution.”

9. What can you tell us about liquid biopsies?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the latest advancements in technology. It also allows you to show that you are up-to-date on current research and developments.

Example: “Liquid biopsies are blood tests that can be used to detect cancer cells in the body. They use liquid samples instead of tissue samples, which makes them easier to analyze. The results of these tests are usually available within 24 hours, making it an excellent diagnostic tool for doctors. Liquid biopsies have been proven to be more accurate than traditional methods of diagnosing cancer.”

10. Give an example of a time when you had to solve a complex problem and explain your process.

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and how you approach challenges. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain the steps you took to solve the problem and what tools or resources you used.

Example: “When I was working as an IT specialist for a large company, my manager asked me to find a solution to a complex issue with one of our databases. The database had become corrupted, which caused some of our applications to crash. After talking with my manager about the situation, we decided that rebuilding the entire database would take too long. Instead, I created a backup of the database and then restored it onto a new server. This process took several hours but allowed us to get back up and running without losing any data.”

11. If you could change one thing about GRAIL what would it be?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your understanding of GRAIL and how you might improve it. Your answer should show that you understand what makes GRAIL unique, but also highlight areas where you think improvements could be made.

Example: “I would change the fact that there are no built-in tools for managing large amounts of data. I’ve worked with many different databases in my career, and one thing they all have in common is some sort of tool for managing large datasets. For example, Oracle has its own Big Data solution called Exa Cloud which allows users to store massive amounts of data on the cloud. If GRAIL had something similar, it would make it much easier to manage large amounts of data.”

12. What kind of computer programs do you have experience using?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience using GRAIL. If you don’t, it can also show that you’re willing to learn new programs and adapt to different computer systems. When answering this question, be sure to list any relevant software or computer programs you’ve used in your previous positions.

Example: “I have extensive experience with Microsoft Office programs like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I also use Google Drive for my work as a freelance writer because it allows me to collaborate with other writers on projects. In my last position at XYZ Company, I learned how to use Adobe Illustrator to create graphics for our marketing campaigns.”

13. What are some of the ethical concerns associated with cancer research?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your ability to make ethical decisions. Your answer should show that you understand the importance of upholding ethical standards in research and can apply them when making decisions.

Example: “There are several ethical concerns associated with cancer research, including informed consent, privacy and confidentiality. Informed consent is important because it ensures that patients know what they’re getting into before participating in clinical trials. Privacy and confidentiality are also essential because they protect patient information from being shared without their permission. I would never share any confidential or private information about my patients.”

14. Have you ever worked for a company that has gone through a merger or acquisition?

If you have experience with a merger or acquisition, the interviewer may ask you about your role in making it successful. Use this question as an opportunity to show how you can work well with others and adapt to change.

Example: “In my last position, I worked for a small company that was acquired by a larger corporation. The CEO of our company made sure we knew what to expect during the transition so we could make it as smooth as possible. We had weekly meetings where he would update us on the progress of the acquisition and answer any questions we had. He also encouraged us to reach out to him if we ever needed help or advice. As a result, the transition went smoothly and everyone remained focused on their work.”

15. Explain to us the difference between a private and public company.

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the different types of companies and how they operate. It also shows that you understand the differences between working for a private company versus a public one.

Example: “A private company is owned by a small group of people, usually family members or close friends. They are not required to release their financial information to the public, so it’s hard to know exactly how much money they make. Public companies have shareholders who own shares in the company. These shareholders can sell their shares on the stock market, which allows anyone to buy them. This means that public companies must report their earnings every quarter.”

16. What is something that you think needs to be improved upon in the healthcare industry?

This question is a great way to show your passion for the healthcare industry and how you can improve upon something that may be causing problems. When answering this question, it’s important to focus on one specific thing and explain why it needs improvement.

Example: “I think there are many things in the healthcare industry that need improvement, but I would say the biggest issue is the lack of communication between doctors and patients. Patients often feel like they’re not being heard or understood by their doctor, which leads to them feeling frustrated and confused about their diagnosis. Doctors also have trouble communicating with each other, leading to misdiagnoses and mistakes.”

17. What are some things you look for when evaluating a financial statement?

This question can help the interviewer evaluate your critical thinking skills and ability to analyze financial statements. Use examples from your experience that show you understand how to read a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement.

Example: “I look at the company’s assets, liabilities and equity accounts first when I’m evaluating a financial statement. These are important because they tell me about the company’s liquidity and solvency. If there is more debt than equity, it could be an indicator of insolvency. I also look at revenue and expenses to see if the company has enough money coming in to cover its costs. Finally, I check for any unusual or suspicious activity.”

18. Can you tell us about a project that you took part in that didn’t go as planned?

This question is a great way to see how you respond to challenges. It’s important that you show your interviewer that you can learn from mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth.

Example: “I once worked on a project where we were tasked with creating an app that would help users find the best deals at local restaurants. We had a tight deadline, so I was working long hours trying to get everything done. One night, I accidentally deleted all of our work because I forgot to save it. I felt terrible about what happened, but my team understood and helped me recreate the app in time.”

19. Do you have experience managing clinical trials?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have experience with GRAIL’s main service. If you do, you can share your experiences and how they helped you develop skills that are relevant to this role. If you don’t have experience managing clinical trials, you can talk about other similar projects or discuss what you would do in a situation where you had to manage a clinical trial without prior experience.

Example: “I’ve worked on several clinical trials throughout my career, including one at my current job where I was responsible for recruiting patients and monitoring their progress. This project taught me how important it is to be organized and communicate effectively with team members. It also showed me how valuable it is to work with a company that has an established process for conducting clinical trials.”

20. What are some ways you keep up-to-date with changes in the financial industry?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you stay current with industry news and trends. It also shows them that you are willing to learn more about your field, which is a valuable skill for any employee. Use this opportunity to list some of your favorite financial news sources or other ways you keep up with industry changes.

Example: “I subscribe to several financial newsletters and blogs so I can read the latest news and developments in the industry. I also have a few friends who work in finance, so we often discuss new ideas and strategies they’ve seen in their own workplaces.”