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Contract Lab Technician - Central Quality Control

Tate & Lyle · Hoffman Estates, IL · $20.00–$24.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Jul 29, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you made a mistake in the lab. How did you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they report errors honestly, which matters more than speed in a quality lab.

As a recent graduate, what lab skills from school are you most confident in?

What they are checking: Whether they can identify strengths that will make them useful quickly in the lab.

This is a six-month contract role. How do you get up to speed quickly?

What they are checking: Whether they can learn methods fast and contribute within a short contract period.

How do you keep accuracy high when you run the same test many times a day?

What they are checking: Whether they have habits that prevent careless errors during repetitive testing.

What would you do

You run a sample and the result is outside specification. What do you do next?

What they are checking: Whether they check their own method first and follow out-of-spec procedures instead of retesting until it passes.

You have samples from a new product launch and a plant both waiting. How do you prioritize?

What they are checking: Whether they ask for priorities and communicate timelines instead of guessing.

About the work

What compositional analyses have you run, like moisture, ash or sugar profiles?

What they are checking: Whether their lab experience matches the routine compositional testing this role is built around.

How do you know an instrument is calibrated and ready to use?

What they are checking: Whether they understand calibration checks, since the lab supports calibration programs for multiple sites.

How do you document your lab work so someone else could follow it?

What they are checking: Whether they keep records that meet good laboratory practice and support audits.

How do you stay safe working with chemicals and lab equipment?

What they are checking: Whether they follow safety rules and understand the hazards of the materials they handle.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Tate & Lyle from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

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The full job description

As published by Tate & Lyle.

At Tate & Lyle, our purpose is simple: Transforming Lives Through the Science of Food. With more than 165 years of ingredient innovation, we partner with leading food and beverage brands to create healthier, tastier and more sustainable products enjoyed by millions of people every day. Combining expertise in sweetening, mouthfeel and fortification, we help customers win on taste, nutrition and performance while making a positive impact on society and the planet. With approximately 5,000 colleagues across 75 locations in 38 countries, we're united by a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration and growth. Read on to learn how this opportunity can contribute to our purpose while helping shape the future of food. This is a temporary / contract position - slated for 6 months with potential for extension - onsite in Hoffman CQC Lab. Target pay: $20-24/hr - recent graduates are encouraged to apply. Description: Tate & Lyle Quality group has an opening for a Lab Technician position in the Central Quality Control Lab in Hoffman Estates, IL. The Central QC Lab is an integral part of the quality function at T&L, supporting new product launches from Science & Innovation and supporting multiple sites’ laboratory instrumentation calibration programs, manufacturing support of finished or in process testing. The primary role of the position is routine compositional analysis within product release testing of finished products, Near Infrared routine/monthly calibration testing, and ad hoc support of the CQC project teams. Primary Responsibilities: • Analyze organic and inorganic compounds to determine chemical and physical properties and composition, utilizing wet chemical, chromatography, spectroscopy, and viscosity techniques • Testing finished products from various manufacturing sites/tollers and reporting results accurately and timely to the proper quality representatives • Compile and analyze test information to determine process or equipment operating efficiency and to diagnose malfunctions • Maintain clean and organized working environment in the labs • Work safely and follow written EHSQS SOPs and protocols • Data entry – Record test results accurately into Excel logs, LIMS or SAP programs. • Prepares certificates of analysis for customers upon request • Calibrate and maintain lab instruments and operations equipment to known standards. • Prepare sample batches for customers and sales team. • Perform stability testing on laboratory and manufacturing samples. • Communicate with outside laboratories for external tests. Qualifications: • Associate degree with emphasis in Chemistry or one to two years of lab related experience. Bachelors degree from college or university is preferrable. • Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety procedures, standard operating procedures, technical documents, lab methods or equipment manuals. • Ability to calculate figures such as percentages, ppm, or basic mathematics which can be found in technical methods. • Theory, operation and troubleshooting of HPLC and other chromatographic techniques • Familiarity with SAP a plus • Microsoft products; Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint a plus • Strong written and verbal communication skills necessary California Consumer Privacy Act ("CCPA") The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process. Tate & Lyle is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.

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