What do you do if you want to showcase your enthusiasm for research and development in an interview?

2 Showcase your portfolio

One of the best ways to showcase your enthusiasm for R&D is to present your portfolio of past or ongoing R&D projects. This can include academic, professional, or personal projects that demonstrate your creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills. You can use slides, videos, prototypes, or code samples to illustrate your R&D process, results, and impact. Explain how you identified a problem or opportunity, how you conducted research and analysis, how you developed and tested a solution, and how you evaluated and communicated your findings.

3 Share your insights

Another way to showcase your enthusiasm for R&D is to share your insights and opinions on the latest trends, developments, and issues in your field of interest. You can discuss how you keep up with the R&D literature, news, and events, and what sources you follow or recommend. You can also share your thoughts on how R&D can contribute to social, economic, or environmental benefits, or how R&D can address global or local challenges. This will show that you are curious, informed, and engaged in R&D.

4 Emphasize your skills

To succeed in R&D, you need a combination of technical, analytical, and soft skills. You need to be able to apply your knowledge and expertise to solve complex problems, use various tools and methods to collect and interpret data, and collaborate and communicate effectively with others. In the interview, emphasize your skills by providing concrete examples of how you used them in your R&D projects. You can also highlight any relevant certifications, training, or awards that demonstrate your proficiency or recognition in R&D.

5 Ask smart questions

Finally, to showcase your enthusiasm for R&D, you need to ask smart questions that show your interest and eagerness to learn more. You can ask questions about the company's R&D culture, vision, and strategy, such as how they foster innovation, collaboration, and learning among their R&D teams. You can also ask questions about the specific R&D role, expectations, and opportunities, such as what kind of projects you would be working on, what skills or tools you would need to learn or improve, and what kind of feedback or support you would receive.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?