Wichita State University Career Guide - Flipbook - Page 52
Interviews: Questions
Types of Questions
Interview questions come in various types, each tailored to uncover different aspects of a candidate's suitability for a role. The three
most common question types are technical, situational, and behavioral questions, Learn more about each type below.
Technical Questions
Technical questions are specific to the
role you have applied for, and asked
so that the employer can confirm you
have the required skills and abilities.
Typically these are straightforward
questions.
Example Questions:
• What's your strongest programming
language?
• What are your favorite websites/apps
to use in your classroom lessons?
Situational Questions
Situational questions ask interviewees
to explain how they would respond to
hypothetical questions and situations.
You may be prompted to talk about
your past experience in these questions.
Example Questions:
• Tell me about a time you went above
and beyond at work.
• Tell me about a time when you
disagreed with a manager. How did
you handle the situation?
Behavioral Questions
Behavioral questions help employers
gauge a candidate's particular
behavior in relation to skills, abilities,
and knowledge. They are typically
more about your personality than a
situational question.
Example Questions:
• How do you prioritize projects under
pressure?
• How would you handle a difficult
patient?
• Are you a “big picture” person or do
you pay more attention to the small
details?
Answering Questions
The STAR method helps interviewees provide concise yet comprehensive responses to behavioral and situational questions by
outlining the Situation, Task, Action, and Result of their experiences. This method helps format stories in an interview in an
easily understandable way. Review the STAR method and sample answer below.
Question: Tell me about a time you had to step into an
unexpected leadership role?
SITUATION: The context. The who? The where? The what?
At my former internship, I worked closely with a group of
student assistants, and we all reported to the same boss.
TASK: What had to get done? What was the goal?
We spent months planning a big fundraising luncheon for
our department, and originally, my job was to prepare all
the logistics like catering, event location, and setup with my
boss being the person who was in charge during the event.
Unfortunately, on the day of the event, my boss was sick and
not able to attend.
ACTION: What steps did you take? Executing the plan.
Immediately, there were a lot of questions and logistical
needs. During the planning process, I made sure to shadow
everything that my boss was doing to prepare, making it easy
for me to step into their role on the day of the event and ensure
all interns and student assistants were well informed and
executing their roles.
RESULT: What was the outcome? What happened?
The event was a huge success and as a result we raised
$50,000 over our goal for the fundraiser.
Interview Reminders
1. Don’t Rush: It is okay to take time to reflect
before answering a question. Sometimes
the first answer you think of is not your best
example.
2. Speak About Your Student Experience:
Use examples from your experience in
the classroom on projects and in student
organizations as professional examples. You
are learning and gaining skills that are useful in
your professional journey.
3. Be Brief, but Answer Completely: Most
questions can be answered in a 30 second - 2
minute window. Remain cognizant of your
interviewers time while answering the question
completely.
4. Show Them You Are a Well-Rounded
Candidate: In your responses, give a variety
of examples and incorporate multiple
experiences.
5. Be Willing to Learn: As a student, you may not
have direct experience with everything asked,
it is okay to say you are willing to learn or try
something new!
SHOWCASE YOUR STRENGTHS: Practice answering common interview questions with a focus on your
strengths. Be ready to provide examples of how you’ve used your strengths to achieve success. Knowing your
strengths can boost your confidence during interviews. Be proud of what you bring to the table.
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