Water Quality Technician

[thomasfrank]

Hi everyone,
I'm currently applying for a Water Quality Technician position with a local environmental testing laboratory. The role involves collecting water samples from rivers, lakes, and municipal water systems, performing basic laboratory tests (such as pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and bacteria analysis), calibrating testing equipment, recording results accurately, and preparing reports for clients and regulatory agencies.
During my interview, I was asked, "Imagine you collect a water sample and the test results are very different from what the previous reports show. How would you decide whether the water quality has actually changed or whether bleep went wrong during sampling or testing?"
I answered that I would first review every step of my sampling procedure to make sure it followed the standard protocol, check whether the instruments had been calibrated correctly, verify that the sample was stored and transported properly, and repeat the test if necessary. If the unusual result was confirmed, I would document everything carefully and report it to my supervisor instead of making assumptions.
After the interview, I kept wondering whether I focused too much on the technical process and not enough on communication or teamwork. For those of you who work in environmental testing or have interviewed for similar roles, does this sound like a solid answer, or is there bleep important I should have added? I'd really appreciate any feedback.

[amyCC]

We would recommend posting in other online forums where you will get more input and answers from other adults who may be in similar fields.

These forums are more aligned with students doing school science and engineering projects.

Good luck,

Amy
Science Buddies