Position Name: Youth Librarian
Interviewer
Candidate Name
Interview Date
Introductory Questions
– Interviewer(s) share name, role, tenure, and hand business cards for thank you messages – Share a brief overview of the company
– Give Candidate the Job Description, highlight Job Purpose, Schedule/Travel, Major Challenges & Key Decisions, and Physical Requirements
Tell us about yourself.
What type of environment do you thrive in? What type of management style do you enjoy most?
What do you know about our organization?
Transitional & Verification Questions
– Clarify any unclear information from resume or application
– Verify availability for work hours and schedule, start date, and other important details
What interests you about working for us?
What accomplishment on your resume are you most proud of?
Are you able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation?
Technical Questions
– Ask job related questions, based on skills and competencies needed for the role
– Ask open ended questions that allow candidates to tell a story about a specific example
– Ask 5-10 questions based on the role and how much time you have (~3-4 minutes per question)
– Listen for recent examples, details, consistency, the candidate’s role in the story, and teamwork
– Take notes and ask clarifying questions as follow-ups
List your top 3 technical skills.
What specific areas (related to the position) do you consider yourself the most knowledgeable? What areas have you had less experience or do not feel as comfortable with?
What has given you the greatest sense of achievement at work and why?
Behavioral / Situational Questions
– Ask job related questions, based on skills and competencies needed for the role
– Ask open ended questions that allow candidates to tell a story about a specific example
– Ask 5-10 questions based on the role and how much time you have (~3-4 minutes per question)
– Listen for recent examples, details, consistency, the candidate’s role in the story, and teamwork
– Take notes and ask clarifying questions as follow-ups. Follow up questions may include:
- Tell us more about the action you took and the outcome.
- What did you say at that point?
- How did you react to that situation?
- Explain your role in more detail.
- Tell me in detail what steps you took.
- And what was the result?
- Describe the obstacles you faced in getting it done.
- What other options did you consider?
- Why do you think you reacted as you did?
- How do you think others felt about your actions at the time?
- Were you satisfied with the outcome of your actions?
- If the same or a similar situation presented itself, what would you do differently?
Teamwork/Team Building
Tell me about a time you worked on a project with a team that resulted in a successful outcome, what contributed to the success of the project?
Situation:
Action:
Result:
Describe your most recent conflict within a team setting because of a miscommunication and how you were able to solve it.
Situation:
Action:
Result:
Do you prefer to work by yourself or with a team? Which is more interesting to you and why?
Situation:
Action:
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Time Management
Where do you tend to get bogged down? Provide me an example of how you’ve worked to overcome that.
Situation:
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Are you better managing multiple priorities or one at a time? Tell me about a time you were successful/not successful.
Situation:
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How do you structure your day? Your week?
Situation:
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Planning & Organization
How do you assure that you do not get so caught up in “task” that you lose the big picture?
Situation:
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Tell me about a time when a coworker did not report to work and you had to take on extra duties to help out in that absence. How did you plan your day? What did you do?
Situation:
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Describe a situation that didn’t go as planned. What would you have done differently?
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Customer Focused
Have you ever had to go the extra mile to satisfy a customer? Tell me what you did and what was the result?
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Give me an example of a time when a customer really tried your patience. How did you handle it?
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Communication
Describe your most recent conflict within a team setting because of a miscommunication and how you were able to solve it.
Situation:
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To get our points across, we sometimes need to use differing approaches when talking with different types of people. Talk to me about a time when you have done that successfully.
Situation:
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Do you tend to take an observer/listener role or be an active participant in meetings? Tell me about a time when your preferred style worked well and a time when it didn’t.
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Adaptability
What is the most difficult or frustrating part of constant change for you? How have you coped with it?
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How would you rate yourself in terms of being flexible in your style? Can you give an example of when you were flexible and when you were not? What was different about the circumstances?
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Tell me about a situation where you were under a great deal of pressure because of numerous demands competing for your time and attention. How did you resolve the situation?
Situation:
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Candidate’s Questions
– Be sure to leave time for their questions, generally 1-3
– Paint a positive but honest view of the pros and cons of the work and culture
Notes
Closing Questions
– Describe where you are in the process, next steps, and when they can expect to hear back
– Ask if they have any final remarks
What is one thing I should know about you that I haven’t asked?
Interviewer Assessment
Enter your overall assessment about the candidate’s knowledge, skills, abilities, and fit for this position.
Would you recommend this candidate advance in the process?