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., NIU’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 NIU?
- What strengths or experiences do you bring that would benefit our team/department?
- NIU 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?