Working as a Brewery lab Tech

You may have enough qualifications vs being overqualified.

Others with more background can answer your specific questions.

 

i hire scientists frequently, though not brewers. it is probably the same set of expectations.

be aware that a production brewery is first and foremost a for profit enterprise. all staff need to be aware that consistency and quality are the key to growth and profit. so you might want to consider

1)how does your experience and knowledge as a home brewer offer value to the owner beyond that which they are capable of providing themselves? remember, they know how to brew already do don't come in thinking you are going to "fix things". it is insulting.

2) your degree is impressive and all, but what specifically can you do that they are not already doing? what do you know that they don't? why do they need to pay you for your knowledge? how do you run a quality lab? start talking and show your stuff.

3) what you can do to improve and expand upon the success they are already enjoying (if this is failing venture then keep looking...)

4) where does this brewery expect to be in 5 years? 10? what do they need from a Lab Tech now and in the future?

overall you want to present yourself as an asset that will be valuable immediately and capable of growing over the course of years along with the brewery.
Good luck.

 

Learn what you can about the company (its history...its vision).

BnS makes many good points; however...this is a Tech position.

I'd brush-up on the terminology...techniques...and methods learned in school (the talk-the-talk part)
They've been in the beer bidness since '96...so they know what needs to be done.

It's a family-owned enterprise.
Pitch yourself as reliable...detail-oriented...capable of producing quality work...and above all...flexible.

 

Are you capable of conducting the sorts of tests that the Siebel Institute provides?

http://www.siebelinstitute.com/services/laboratory

It seems to me that if you could claim that you can do everything that Siebel Institute performs would be a selling feature to Two Brothers.

Cheers!

 

I suspect that since this brewery has been around a while and has an excellent reputation for quality control that they already have a QC department as well as established procedures, and are merely looking for someone who knows and understands this stuff, and will also fit in with the organization. Maybe you'll be an addition to the lab staff without being the 'entire' staff. Just express yourself as being an outgoing person without being geeky, but let them know that you do understand the stuff, and you'll likely fit in okay.

The quality control not only will look at bacteria and sanitation issues in the facility, etc., but will probably also be involved with yeast propagation and consistency, so I'd suggest that you be aware of the processes needed for that task.

 

Are there other lab techs already working there? If so ask if you can come in for a day to observe/work along side them. This is a good way to get your foot in the door and shows that you are serious about assessing your suitability for the position and at the same time checking if the job suits you. It also will give you an opportunity to interact with the existing staff.

Sell yourself as a microbiologist not a homebrewer. It's nice that you homebrew but it's not your selling point. Your lab skills are what they need.

Good luck.

 

"Sell yourself as a microbiologist not a homebrewer." A BIG +1 to that but do mention that you are a homebrewer since that demonstrates your passion for beer. It seems to me that folks in the craft beer industry appreciate people who share their passion for good beer.

Cheers!

P.S. Never underestimate the value of passion for what you do. Nobody really wants to hire somebody who views their avocation as solely being a job.

 

As with most interviews, be curious and try to make the interview a little more casual. It will help make you seem more personable and eager to get along with everyone. They don't just want some pencil-pushing SOB with a stick up his....

P.S. I like a lot of Two Brothers beer. Go kick some ass!

 

Passion is highly over-rated.
Pasion is arrogant...one-dimensional...close-minded...and lonely.

 

Don't Bs them, be honest say what you know and say your very willing and eager to learn. If you don't know something say I don't know. Nothing worse than someone who lies to get the job and we find out the first time you have to do that task solo and you have no clue or total screw it up. can you say fired, I can. lol

good luck.

 

What!?! No Haiku?

Cheers!

 

Good Luck man!

 

So sorry Jack H.
It was late...so very late.
Guess I owe you one.

 

I hire a lot of recent undergrads to do science research. The two things I look for are trainability and sustainability. Most science grads can be trained to do any variety of tech tasks, so trainability is rarely a problem, and with your degree and the particulars of this job, it us probably a non-issue. By sustainability, I mean will I be able to keep this employee. I am looking for indicators of responsibility, commitment, and interest. Technician work is repetitive and wages are low and, typically, not commensurate with the value a good tech brings to the company. The employees that tend to stay are the ones who find interest in the work, whether it be the details or the big picture. I hate conducting searches for new employees, so I will not take a chance on anyone who does not appear interested.

 

I will disagree with one thing that seems to be mentioned a few times above... Talk about your brewing. Here's why I say that. If I were hiring someone to work in a Lab for me, I would want to not only know that they have the book smarts, passed the classes, got the paper, etc., but that they know what they are doing. If you make beer at home and screw it up, it tastes like crap, is loaded with issues, infected repitches, etc, etc, I am going to assume you don't know how to manage yeast, fermentation, you don't know what happens in the brewing process. If you can make good beer, one less point of training for me. I'm not going to be concerned about the brewing Lab guy wanting to "move up", if he does, cool. But I know that you are aware of the steps in brewing, the process, the method, the need for sanitation, etc. If you do find something in my yeast or beer that shouldn't be there, you might already have some ideas of where it might have gone wrong.

 

This.. I have to search and hire people as well, and despite someones background/education/experience, I look for someone with some longevity, and interest in their work. I can take the extra time and work to train someone that might not be up to par with another applicant, if they appear to be someone interested and engaged in what they do/will do. That extra time is well spent, over taking someone highly qualified who will probably jump ship, or not be interested in their job, and their work suffer.

If you can brew, that should be a plus so you understand the process of why you are doing something in a QC lab. It also shows flexibility in that you have a willingness to help and move around the company as needed.

 

As an undergraduate biologist and home brewer, this is my dream job. Really. @IPAdams what happened?