33 Clinical Research Coordinator Interview Questions

Updated 12 October 2022

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When a company interviews clinical research coordinator candidates, they may use a variety of questions to evaluate their skills, experience, work values and familiarity with the role to determine which candidates match their criteria for the role. As a candidate, the interview process allows you to prove your knowledge and convey your qualifications to the employer. Preparing for an interview opportunity can ensure you feel confident in your abilities and increase your chances of earning your desired role.

In this article, we list some common clinical research coordinator interview questions, including general questions, background information and in-depth questions and provide example answers and tips that can help you prepare your answers better for your next interview.

10 General Clinical Research Coordinator Interview Questions

General clinical research coordinator interview questions provide the interviewer with a chance to evaluate your overall abilities and determine your job aspirations and goals you want to achieve in your career, along with other details. Your responses convey your knowledge, skill sets, proficiencies and the benefits you may offer to the employer after getting hired. Here are some general questions an interviewer may ask about your attitude, professional qualifications and personality:

Why does this role appeal to you?
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
Tell me about your personal interests.
How do you handle receiving feedback?
What are your salary expectations?
What are your long-term career goals?
How do you contribute to a team environment?
Why did you choose to pursue clinical research?
How did you hear about this position?

10 Questions About Background And Experience

Interview questions that enquire about your background and professional experience often include more specific job-related experiences that allow you to provide actionable examples and answers. Use these questions and answers to establish your abilities and credibility in the field. The interviewer may use the following questions to assess your background and work experience in related fields:

Tell me about a time you resolved a conflict in the work environment.
What is the most interesting research topic you have worked on so far?
What projects from your time in school are you most proud of?
How do you handle participants who do not cooperate?
What is your ideal data collection method?
Tell me about a time you took initiative on a project.
Based on your previous experience, what are your expectations for this role?
How do you handle mistakes with data entry or participant results?
Have you ever had to handle a patient concern? Tell us more about how you helped the participant feel more comfortable in their role.
How do you establish standards and accurate results during the research process?

10 In-Depth Questions

The hiring manager often asks in-depth questions to further evaluate your relevant knowledge, work approaches and prior performances. These questions can provide further proof of your industry knowledge and professional efficiency. Here are some in-depth clinical research coordinator questions you may encounter:

Describe how you prefer to communicate in the workplace.
How do you stay motivated at work?
Explain the importance of clinical studies for overall research developments.
What is your normal process for recruiting clinical trial participants?
What has been your biggest learning experience in the research field?
How do you define clinical research?
What skills make you qualified for this role?
Have you ever questioned your research ethics? Why?
What do you find interesting about the research involved in this role?
What subjects did your research in previous roles?

3 Questions With Sample Answers

Here are some other interview questions you may encounter with sample answers to help you prepare and create a positive impression on potential employers:

1. Describe the importance of maintaining ethical integrity during the research process.

Organisations rely on their research coordinators to handle, establish and monitor the ethical regulations and practices of their clinical studies. The interview may ask you about your ethical processes and your dedication to ensuring proper methods. In your answer, provide specific regulations, actions and strategies. You can also include an example of your ethical framework and emphasise your understanding of ethical practices.

Example: "Maintaining your ethics and honesty during the research process and when analysing results is crucial for contributing to the research and advancement of your subject and field. I believe it is never ok to insert bias or fabricate results, as it can cause issues, delays and incorrect conclusions and can hinder progress. I work to edit and eliminate bias and I monitor the recording and accuracy of all results to ensure honesty and integrity."

2. How do you prioritise tasks when handling multiple projects of similar importance and urgency?

The role of a clinical research coordinator often requires you to multitask and work on multiple projects at the same time. In an interview, the employer may ask you to describe your thought process for handling and prioritising tasks. When answering this question, provide practical examples of your internal organisation and an evaluation of the importance and urgency of tasks.

Example: "I like to evaluate every task that I get to determine the urgency and importance and prioritise accordingly. If I am unsure, I request input from my team and other project managers to determine which task has greater urgency. I am open to asking questions to better understand the expectations and timelines of the research processes, especially when handling multiple projects."

3. Have you ever received a negative exit questionnaire response from a research participant? How did you handle it?

Exit questionnaires from research positions offer important information to help you improve your research methods. An interviewer may ask this question to evaluate your understanding of feedback and your ability to handle criticism or negative responses. In your answer to this question, consider including an example of negative feedback you received and describe your response and how you used the criticism to improve your processes.

Example: "In my previous role, I received a negative exit questionnaire saying that the communication with participants was not very clear. I reached out to thank the participant and let them know I appreciated the feedback and explained that these responses help us identify where to improve. After that study, the research department met as a team to develop a new communication strategy and decided on a new communication guide for future studies. We did not receive a negative exit questionnaire after that incident."

Clinical Research Coordinator Interview Tips

You can follow these tips to improve your interview experience and distinguish yourself as a valuable candidate for a clinical research coordinator role:

Arrive on time. Arriving at your designated interview meeting and location on time or slightly early shows your professionalism and time management skills to the interviewer. It also conveys the value you place on your and the interviewer's time, which can create a good first impression on employers.
Show clear communication skills. When providing your answers and information in an interview setting, communicating clearly and confidently can convey to the interviewer your ability to work and collaborate with a team. Show clear communication by providing consistent facts, concise responses and thoughtful word choices.
Use industry-specific language. The role of a clinical research coordinator requires many technical skills and an understanding of the specific practices and elements of the subject. In your interview answers, use specific language to describe the methods, regulations and results of relevant information and clinical practices.
Research the company. The interviewer may ask you to provide your understanding of the company and the area of research. When preparing for your interview, perform research on the core values, subjects and methods of the company to ensure you can answer all questions and convey your knowledge of the field effectively.
Use the STAR method. When developing your interview answers, consider using the STAR method to provide answers that demonstrate your efficiency as a clinical research coordinator. The STAR method stands for situation, task, action and result, using which can help you create clear, concise and informative interview responses.