20 Wellcome Trust Interview Questions and Answers

When it comes to interviews, preparation is key. And when you’re applying for a job at the Wellcome Trust, it’s especially important to be prepared for the company specific interview questions you may be asked.

The Wellcome Trust is a medical research charity that funds research that aims to protect and improve human and animal health. As such, they are looking for candidates who are passionate about medical research and have the skills and experience to be successful in the role.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common questions asked in a Wellcome Trust interview, along with sample answers to give you an idea of what the interviewer is looking for.

Wellcome Trust Interview Process

The interview process at Wellcome Trust can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require you to complete an online application, followed by a written test and/or video interview. If you are successful in these stages, you may then be invited to an assessment centre, where you will be asked to complete a range of tasks, including group exercises, presentations and interviews. Finally, you may be invited to a final interview with a panel of Wellcome Trust employees.

1. What is your greatest strength?

This question is a great opportunity to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. When answering, it can be helpful to think about what your greatest skill or talent is and how it could benefit the organization.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to work well with others. I am always looking for ways to help others succeed and support them in their goals. In my last position, I helped create a mentorship program where senior researchers would mentor junior researchers on various topics. This led to more collaboration among employees and improved communication between departments.”

2. Which of your achievements are you most proud of. Why?

This question is a great way to learn more about the candidate’s personality and values. It also allows you to see how they view their own success. When answering this question, it can be helpful to include an example of what you accomplished and why it was meaningful to you.

Example: “I am most proud of my work as a research assistant at my university. I worked on a team that developed a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. We were able to test our theory in a lab setting and found that we could reduce symptoms by 50%. This discovery has the potential to help millions of people around the world.”

3. How would you handle a conflict with a colleague?

This question can help interviewers assess your interpersonal skills and ability to resolve conflict. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you resolved a conflict with a colleague or coworker.

Example: “In my last position as an assistant manager at a restaurant, I had a coworker who was often late for work. This made it difficult for the rest of our team to complete our tasks on time. After talking to them about this issue several times, they still weren’t changing their behavior. So, I decided to change their schedule so that they worked later hours when I wasn’t working. This helped me get more done during my shift while also allowing them to focus on their work.”

4. Can you tell me about a time when you had to make an important decision that affected the work of others, how did you go about it?

This question is an opportunity to show your leadership skills and how you can make important decisions that affect the work of others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about a time when you had to make a decision that affected the work of others in a positive way.

Example: “When I was working as a research scientist at my previous company, we were tasked with creating a new drug that would help treat patients with a certain disease. We knew that if we wanted to create a successful drug, we needed to test it on humans. However, there are strict regulations around testing drugs on humans, so we had to get approval from our department head before moving forward with any human testing.”

5. Tell me about a project where you were asked to do something without knowing why you were doing it or what the end goal was. How did you approach it?

This question is a great way to show your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure. When answering this question, it can be helpful to explain how you used your critical thinking skills to solve the issue or challenge presented to you.

Example: “When I first started working in my current role as an IT specialist, I was asked to create a new server for our company without knowing why we needed one or what its purpose would be. At first, I was a little nervous about creating something that I didn’t know much about, but after talking with my supervisor, they told me that the reason behind the request was because our current servers were becoming outdated and slow. After learning more about the situation, I created a new server that allowed us to upgrade our software and improve our overall efficiency.”

6. Give us an example of when you had to adapt quickly to changes at work.

Wellcome Trust is a dynamic organization that requires its employees to be flexible and adaptable. This question allows you to show the interviewer how you can adjust to new situations, which is an important skill for working at Wellcome Trust.

Example: “At my previous job, I was responsible for managing a team of five people. One day, one of my employees called in sick, so I had to fill in for them. It was only for a few hours, but it allowed me to see what they do on a daily basis and learn more about their role. The next week, another employee called in sick, so I filled in again. After two weeks, I realized that I could handle both roles, so I asked if I could take over as lead.”

7. Do you have any experience working in diversity and inclusion?

The Wellcome Trust is committed to diversity and inclusion, so they may ask this question to see if you have any experience working in a diverse environment. If you do, share an example of how you’ve helped create a more inclusive workplace. If you don’t have experience with diversity and inclusion, explain what you would do to help foster these values at the organization.

Example: “I believe that everyone should be treated equally regardless of their race, gender identity or sexual orientation. In my last role as a research assistant, I noticed that there were no women on our team who presented at conferences. So, I organized a meeting where we discussed strategies for encouraging women to present at conferences. We decided to offer childcare services at all meetings and events. This led to two women presenting at our next conference.”

8. What are some of the challenges you face as a PhD student?

This question can help interviewers understand your ability to overcome challenges and adapt to new situations. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a specific challenge you faced in the past and how you overcame it.

Example: “One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a PhD student is finding time to balance my research with other responsibilities. In order to manage this, I set aside certain times during the day where I focus on one task at a time. For example, I’ll work on my research for two hours straight before taking a break to check my email or make phone calls. This helps me stay focused and productive while also giving myself some much-needed breaks.”

9. How well do you think you will fit into this team?

This question is a great way to assess your interpersonal skills and how you will fit into the team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific qualities that you have that make you a good fit for the team.

Example: “I think I would fit in well with this team because of my ability to work as part of a group while also being able to take initiative when needed. In my last role, I was working on a project where we had to come up with new ideas every week. I found that I could contribute some unique ideas that helped us win the competition.”

10. Please describe a situation in which you were required to be sensitive to the needs of other people.

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to work with others. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a situation in which you were able to help someone else or resolve conflict.

Example: “In my previous role as a research assistant, I worked closely with a team of researchers who had different opinions on how to approach their project. While some researchers wanted to take a more traditional approach, others wanted to try something new. I helped facilitate a meeting between the two groups so they could discuss their ideas and come up with a solution that would benefit everyone.”

11. Have you ever worked for a charity before?

This question is a great way to show your interest in the organization and how you can contribute to its mission. If you have worked for a charity before, explain what motivated you to work there and what skills you gained from that experience.

Example: “I’ve never worked for a charity before, but I am passionate about medical research and improving human health. When I was applying for this position, I read through Wellcome Trust’s website and learned more about their mission. I think my background as a researcher would be an asset to this organization because of my passion for science and helping others.”

12. Do you have experience managing a team?

This question can help interviewers understand your leadership skills and how you might fit into the Wellcome Trust team. If you have management experience, share a few examples of how you managed your team to achieve goals or objectives. If you don’t have management experience, you can talk about other ways you’ve helped lead teams or projects in the past.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist, I led a small team that worked on developing new software for our company’s computers. We had weekly meetings where we discussed what tasks each person was working on and any challenges they were facing. This allowed us to collaborate and support one another when needed.”

13. Would you rather work on one big project or several small projects at once?

This question can help an interviewer determine how you prioritize your work and whether you’re a good fit for the organization. When answering, consider what projects are available at Wellcome Trust and explain why you would prefer one over the other.

Example: “I would rather focus on one big project because I find it more rewarding to see my hard work come together in the end. However, if I had to choose between working on one large project or several small ones, I would definitely pick the smaller ones because they allow me to learn new skills and try out different approaches.”

14. Describe a time when you made a mistake and how you handled it.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you handle challenging situations. When answering, try to focus on the steps you took to resolve the situation or fix the mistake.

Example: “When I first started my current role as a marketing manager, I made a mistake in one of our social media posts that resulted in some negative feedback from customers. Instead of ignoring the comments, I responded to each one with an apology and explained what we were doing to fix the issue. This helped me show my team how important it is to respond to customer concerns and gave them confidence in my leadership.”

15. Provide an example of a time when you helped someone achieve their goals.

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your leadership skills and how you motivate others to succeed. Use examples from your previous work experience or personal life that show you’re a strong leader who’s willing to help others achieve their goals.

Example: “When I was working as an assistant manager at my local grocery store, one of my employees came to me with some concerns about her performance. She told me she wanted to be promoted to team leader but wasn’t sure if she had what it takes. I asked her for more details about why she felt this way and learned that she didn’t feel like she was performing well enough in customer service.

I helped her develop strategies to improve her customer service skills and gave her feedback on ways she could improve. After a few weeks, she reported back to me that she felt much more confident in her abilities and was ready to take on the role of team leader.”

16. Were there any ethical considerations during your last research project? If so, how did you address them?

The interviewer may ask this question to understand how you approach ethical dilemmas in your work. Use examples from past projects that demonstrate your ability to make decisions based on the best interest of research participants and the public.

Example: “In my last position, I was conducting a study on the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive function. The study required me to deprive subjects of sleep for several days at a time. To ensure the safety of our test subjects, we implemented strict protocols to monitor their health and well-being during the experiment. We also provided counseling services to help them cope with the stress of the study.”

17. Do you have any experience writing grant applications?

This question can help interviewers understand your experience with writing and applying for funding. If you have relevant experience, share it in your answer. If not, explain what steps you would take to learn how to write a grant application if you were hired.

Example: “I’ve never written a grant application before, but I am familiar with the process of researching foundations that offer grants and finding out which ones are best suited to my research. I also know how to find information about specific grant requirements and formatting.”

18. What do you find to be the best way to manage diverse teams?

Wellcome Trust is a global organization that employs people from different backgrounds and cultures. The interviewer may ask this question to learn how you would manage working with such a diverse team. Use your answer to highlight your communication, collaboration and leadership skills.

Example: “I find it important to create an open environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas. I also make sure to encourage my team members to collaborate with each other so they can learn from one another’s experiences and perspectives. In addition, I hold regular meetings to discuss the progress of our projects and share updates on any challenges we might be facing.”

19. Did you collaborate with industry partners on projects while working at Wellcome Trust?

If you’re applying for a role that requires collaboration with other organizations, it’s important to show your ability to work well with others. When answering this question, try to highlight any specific skills or experiences that make you a good collaborator.

Example: “I’ve worked on several projects where I collaborated with industry partners and other research institutions. In my last position, I was responsible for managing the budget of our project, so I had to communicate regularly with our industry partner about how we were spending funds. This required me to be very organized and detail-oriented when communicating with them.”

20. What are your career ambitions and how do you think they relate to the role of Project Manager at Wellcome Trust?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a clear career plan and how your goals align with Wellcome Trust’s mission. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention any personal or professional goals you’ve set for yourself in the past and how they relate to the role of Project Manager at Wellcome Trust.

Example: “I am passionate about healthcare research and I would love to work as a Project Manager at Wellcome Trust for many years. In my previous roles, I’ve learned that effective project management skills are essential to achieving results and meeting deadlines. As a Project Manager, I hope to use my experience and skill set to help researchers achieve their goals and make meaningful contributions to medical science.”