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Interviewing Tips

for Scientific Candidates

Erin Cowan USAMRIID MTS

Eric Fields NCI

Evan Bergstrom USAMRIID

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Interview Types

  • Phone vs In-Person
    • Know what you’re comfortable with, and if you’re able to to ask to meet in person, then do so
    • Know when they are planning on meeting with or calling you
  • Phone Interviews
    • Answer the phone smiling
    • Be knowledgeable about their focus/division beforehand
    • Give honest answers
      • If you aren’t that interested in what they have to offer you, you don’t want to be stuck doing it for a year
    • Be you, they don’t want to hire a robot

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Group Interviews (In Person)

  • Scientists are busy
    • Most common with NCI interviews
  • One or two scientists, two to ten candidates
  • Bring multiple copies of your resume
  • Dress for Success (power outfits)
  • Be knowledgeable about their field/topic
    • Google articles and profiles, read abstracts
      • Nothing else will make sense
      • Don’t mention personal information on their Linked In
  • Ask questions, get involved, show enthusiasm
  • They aren’t expecting you to be experts

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Getting into Ft. Detrick

  • Visitor’s Badge at the Nalin Visitor Gate off Motter Ave.
  • Bring valid ID and know SSN just in case
    • If with parent, make sure they have their information as well (schedule extra half hour)
  • Come early, there will be lines (30-45 min early if you know where you’re going)
  • Once you have the visitor pass, reuse it for other interviews (expires after a month)
  • Ask Visitor Center for directions to RIID and NCI campus directions and read the building numbers as you drive
  • Give yourself TIME
    • Second security station for NCI and RIID with visitor passes
    • Have scientist’s phone number ready at the security station and they will likely pick you up

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Dress for Success

Girls

  • Slacks and blouses
  • Skirts and dresses (below or at the knee)
  • Colorful or classic, whatever makes you feel more yourself
  • Comfortable shoes
  • No extravagant makeup

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Boys

  • Casual but nice
  • Polo or long sleeve
  • Khakis
  • Basic, comfortable shoes

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Erin

Evan

Eric

Number of Interviews Doesn’t Equal Success

1 Interview with USAMRIID (phone)

3 Interviews with NCI (group and individual)

2 USAMRIID Interviews (same person, one on phone and one in person)

Took the position before I could do anymore interviews

2 USAMRIID, 5 NCI

Talk to the current interns if possible

Know how to get on base beforehand

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Preparation for Interviews and Afterwards

  • https://intramural.nih.gov/search/index.taf
  • Google “google scholar,” then type in their name into that search engine
  • Watch youtube videos (ubiquitin/proteasome)
  • Try to think of questions that can lead to conversations or discussions: “became my top candidate due to his wealth of biology knowledge and his propensity to ask relevant questions”
  • Rank your mentors strategically

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What I got from the program

  • $3,500
  • A lot of stuff to write about for college essays
  • Probably my best letter of recommendation
  • A very nice list of “scientific skills” on my resume
  • Exposure to what research is like
  • Work to be published
  • Definitely general lab skills and lessons (not necessarily techniques)

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Common Questions

Why do you want to work for NCI/USAMRIID?

What do you bring to the table as an intern?

Explain one of your weaknesses.

Describe a time you failed, what did you learn, how did you improve?

Describe a problem you overcame; how?

Usually something about teamwork or collaboration, also