Sample Interview Questions | UMass Office of the President

Work History

Describe projects or duties that you found most/least interesting.
Describe aspects of your last position that were most/least enjoyable.
Describe your most significant contribution in your current/most recent position.
Describe the types of interactions with professional peers, fellow employees, and other people that you have dealt with as part of your job.
Describe a problem that you encountered in your current position and the approach you used to resolve the problem.
Describe your ability in meeting deadlines for projects in your current position.
What has been the accomplishment of which you are most proud?
What job have you liked the most/the least? Why?
What factors are most important to you in terms of job satisfaction?
What are your key responsibilities or objectives in your current position? Which of these objectives have you performed particularly well? Why? Which of these have you performed least well? Why?
What effect have your accomplishments had on your current organization?
Describe your experiences in working independently on projects.
Of the various environments in which you have worked, which did you enjoy least?
Of the various environments in which you have worked, which did you enjoy most?

Tell me about a specific situation in which you prevented a problem before it occurred.
With which aspects of the position do you feel most comfortable?
With which aspects of the position do you feel least comfortable?
Describe an innovative change you implemented in your last job.
Describe a conflict you mediated between two individuals. What steps did you take to mediate and resolve the conflict?
How would your colleagues describe your strengths? Your subordinates?
What skills would you bring to our agency that other candidates may not have?
If we talked to your former supervisor, how would he/she describe your performance?

What would you do if you encountered irreconcilable differences with your immediate supervisor?
How do you motivate subordinates?
What do you consider to be your greatest strength as a manager?
What do you consider your greatest shortcoming as a manager?
Tell me about a rewarding supervisory experience you have had?
Tell me about a supervisory experience that did not turn out well and why?
Describe specific examples of how you have facilitated the development of one of your employees.
How would your staff describe your management style?
How do you communicate information to your staff?
What did you do in your last job to promote a team environment?
How would you describe your current supervisor’s management style: What aspects do you like the most? The least?
What are the criteria you would use to evaluate someone’s management style?

Describe the diversity present in your organization, and the benefits and challenges you experienced because of this diversity.
Describe how you have contributed to a diverse culture.
What specific things have you done to further your knowledge about diversity? In what specific ways have you used that knowledge?
What is your approach to enhancing your understanding of different cultures? In other words, how do you expand your own learning with regard to diversity?
In what specific ways has diversity shaped your leadership/counseling/advising/management style?
In what specific efforts have you engaged to reduce bias and champion diversity understanding?

Is there anything else work related that you feel is important for me to know about you?
Describe your ideal job?
What kind of work are you interested in?
What do you know about UMass President’s Office?
Why do you want to work for UMass President’s Office?
Why are you the best applicant for this position?
Why do you wish to leave your current position? What factors have led to this decision?