Cheeky Logo
Ready To Get Hired?
Apply To Book A Free Call With Our Transition Specialist Team

5 Questions PhDs Should Expect During A Job Interview (& How To Answer Them)

The first time I had an interview it was a disaster. I answered all the questions wrong.

I had never interviewed before, but for some reason I thought I was going to do great. 

Right from the beginning it was bad. The first question they asked me: “How are you?” For which I gave my generic automatic answer Fine how are you. My interviewer also said fine and asked if I could tell him a little bit about myself. So, I proceeded to tell him that I was a PhD student. 

I kept my answer rather succinct because I’d read how long-winded answers are a fast track to not getting hired. I learned that the opposite is also true. The 45 minute interview was over in 20 minutes and by the end I knew very little about who was interviewing me or whether or not the company was a good fit. To be honest, the interviewer probably didn’t know much about me either. 

Communication is not about being short and succinct or long winded and drawn out; it’s about giving enough information to get your point across and engage with others. There was no connection between the interviewer and I. 

Over the next few weeks, I practiced some of the most asked interview questions.

By the next interview I felt a lot more confident. My answers were informative enough but to the point. I deflected the salary questions, inserted my own personality and bonded with the interviewer over our shared hobby, horseback riding. Who knew that would be my ticket in?

I got a call back the following week for the second interview with the team, where we all shared a love for hiking. It felt less like an interview and more like meeting new friends. 

The job offer was in my inbox a week later. 

Interviewing In A Recession

You’ve sent out the resumes, maybe even passed the phone screen, now it’s onto the interview. This can be the most stressful part of the job hiring process. Remember, you were picked amongst the hundreds of applications as a qualified candidate for this position. The job offer may be close, but there is still one last barrier; the interview. 

How you answer these questions could mean the difference between getting your dream job offer and falling back into unemployment. As the pandemic moves forward, the global economy plunges deeper into the recession, increasing job competition and making interviews a little harder to get through.  

However, preparing adequately and staying ahead of interview trends can put you ahead of the competition and help you secure that job without interview anxiety.  49% of hiring managers report that conversational skills heavily influence their decisions on candidates. So, it’s important to think of the interview like a conversation and showcase your ability to communicate effectively.

5 questions PhDs Are Likely To Get During An Industry Interview

1. How are you today? Can you tell me a little about yourself?

These are the first two questions you will have to answer during the interview. In fact our polls show that 90% of PhDs reported being asked these questions. So how should you answer them? 

First of all, you want to keep your answers positive. The recruiter or interviewer doesn’t want the first thing they hear from you to be about your problems. This sets a very negative tone for the rest of the interview. Instead, when asked how you are, simply say “perfect”. It is short, succinct, and conveys optimism and certainty, which is what they are looking for right now. 

“Can you tell me a little bit about yourself” is always the second question. Most hiring managers have not poured the hours into your resume that you have. They are likely scanning your resume as you are introducing yourself. So, the best way to answer this question is with your elevator pitch. Don’t think they should already know because they have your resume or that you shouldn’t repeat things that are there. Instead, tell them who you are, what you want, and why they should care.

Who you are goes beyond your technical skills and previous position. You can also add personal details. In fact, the person who is interviewing you may not have any technical skills, so adding that you like to go dancing or knitting will humanize you, show you have personality, and make you approachable. 

What you want is always the job you are applying for, but make sure your why is not “because I need a job” or “because I need to pay my rent.” You want to show them that you have passion for this role beyond a paycheck. Maybe it’s because you want to work with a product that helps people with a certain disease or a company that is passionate about educating people on XYZ. 

Studies show that an interviewer only needs 90 seconds to decide if they will recommend you to the hiring committee or not. This is true even if the interview lasts 45 minutes. In that time, you can only answer these two short questions. So, make sure you have confident and positive answers that embody your unique personality and the qualifications that make you an ideal candidate for this role. 

2. Why should we not hire you?

This can be a tough question to answer. They are asking you to give them a reason to move onto someone else. Don’t give them an answer. This is the new “what is your greatest weakness” question. 

Don’t let them trick you into saying something bad or negative about yourself. Instead, take the higher ground. Tell them that the only reason you can think that they shouldn’t hire you is if they can’t live up to their brand/mission/purpose of the company. State some specific facts that you like about the company. This will show them that you know what they stand for and that you believe you fit within this mission.

3. How do you like to work?

This is an important one as the trend of a decentralized workforce continues. More and more companies are switching to a hybrid or fully remote model. For these changes to work, companies need to know their employees can work autonomously. Furthermore, they need to know that employees can be productive with no or little oversight. 

They are looking for not only how you like to work and whether that fits into the company culture but also how you prioritize your work and keep track of projects. Highlight some tactics you’ve used to make sure things don’t get lost or are done at the last minute. Maybe this is creating a daily to do list every morning over a cup of coffee, or an afternoon power walk to refocus your day.

Also include how you communicate with others. Are you someone who will jump on a call with anyone at any time or do you like a little bit of warning. How do you inform your current boss/PI of your progress and how do you track that progress over time? These are the project management skills you’ve gained throughout your PhD career, but you need to show how these skills translate to an industry setting and the company’s goals. 

4. Questions on salary.

This is a common screening question and one that many PhDs get blind-sided by. Know that this question is coming and learn how to deflect it. You never want to answer this question with a number. If you aim too high this could automatically disqualify you as a candidate. If you aim too low, you will look like you are desperate to get a job and you don’t know your value. 

There are two great ways to deflect this question. The first is to simply say “I will consider any reasonable offer.” This puts the questions back on their side. In addition, adding the “reasonable” implies you know what you are worth and you are not going to take a low salary. It shows you have an idea of what the salary expectations are. 

The other way to deflect the salary question is to say that you are not concerned about salary right now. State that you are more interested in getting a better picture of the role and the team to assess your fit within the company. This will make you more attractive as a job candidate. You are turning the tables on them. You are showing that you are not concerned with money but rather with ensuring that your skills will allow the company to be productive. 

5. Questions on why you want to leave academia.

This question may have several answers. Maybe you are upset by the lack of funding for academia. Maybe you are sick of the poor support of the verbal beratement by your PI. These are all reasons why you may want to leave academia but are not the best ones to share with your potential future employer. 

Instead, think of these questions more as why do you want to transition into industry? When we think of why we are moving towards our future instead of why we are leaving our past, it’s easier to frame things positively. 

This is a great question to showcase some of your business acumen. Show them you have an understanding of industry and highlight the elements you are looking forward to. Maybe you are really excited about the prospect of working with people or being involved in the drug development process. Academia typically does not have these applications but industry does. So, frame your answer around the positive elements of industry, instead of the negative aspects of academia. 

In Conclusion

Practicing how to answer common interview questions can help you sound more confident and be able to ‘think on your feet’ during the actual interview.  These are just 5 of the most asked interview questions for PhD-level positions, but they all have some underlying themes. During the interview, you need to stay optimistic and passionate about the role and show how your past prepared you for this particular job. Never give them an excuse not to hire you and always show you know what the company aims to do and how you fit into their culture and team.

If you’re ready to start your transition into industry, you can apply to book a free Transition Call with our founder Isaiah Hankel, PhD or one of our Transition Specialists. Apply to book a Transition Call here.

Book a Transition Call
Get Free Job Search Content Weekly

ABOUT ELIZABETH DEYETT

Elizabeth holds a PhD in genetics, genomics and bioinformatics. Now she combines her passion for science and writing as a consultant and freelance medical writer.

Elizabeth Deyett

Similar Articles

How PhDs Can Avoid The Overqualified Label To Get Hired

How PhDs Can Avoid The Overqualified Label To Get Hired

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“We regret to inform you that we will not be moving forward with your application due to concerns that your qualifications exceed those required for the role.  We feel it would not be a good fit. Thank you for applying.”  Oof, that’s part of a rejection email a PhD sent me. An employer had sent it to them after the first interview.  Another PhD told me this recently… “I feel like I’m both overqualified and underqualified for the jobs I apply to Isaiah.”  Which do you feel is more of a problem for you? I asked.  “At first I thought…

How To Answer “Why Are You Leaving Academia?” (& 4 Scientific Ways To Convince Employers To Hire You) 

How To Answer “Why Are You Leaving Academia?” (& 4 Scientific Ways To Convince Employers To Hire You) 

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“‘Why do you want to work here more than anywhere else? And why are you leaving academia?’ Those are the questions I got stuck on, Isaiah.  I told them why I liked their company, mainly because it was aligned with my values, but I also wanted to be fair and ethical so I told them that I was considering other companies. Then I explained that academia was no longer a good fit because I wanted to do more than write grants all day.”  “Okay, I replied, anything else? What did you say after that?” “I asked them a few clarifying…

Should You Apply To More Than One Job At A Company? (& 3 Other Tough Job Search Questions Answered)

Should You Apply To More Than One Job At A Company? (& 3 Other Tough Job Search Questions Answered)

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“Isaiah, I applied to ThermoFisher two weeks ago and a hiring manager got in touch with me and I had my first interview…. But then a second hiring manager reached out to me about another job I applied to there.  I started talking to this second manager and they asked if I applied to any other positions there.  I couldn’t lie so I told them about the other job and the other hiring manager.  Now, neither of the hiring managers will get back to me.  What should I do?”  This is what a PhD told me over the phone last…

How LinkedIn Ranks Job Seekers With PhDs, EdDs & Other Degrees

How LinkedIn Ranks Job Seekers With PhDs, EdDs & Other Degrees

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“Be real Isaiah, there’s not a government bureau keeping track of how our resumes perform.”  This is what a frustrated job seeker said to me recently.  “What do you mean I have a reputation score?” they asked.  “Of course there’s not a bureau dedicated to this, at least not yet” I said.  “But you absolutely are being scored and ranked” I went on, “and your ranking is used to indicate how reputable you are as a job seeker.”  This is what I’ve explained to countless people looking for a job in today’s job market, most of whom were getting initial…

How The Academic PhD Job Market Was Destroyed

How The Academic PhD Job Market Was Destroyed

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“I spent over a year looking for a job in academia and flew to multiple interviews. I didn’t get one offer.” A PhD told me this recently and many other PhDs have told me similar stories.  Of course, the stories involve more than just looking for a job for a year.  They involve living on a meager academic budget, trying to support themselves and their families, often in very expensive cities where many of the biggest universities are located.  They involve decisions to never go on a vacation, to feed their kids cheaper, less healthy food, and to work all…

Give Yourself The Gift Of Leaving Academia Forever

Give Yourself The Gift Of Leaving Academia Forever

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

My last year in academia, I didn’t have enough money to fly home for Christmas. So I spent it in Iowa City, mostly alone.  I was broke (of course) so I decided to shovel snow out of driveways for $10 per driveway. I remember thinking how ridiculous it was to be a PhD shoveling snow for money. “What I wouldn’t give to have a better job”, I thought.  That was the gift I wanted for Christmas and the holidays.  A better job.  Not to be a student or a postdoc or an academic PhD getting paid less than I was…

The Ideal Keyword Density For Targeting Your PhD Resume To An Industry Job Posting

The Ideal Keyword Density For Targeting Your PhD Resume To An Industry Job Posting

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Writing a resume for an industry job is one of the biggest sticking points I see with PhDs entering the job market.  What worked even a year ago is not working today due to recent and rapidly accelerating advances in Applicant Tracking Systems.  These systems, called ATS or just AI today, are software tools used by companies to filter resumes.  They scan for specific keywords related to the job role, abilities, credentials, and qualities desired in a candidate.  As a PhD seeking very competitive roles, including relevant keywords in your resume is essential to pass through these systems and get…

AI Is Replacing Recruiters. Here’s How PhD Job Seekers Should Adapt

AI Is Replacing Recruiters. Here’s How PhD Job Seekers Should Adapt

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“I had a recruiter reach out to me, Isaiah, and after I gave them my resume and answered their questions, they never got back to me. What should I do?”  I hear this a lot.  I also hear, “Isaiah, I was on the phone with a recruiter and as soon as they heard that I needed a visa, they hung up” …”or as soon as they heard I had no industry experience, they hung up.”  Man, I personally hate this. What a waste of time. The recruitment industry is broken.  The good news is its being devoured by Artificial Intelligence,…

Why PhDs Are Powerhouses Of Productivity (& How It Can Get Your Hired)

Why PhDs Are Powerhouses Of Productivity (& How It Can Get Your Hired)

By: Isaiah Hankel, PhD

“Nothing makes sense today in the job market”, a PhD expressed to me recently.  “No one is responding to my resumes. I don’t understand why they would ask for a scientist at the company and then not even want to talk to me”, they said. They went on: “I’ve even had some friends refer to me, but still didn’t get an interview. I feel like I made a mistake getting my PhD.”  It’s hard hearing this from PhDs who invested so much in their education and in advancing research for humanity.  Still, I hear it a lot.  My response is…

Top Industry Career eBooks

63 Best Industry Positions For PhDs

63 Best Industry Positions For PhDs

Isaiah Hankel, PhD & Arunodoy Sur, PhD

Learn about the best 63 industry careers for PhDs (regardless of your academic background). In this eBook, you will gain insight into the most popular, highest-paying jobs for PhDs – all of which will allow you to do meaningful work AND get paid well for it.

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

Industry Resume Guide for PhDs

Isaiah Hankel, PhD

Learn how to craft the perfect industry resume to attract employers. In this eBook for PhDs, you will get access to proven resume templates, learn how to structure your bullet points, and discover which keywords industry employers want to see most on PhD resumes.

AI & ATS Resume Filters

AI & ATS Resume Filters

Isaiah Hankel

In today's competitive job market, understanding the impact of AI is crucial for career success. This involves ensuring your resume stands out in the digital realm, mastering your online presence, and being aware of how AI assigns reputation scores. Discovering how to leverage AI to your advantage is essential, as it plays a pivotal role in shaping professional opportunities.

Complete LinkedIn Guide For PhDs

Complete LinkedIn Guide For PhDs

Isaiah Hankel

The LinkedIn tips & strategies within have helped PhDs from every background get hired into top industry careers.