Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: ISO Standards • Chromatography • DNA Sequencing

Standard Operating Procedures

Term from Laboratory Work industry explained for recruiters

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are detailed, written instructions that explain how to perform routine laboratory tasks and experiments consistently and safely. Think of them as step-by-step recipes that laboratory staff must follow to ensure work is done the same way every time, regardless of who does it. These documents are crucial for maintaining quality, safety, and reliability in laboratory work. When you see this term in a resume, it means the person has experience either following or creating these important instruction documents. They might also be called "protocols," "work instructions," or "standard procedures."

Examples in Resumes

Developed and maintained Standard Operating Procedures for new laboratory equipment

Trained junior staff on SOPs for sample handling and analysis

Updated existing Standard Operating Procedures to meet new safety regulations

Implemented Standard Operating Procedure improvements that reduced processing time by 25%

Typical job title: "Laboratory Technicians"

Also try searching for:

Lab Technician Quality Control Specialist Laboratory Analyst Research Associate Quality Assurance Specialist Laboratory Manager Process Documentation Specialist

Where to Find Laboratory Technicians

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Online Resources

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you implement a new SOP system in a laboratory that has never had formal procedures before?

Expected Answer: Look for answers that discuss gathering input from staff, documenting current practices, identifying gaps, creating templates, training programs, and ways to ensure compliance and regular updates.

Q: Tell me about a time when you had to revise SOPs to meet new regulatory requirements.

Expected Answer: Candidate should describe experience with reviewing regulations, updating documents, training staff on changes, and ensuring smooth transition to new procedures.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you ensure staff members are following SOPs correctly?

Expected Answer: Should mention training programs, regular audits, feedback systems, and documentation of compliance checks.

Q: What steps do you take when writing a new SOP?

Expected Answer: Should describe process of observing current practice, consulting with experts, writing clear instructions, getting feedback, and testing procedures before implementation.