The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
College of Letters and Science
Possible Interview Questions
The following are sample questions that are meant to serve as a guide while developing
interview questions. Please note that questions should be developed for the specific
position, job-related, and consistently asked of all candidates being interviewed for the
position.
As a reminder, there are topics that should be avoided during interviews. To view a State of
Wisconsin publication on this topic, please see
http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/er/discrimination_civil_rights/publication_erd_4825_pweb.htm
INTRODUCTORY/GENERAL QUESTIONS
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What about this position is particularly attractive to you?
How do you see yourself contributing to the Department, College and UWM as a whole?
Please describe a project you were involved in that was successful and one that was not.
What did you gain from these experiences?
How does this position relate to your professional goals?
What kinds of teaching/research goals could you pursue at UWM?
Please describe your interactions with students.
What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
Why do you think you are the best candidate for this position?
TEACHING:
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Provide a general overview of your teaching experience.
Provide specific examples of past challenges you encountered in teaching undergraduates.
Have you participated in any teaching preparatory program? (e.g., Preparing Future
Faculty)
If so, provide a description of your experience.
What courses would you like to teach?
How would you plan a course in ________. What topics would you cover and how would
you measure success?
How do you address different learning styles? Different cultural backgrounds in teaching?
Share an example when you were successful in getting a student to work harder in a class.
Describe an instance in which you had to confront a difficult issue with a student. What
was the outcome and what did you learn?
How would you encourage students to major in your discipline?
What is your experience with distance learning, on-line courses, and using technology in
the classroom?
What is your experience in teaching students of diverse backgrounds? What methods have
proved effective and what have learned from the experience?
RESEARCH AND FUNDING:
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Describe your research.
What is your research plan for the next five years?
Tell us how your research has influenced your teaching.
Can you give us an example of how your research intersects with community service?
In what ways have you been able to bring the insights of your research to your courses?
What has been your experience in obtaining extramural funding?
Provide a general overview of your plan for obtaining extramural funding, should you get
this position.
With whom would you collaborate, if you were selected for this position?
How would you involve undergraduate and graduate students in your research?
Why did you choose your post-doc topic?
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE/OUTREACH/SERVICE:
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Describe your experience in professional practice or outreach.
Who do you consider your cliental or stakeholders?
How does professional practice/outreach integrate with/influence your teaching and or
research?
Describe some service activities you have been involved in.
How might you contribute to the Department?
OTHER AREAS:
About the candidate's background:
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What functions or tasks in your last position did you enjoy most? Why?
Which functions and tasks did you not like? Why?
How do you feel about your career progress to date?
What are some areas in which your current (or most recent) supervisor thinks you could
improve?
What have you accomplished in your present (or most recent) position?
Why are you changing positions?
What has been your previous experience in mentoring?
About the candidate and the College:
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What interests you about this position/the College/this department?
What are your concerns about this position/the College/this department?
What contributions can you make to our College/department?
Why should I hire you (vs. other candidates)?
The university is committed to building a culturally diverse environment. How would you
further this goal?
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How have multicultural issues influenced and/or been a part of your teaching, research
and/or outreach?
About the candidate as a person:
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What are your long-term career objectives?
How would you describe yourself as a person?
What do you consider your greatest achievement to be? Why?
What are your strengths? Weaknesses?
What do you look for in an organization or college?
What kind of reference would your current (previous) employer give you?
Describe your leadership abilities.
What is your greatest failure? Why?
What character traits do you value most in others?
About the candidate's supervisory or management skills (if applicable):
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What are your budget responsibilities?
How would your staff describe you as a supervisor?
Have you discharged anyone? How did you handle the situation?
What is your supervisory style?
What is your most difficult supervisory responsibility? Why?
Source documents:
Iowa State University, http://www.provost.iastate.edu/office/resource/appendix5.html
University of Massachusetts, Lowell
http://www.uml.edu/hr/pdf/REVISEDF-Sample%20Interview%20Qs-%20Faculty.pdf
October, 2007