20 Neogen Interview Questions and Answers

Neogen is a leading provider of products and services dedicated to the food and animal safety industries. From farm to fork, Neogen’s solutions help ensure the quality and safety of the world’s food supply.

If you’re interviewing for a job at Neogen, you can expect to be asked a variety of questions about your experience, qualifications, and knowledge of the food and animal safety industries. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered a list of sample Neogen interview questions and answers.

Neogen Interview Process

The interview process at Neogen can vary depending on the position you are applying for. For some positions, like internships and entry-level jobs, the process may only consist of a phone screen and an in-person interview. For more senior positions, like managers and directors, the process may include multiple rounds of interviews, both over the phone and in person. Overall, the interview process is generally smooth and easy-going, though some reviewers have noted that it can be lengthy, especially for more senior positions.

1. What is your experience with working in a lab?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to learn more about your experience and how you work in a lab setting. If you have no prior experience working in a lab, consider describing what it would be like if you were working in one.

Example: “I’ve never worked in a lab before, but I think it would be exciting to do so. In my previous job, I was responsible for testing samples of food products that came into our facility. I had to make sure they met all safety standards and regulations set by the government. It was important to me that I did everything right because I knew there could be serious consequences if I didn’t.”

2. Describe your leadership style and what you think makes a good leader.

Leadership is an important skill for anyone working in a management role. Employers ask this question to see if you have the skills and experience needed to lead their team. Use your answer to explain what makes you a good leader, as well as how you would use those skills at Neogen.

Example: “I believe that being a good leader means being someone who can motivate others while also listening to them. I am always looking for ways to help my employees grow both professionally and personally. I think it’s important to be approachable so people feel comfortable coming to me with questions or concerns. I also make sure to give praise when it’s deserved because I know that positive reinforcement can encourage hard work.”

3. How would you handle an employee who was not meeting expectations?

This question can help the interviewer assess your management skills and how you handle conflict. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific situation where an employee was not meeting expectations and how you helped them improve or let them go.

Example: “In my last position as a manager, I had an employee who was consistently late for work. After talking with him about his tardiness, he told me that he was having trouble getting up in the morning. I gave him some tips on how to get himself motivated to wake up earlier and even offered to drive him to work if needed. He took me up on the offer for a few days until he got back into a routine. Eventually, he no longer needed my assistance.”

4. Do you have any experience with managing sales teams?

This question can help the interviewer determine your leadership skills and how you might fit into their company culture. If you have experience managing a sales team, describe what responsibilities you had in that role. If you don’t have direct management experience, you can still discuss any experience you’ve had leading a group of people or projects.

Example: “In my last position as a marketing manager for a software company, I was responsible for overseeing all aspects of our digital marketing strategy. This included hiring and training new employees to work on our social media accounts, creating content for our website and developing strategies for paid advertising campaigns. My team and I also worked with the sales department to develop promotional materials for trade shows and other events.”

5. What do you know about Neogen?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to assess your knowledge of their company. It also allows you to show them that you have done some research on the organization and are interested in working there. When preparing for this question, make sure to read up on Neogen’s mission statement, values and goals. You can even look at their website to see what they do and how they operate.

Example: “I know that Neogen is an international leader in food safety testing. They provide services to both private companies and government agencies. I am very excited about the opportunity to work with such a forward-thinking organization.”

6. Tell me about a time where you had to make a difficult decision and how you made it.

This question is a great way to see how you make decisions and what your thought process was. It can also show the interviewer that you are able to think critically, which is an important skill for this position.

Example: “When I first started working in my current role, we had a lot of clients who were unhappy with our services. We decided to hold a meeting where all employees could ask questions about the company’s direction and discuss any concerns they had. This helped us identify some areas where we needed to improve and gave employees a chance to voice their opinions. As a result, we made several changes to our processes and improved our client satisfaction.”

7. What are the qualities of a successful salesperson?

Neogen is a sales-driven company, so it’s important to show the interviewer that you have what it takes to succeed in this role. Use your answer to highlight your communication skills, ability to work under pressure and adaptability.

Example: “A successful salesperson needs to be able to communicate effectively with customers and colleagues. They should also be confident enough to make cold calls and develop new leads. I am an excellent communicator who can build rapport quickly and easily. I’m also highly adaptable, which helps me adjust to different situations as needed.”

8. Why should we hire you over another candidate?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can benefit their company. To answer, think of a few skills that are important for the position and explain how you have them. You can also mention any unique or transferable skills you have that may be beneficial to the role.

Example: “I am an extremely organized person who is always on time. I would make sure all my work was done in a timely manner and would ensure that everyone else’s tasks were completed as well. My communication skills are excellent, so I would be able to clearly communicate expectations to other employees and help resolve conflicts if they arose. These skills would allow me to contribute to Neogen immediately.”

9. Are you comfortable traveling for work?

Neogen is a global company, so they may ask this question to see if you are willing to travel for work. If you have experience traveling for work, share that with the interviewer. If you don’t have any experience traveling for work, explain how you would feel about it and what your previous experiences with long-distance travel were like.

Example: “I am very comfortable traveling for work. In my last position, I was required to travel once or twice per month. I enjoy getting to know different places and meeting new people, so I find traveling for work enjoyable. I also always make sure to pack plenty of snacks and entertainment in case there’s ever an unexpected delay.”

10. We want our employees to be able to solve problems independently, do you feel like you can handle that type of environment?

This question is a great way for the interviewer to gauge your ability to work independently and solve problems. It’s important to show that you’re willing to take on challenges and learn new things when necessary.

Example: “I feel like I can handle an independent environment, especially if it means helping my team members with their projects or solving any issues they may be having. I’m always open to learning more about the company and how we can improve our processes.”

11. What do you know about chemistry?

Chemistry is a major component of the work you will do at Neogen. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have any experience with chemistry and how much you know about it. If you don’t have any formal training in chemistry, consider talking about your interest in science or other related fields.

Example: “I took AP Chemistry my senior year of high school, and I really enjoyed it. It was challenging but also interesting because we were learning about real-world applications for what we were studying. I think that’s why I chose to pursue a degree in biology. In college, I had an organic chemistry class where we learned about different compounds and their reactions. That class helped me understand more about the role chemistry plays in our everyday lives.”

12. What kind of things do you look at when analyzing data?

This question is a way for the interviewer to assess your analytical skills. It also helps them understand how you approach data and what kind of information you look at when making decisions. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific things that you look at when analyzing data.

Example: “When looking at data, I first consider the overall trends in the data. Then, I look at individual pieces of data to see if there are any outliers or anomalies. After that, I compare the data to previous months or years to see if there are any changes. Finally, I analyze the data by comparing it to other similar companies.”

13. What do you find most interesting about this position?

Employers ask this question to see if you have done your research on the company and position. They want someone who is passionate about their work, so they are more likely to be successful in the role. When answering this question, make sure you highlight something specific about the job that interests you. You can also mention a few things that interest you about the company as a whole.

Example: “I find what most interesting about this position is how much responsibility it comes with. I am excited to learn from my manager and other team members while working toward achieving goals. I think I would really enjoy being able to use my skills to help grow the company’s sales.”

14. When was a time that you worked on a team project and there was conflict, how did you deal with it?

Teamwork is an important skill to have when working in a lab. Employers ask this question to make sure you can work well with others and resolve conflict. Use your answer to show that you are willing to compromise and help solve problems.

Example: “In my last job, I was part of a team that worked on developing a new product for our company. We had weekly meetings where we discussed the progress we made each week. One week, one of my teammates said they were having trouble finding certain ingredients for their project. I offered to share some of mine so that both projects could be completed by the end of the week.”

15. We need someone who can multitask and prioritize well. Can you give us an example of a time where you had to do that?

This question is a great way to see how well you can multitask and prioritize. It also shows the interviewer that you have experience doing so, which can be beneficial for this role. When answering this question, it can be helpful to give an example of when you had to multitask or prioritize but also show the positive outcome of your actions.

Example: “In my previous position as a lab technician, I was responsible for testing samples while also maintaining the equipment in the lab. One day, we were running low on supplies, so I had to prioritize testing samples over checking the equipment. After completing all of the tests, I noticed one of the machines wasn’t working properly. I fixed the machine and then went back to testing samples.”

16. What do you know about food safety testing?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the food safety industry. It also allows you to show how much you know about Neogen’s products and services. You can answer this question by describing what you know about food safety testing, but you should also include an example of when you used that information in your previous job.

Example: “Food safety testing is important because it helps ensure that foods are safe for consumption. There are many different types of tests that can be performed on foods, including chemical analysis, microbiological testing and sensory evaluation. I have experience with all three of these tests, as well as other methods of food safety testing. For instance, I once had to perform a colorimetric test on a sample of blue cheese.”

17. What do you think is the biggest problem facing the food industry today?

This question is a great way to see how you can apply your knowledge of the food industry to real-world problems. Your answer should show that you understand the challenges facing the food industry and have ideas for how to solve them.

Example: “The biggest problem in the food industry today is the lack of transparency. Consumers want to know where their food comes from, but many companies are hesitant to share information about their processes or ingredients. I think this is because they’re afraid it will scare consumers away, but I believe if we can be honest with our customers, they’ll appreciate knowing more about what’s in their food.”

18. What is your experience with building relationships with clients?

Neogen is a company that works with clients to develop new products and services. The interviewer may ask this question to learn about your experience working with others in the client service industry. Use examples from previous jobs to show how you have developed strong relationships with clients.

Example: “I’ve worked as a customer service representative for several years, so I understand the importance of building positive relationships with customers. In my last position, I was responsible for answering all incoming calls and emails from our customers. I always made sure to greet callers and email senders with a friendly voice and helpful attitude. This helped me build strong relationships with many of our clients who would often reach out to me directly when they had questions or concerns.”

19. What is your favorite part of the scientific process?

This question is a great way to see how much you enjoy the scientific process. It also helps employers understand what your priorities are and whether or not they align with their company’s mission. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific steps in the scientific process that you find interesting or exciting.

Example: “My favorite part of the scientific process is when I get to test my hypothesis. This is usually at the end of the research phase, so I’m excited to see if all of my hard work has paid off. I also really like the experimentation phase because I love getting to use new equipment and techniques. I feel like I am always learning something new during this stage.”

20. What do you hope to accomplish during your first year here?

This question is a great way to see what the company values and how you can contribute. It’s also an opportunity for you to show your enthusiasm about working at Neogen. When answering this question, think of ways that you could help improve processes or increase efficiency.

Example: “I hope to make a positive impact on the quality assurance department during my first year here. I’ve noticed that there are some inconsistencies in our testing methods, so I would like to work with other employees to create new protocols and procedures to ensure we’re following best practices. I’m excited to learn more about the industry and apply my knowledge to real-world situations.”