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Office of Human Resources: Illinois State University

Interview Questions

The questions you choose are very important in the interview process. Listed below are some recommended questions that can be modified for a variety of positions. Please review these as you plan your interviews. Remember that any inquiry that is designed to elicit information as to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or arrest record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification should be avoided.

INtroductory Questions

You can begin by using transition questions such as:

  • How did you become interested in this position?
  • What is your understanding of the requirements of this position?
  • Why are you interested in employment with the University?

work experience

Then ask some questions on work experience:

  • Tell me how your work experience has prepared you for this position.
  • Tell me about the skills and abilities you have developed through your work experience.
  • What work achievements are you most proud of?
  • In what ways has your job prepared you to take on greater responsibilities?
  • Describe a typical day in your most recent position.
  • Why do you want to leave your current employer?  (Why did you leave your last employer?)

Education/skill-building Questions

  • You've given me a good review a of your work-experience, now tell me how your education has helped to prepare you for this opportunity.
  • What other types of training or preparation have you had for this position?
  • Have you ever done any volunteer work which helped you prepare you for this position? Please describe the contribution this work made to your development.
  • What are you doing to continue learning and keep up to date in your field?
  • What plans do you have for self-development in the next twelve months?

questions specific to the position

Follow up with questions like:

  • How will this position help you reach your long-term personal and career goals?
  • What do you see as the most challenging aspects of this position?
  • What aspects of this job interest you the most? The least? Why?
  • What initiatives have you taken in previous capacities to meet such challenges?
  • Tell me about a time when you had to work under pressure.
  • Tell me about a situation when this happened (Describe a common situation from the vacant position). How would you handle such a situation?
  • As a leader/employee if this (typical situation for your operation) happened how would you handle it?
  • How do you plan your day?

general questions

Depending on the position being filled, you may want to ask additional questions like:

  • How do you think a friend, teacher, or former employer would describe you?
  • What qualities should a successful manager possess?
  • What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
  • What can you tell me about your personal skills or abilities, that we have not discussed or covered, which will contribute to Illinois State University's future goals, plans, or objectives?
  • What is it that will make you an effective leader for Illinois State University?
  • Operations at Illinois State University depend primarily on state funding. Have you previously worked in a situation in which you had little control over funding? How did you deal with the challenge of achieving excellence with limited control of funding?

Summarize

  • Thinking about all we've covered today, what would you say are some of your strengths--qualities both personal and professional that make you a good prospect for this job?
  • You've given me some real assets, and now I'd like to hear about areas you'd like to develop further--all of us have qualities we'd like to change or improve. What are some of yours?

Finally, provide the interviewee with an opportunity to ask questions:

  • You've given me a good review of your background and experience. Do you have any questions about the office, the job, or anything else?

Further Information

As this discussion progresses, there should begin to be some indication as to whether or not the candidate would be a good choice for the position. Try to obtain as much information as possible in order to evaluate the candidate. Encourage the candidate to expand on answers by using open-ended questions such as "Why," "How," and "In what way." Don't trust important details to memory, be sure to take notes during the interview.

Following these guidelines should provide you with all the information needed to make the best decision possible. Additional information on the interview process is located in the Office of Human Resources section of the Fiscal Procedures Manual.

If you have further questions about interviewing, please call Julie Jenson at 438-8840.