Interview Practice Flashcards
Tell us about yourself?
- Currently located in Raleigh NC but from Maine originally. Lived a few years in Colorado working an administrative role at Colorado State University before moving to Raleigh and working in a research and project coordination position at North Carolina State University
- I have a strong background in administrative work and project coordination, from managing teams to independently working on a project
- I’m looking for a role where I can exercise and grow my present skills of project coordination and administrative work, looking to move into more of a management role down the line
- In my free time I love to read and go on hikes and hang out with my two cats and partner
What is your greatest strength?
I am very organized which has been incredibly helpful not only to myself but to every workplace that I have joined. For example, I’ve created orientation checklists for new team members for my last two jobs, as well as administrative handbooks for reference in my role. This level of organization also allows me to handle multiple projects at once.
What is your greatest weakness?
I struggle to say no sometimes, and that can make my workload too large for me to handle. I try to have clear communication with my supervisor about my current workload and what I can handle on time, as well as shifting priorities for different projects if something higher priority comes up.
Why should we hire you?
I would add value to your workplace through my organizational skills and administrative background. I am timely, capable, and driven, and I know I would do this job well. I have a strong work ethic and I am a fast learner.
Why do you want to work here?
I’m looking for a role where I can advance my administrative and project coordination skillsets and your workplace is aligned with my goals.
Tell me about a time you showed leadership.
In my previous role as a project coordinator and research technician, my supervisor, an associate professor, was on sabbatical for the first time for 6 months in England. While she kept communication with my teammates during her time there, everyday questions, ordering, and tasks needed to be routed to me. I stepped up as a leader during this time to ensure the research space continued to run smoothly and that students had their needs met and questions answered on time. I also headed a project during this time in collaboration with two other professors and was the representative for our lab at meetings when my supervisor couldn’t attend.
Tell me about a time you were successful on a team.
I’ve been part of many different team projects. One of them involved weekly meetings and follow-up conversations to ensure project deadlines were being met. I think this was a successful team because we kept consistent communication and that allowed for efficient work going forward - as opposed to other team experiences where I’ve had micromanagers as the team lead which made the work slow down.
What would your co-workers say about you?
My coworkers would say that I am very organized and that my ability to form systems to make processes more efficient was unparalleled. Also, that I am communicative and friendly team mate and reliable when it comes to independent work.
Describe your most challenging project/had to handle pressure
The most challenging project I encountered came to me in the last year, when I was given the role of project coordinator for a research project while my supervisor was on sabbatical in England. During this time I had less communication with my supervisor while working to coordinate our team between two universities and building a system to keep the project goals on track. This was challenging but I sent my supervisor project updates consistently throughout the week that she could reply to when she was available due to the time difference. Through her feedback and the feedback of the team working with me, I came up with a system that allowed the project to be finished before the estimated deadline, in addition to coming up with training programs to prepare core members for data collection.
Tell me about something you’ve accomplished that you are proud of/made a goal and achieved it.
I am very proud of the 4-H curriculum I wrote during my 12-month AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) term. The curriculum is for 3rd-5th graders and is based in Colorado Agriculture. During the creation of the curriculum I had to work with a team of faculty for background information as well as reaching out and interviewing local agricultural experts on the subject matter. The experience really honed my project management skills and I enjoyed working in the team.
What are your salary expectations?
Minimum $50,000
Tell me about a time you had to manage conflicting priorities.
At my previous job I was given two roles - administrative assistant and research technician. Managing the two at the same time could be difficult as both had high priority needs that had to be met. For example, placing an order vs. sample preparation for data collection. I determined my priorities through communication with my supervisor, who had preferences for what was done first.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’d like to be working as a project manager, leading a team and managing multiple projects in a stable job where there is room for upward growth and a supportive environment for professional development. My goal is always to be the best at whatever level I am at within a company.
Describe your leadership style.
Democratic and delegative. I like to hear feedback from team members before assigning roles and supporting.
Tell me about a time you made a mistake or failed.
Once I accidentally charged an order to the wrong purchasing grant due to multitasking. I realized this and reached out to the procurement office to rectify the matter, letting my supervisor know at the same time. After that I made sure to not multitask when meeting a deadline, instead putting all my focus on the matter at hand.
Tell me about a time you worked with a difficult person/time you disagreed with someone
I think sometimes the most difficult people to work with are often very similar to yourself. For example, I am extremely organized. I had a coworker that was also very organized. We were put on a project together and had very different systems for how we wanted the project calendar created. In the end we collaborated and both brought new ideas to the table, resulting in an improved end product for everyone.
Do you have any questions for me?
What does your onboarding process look like? When can I expect to hear from you? What is the work culture like here? What qualities does your ideal candidate have? What does a day in the life of this role look like?
How do you handle stress?
Stress is a motivator for me to handle my work in the most efficient way possible and to prioritize as needed. However, there is such a thing as too much stress and that opens up the door to multitasking and mistakes. I try to avoid multitasking and instead focus on one task at a time.
Describe your work style.
Organized, efficient, prioritizing goals, driven.
