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Sample Interview Questions for Staff Candidates

These questions can be used during screening and/or on-campus interviews. Interview panels are encouraged to share questions with candidates in advance and provide links to key background information (e.g., Âé¶¹¾«Æ·’s mission, vision, values and strategic goals). This supports equity and allows candidates to demonstrate alignment with institutional priorities.

Introductory Questions

  • What attracted you to this position at Âé¶¹¾«Æ·?
  • What strengths or experiences do you bring that would benefit our team/department?
  • Âé¶¹¾«Æ· is committed to inclusive excellence. What does that mean to you, and how have you demonstrated this in your previous roles?

Professional Experience and Skills

  • Please describe your professional background and how it aligns with the responsibilities of this role.
  • What do you consider your key strengths, and how have they helped you succeed?
  • Describe a time when you faced a significant challenge at work. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?
  • How do you prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities or projects?
  • Tell us about a time when you had to adapt quickly to a change in your work environment.
  • What motivates you in your professional life?
  • Describe a situation where you went above and beyond your job responsibilities.
  • What are your professional development goals, and how does this role support them?

Teamwork and Collaboration

  • Describe your experience working in a team. What role do you typically play?
  • How do you handle conflict or disagreement with a colleague?
  • Tell us about a time when you had to collaborate with someone with a very different working style or perspective.
  • What do you value most in a colleague or team environment?

Commitment to Inclusive Excellence

  • Share an example of how your background or perspective influenced your approach to a situation.
  • Describe a time when you made a decision that impacted individuals with diverse experiences. How did you ensure fairness and objectivity?
  • How do you create an inclusive and welcoming environment in your workplace?
  • What barriers to success have you observed in your field, and how do you work to address them?

Technology and Organizational Skills

  • What tools or systems do you use to stay organized and manage your workload?
  • Describe your experience using technology to improve efficiency or solve problems.
  • How do you stay current with new tools or systems relevant to your role?

Customer Service and External Engagement (If applicable)

  • Describe your approach to providing excellent service to internal or external stakeholders.
  • Share an example of a challenging customer or client interaction and how you handled it.
  • What strategies do you use to build strong relationships with external partners?

Leadership and Supervision (for supervisory or leadership roles)

  • What is your leadership style? Share an example of how you’ve led a team through a difficult situation.
  • How do you support and develop staff members you supervise?
  • Describe a time when you had to make a decision without complete information. How did you approach it?
  • How do you ensure clear communication across different platforms (e.g., email, Teams, in-person)?
  • What feedback have you received from supervisors or colleagues about your leadership?