Sample Interview Questions for Instructional Positions

These sample questions may be used in screening or on-campus interviews.

Please tell us who is under-represented in your classroom/your discipline.
Please describe something concrete you do to ensure those students or colleagues thrive, and ideally, stay in your major/field.

Please describe your current and past research interests.
Describe your future research directions if you were to take this position.
Describe any other future research directions that you would like to embark on if you were to take this position at the William & Mary.
Tell us about your research program, both what it has accomplished and how you see it developing in the coming years.
How do you think your research interests or activities will or might change if you were to come to William & Mary?
The University and the department actively encourage collaborative/ interdisciplinary research endeavors. How would you see your work relating to other research both within the department and across the campus?
Have you experienced any serious research setbacks or challenges and how did you overcome them?
Describe any specific plans you have for obtaining external funding to support the research you plan to undertake.
Do you have any new publications, grants, or awards since you submitted your original application to us?
Do you have special technical or statistical skills that we should know about?

What courses would you be most interested in teaching, and do you have any experience in teaching those courses?
Describe your teaching style and the classroom technology you utilize. How is applied learning used in your teaching?
Have you experienced any teaching-related challenges and how did you overcome them?
The university actively encourages faculty to involve students in their research. How would you encourage graduate students and undergraduate students to become involved in the research you would undertake at the University?
Do you have any experience supervising student research and if so, can you please describe it?

What would be your goals [as an Assistant Professor] here at William & Mary/VIMS?
What type of involvement have you engaged with in your professional service related to your discipline?
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself?
Do you have any questions about the Department or the University? We will do our best to provide you with any information that could help you better understand this opportunity.