Sample Interview Questions
Please note: The Office of Equity & Diversity must first approve all interview questions
Questions Relating to Diversity
General Questions
Teaching Questions
Supervisory Questions
Developing questions ahead of time need not be unduly restrictive. Follow-up questions based on the responses to predetermined questions will most likely vary with each candidate. One should also examine the questions to make sure none will have the effect of the search and screen committee screening out or discouraging women, minorities or persons with disabilities. A patterned interview of this type has the beneficial effect of reducing unconscious biases. Time should also be allotted for the candidates to ask questions of the committee.
The search and screen committee should devise a group of core questions based on the job-related criteria by which candidates are to be evaluated. These questions should be asked of ALL candidates, to insure that crucial job-related information is obtained. Any questions involving race, religion, gender, marital status, and so on must be avoided. See http://www.uwp.edu/departments/equity.and.diversity/LawfulUnlawful.pdf for lawful and unlawful interview questions.
Search and screen committees often have difficulty determining if a candidate is aware of and responsive to diversity issues. Below are a variety of sample questions – at least one diversity question should be asked of all candidates:
Questions Relating to Diversity
- In this position, how do you think you might be able to support the university’s philosophy toward diversity?
- How have you integrated multicultural issues as part of your professional development?
- How have you participated in diversity events and organizations at other colleges and universities?
- What ideas do you have about diversity in the classroom?
- What programs have you developed in the area of diversity?
- Has diversity played a role in shaping your [teaching, advising, etc.] styles?
- What do you see as the most challenging aspects of an increasingly diverse academic community? What initiatives have you taken in your previous capacities to meet such challenges?
- What kinds of leadership efforts are needed to encourage a commitment to excellence through diversity?
- What experience do you have in working with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities?
- Please share any particular challenges you have experienced in working with people from diverse backgrounds. Successes?
- UW-Parkside’s Plan 2008 sets a number of goals related to diversity. What steps would you take to advance UW-Parkside’s vision for achieving and sustaining diversity across all areas of the campus?
- Please describe some of the past strategies you have implemented to help enhance the professional advancement of women and people of color in your organization.
- How have issues of diversity, multiculturalism and social justice impacted or informed the way you have approached program development or student learning?
- Why are you interested in UW-Parkside and more specifically this position?
- One of the responsibilities of this position is to________________. What kinds of experience have you had that has prepared you for this responsibility, and what are some ideas you have on how you would do this?
- What unique talent do you offer? Why do you feel it is unique?
- Please give a best example of working to accomplish an important goal. What was the goal and what was your role?
- Describe the most significant or creative presentation or idea that you developed or implemented.
- What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
- Tell us a little more about your professional experiences, particularly those not mentioned on your resume.
- What do you think most uniquely qualifies you for this position?
- Based on what you know about the __________________position, what do you see as the most challenging aspect(s) of this position?
- Have you ever had a co-worker/student from a cultural background different than your own? If so, how did this affect your approach to a work/classroom situation?
- Tell us about any experiences you have had in adapting your working/teaching style in order to work effectively with those who were different from you.
- Have you ever observed a coworker who made inappropriate racial, sexual, homophobic or other degrading remarks to another employee? What have you/would you do in this circumstance?
- Do you have any questions for us?
- Describe your research. What are you currently working on?
- Describe your teaching philosophy.
- Tell us how your research has influenced your teaching. In what ways have you been able to bring the insights of your research to your courses at the undergraduate level?
- How do you see yourself contributing to our department? To UW-Parkside’s mission?
- What is your style in working with students?
- Describe your relationships with your mentors and how these experiences have influenced your views of how to mentor your own students.
- Tell about a time when you needed to address an employee’s attitude. What did you say and what was the outcome?
- Tell about a time when your department/office was going through long-term changes or working on a long-term project – what did you do to keep your staff focused?
- How would you characterize your supervisory style?
- What consistent methods do you use to ensure staff feel valued for their contributions?
- Tell about a time when you felt your staff was under too much pressure. What did you do about it?
- Tell us about convincing a group to make a change you felt was necessary. What was the change? How did you convince them? Why did you feel it was necessary?
