The sample interview questions on this page are first divided by the job type and function you're hiring for. Second, they are divided by the myPerformance success factors employees are evaluated on in the annual performance review process. Find interview and after-interview tips on the Selection webpage.
Union Eligible
Accountability
- Tell me about a time you didn’t understand what your supervisor needed from you. How did you proceed?
- Describe a situation in which you made a mistake. How did you handle it?
- Describe a time when you weren’t able to finish a task before the deadline. What did you do?
Collaboration
- Let’s say a coworker asked you for help with a task. How would you handle the request?
- Give me an example of a good relationship you had with a coworker. What was your role in making that relationship effective?
- Let’s say it’s your first day at a new job. How would you demonstrate that you are a good team player?
Communication
- Recall a time when you had to communicate with another person. How did you confirm that what you were trying to communicate was understood?
- Have you ever held a position that required you to document your work or progress? What steps or actions did you take to effectively complete this requirement?
- Describe a situation when you felt you had not communicated well. How did you correct the situation?
Customer Focus
- Tell me about a time when you were actively listening to your customer’s needs and how it benefited you.
- When you are performing assigned tasks, how do you ensure that your work is completed correctly?
- Provide an example of when your idea of how to accomplish something differed from that of a supervisor or manager. How did you handle the situation?
Diversity & Inclusion
- Give me a specific example of how you have helped create an environment where differences are valued, encouraged and supported.
- Describe to me a time that required you to modify your behavior or your environment to help accommodate people from other backgrounds.
- Tell me about a time that you have demonstrated positive and respectful attitudes toward a different identity group.
Judgment
- Tell me about a time when you had to collect information in order to make an important decision. How did you go about it?
- Describe a time when you had to tell your supervisor about a problem. How did you handle it?
- Describe a decision that you had to make at work. How did you organize the information you needed?
Time Management
- Tell me about a time that you had two important assignments due at the same time. How did you handle it?
- Give an example of a time when there was a heavy workload and you had to set priorities in order to complete the duties in a timely fashion.
- We all have our own routines (ways) of completing things. If your supervisor suggested a new, more efficient way to complete a project, how would you go about adapting to it?
Support Task Expert
Accountability
- Give an example of a time when you took ownership of a situation. What was the result?
- Describe a situation in which you made a mistake. How did you handle it?
- Tell me about a time when you weren’t able to finish a task before the deadline. What did you do?
Collaboration
- There are times when people need extra help. Give an example of when you were able to provide that support to a person with whom you worked.
- Give me an example of a time when you were unsure of your role on a team. What did you do?
- Describe a time that you worked cooperatively with your colleagues when working toward a common goal.
Communication
- Provide an example of a time you communicated clearly with someone else. How did you know they understood?
- Give me an example of a time you chose to call someone over sending them an email. Why was that the best way of communicating your message?
- Tell me about a time when you demonstrated you understood someone else’s message. What did you do?
Customer Focus
- Tell me about a time a customer was satisfied with your work. How did you make sure you got them what they needed?
- Describe a situation when you went out of your way to solve a customer problem.
- Describe a time when you dealt with an upset customer. What did you do?
Diversity & Inclusion
- Tell me about a time when you had to understand someone’s perspective that was different from your own. How did you handle it?
- Give an example of how you contribute to a respectful environment.
- Describe a time when you worked for managers who were very different from you. How did you ensure that they received the support they needed?
Judgment
- Describe a decision that you had to make at work. How did you collect and organize the information you needed?
- Tell me about a time when you escalated a decision to another person. Why was escalation appropriate in that situation?
- Describe a time when you considered both the short and long term impacts of a decision. What was the result?
Time Management
- Give an example of a time when you had a heavy workload. How did you set priorities in order to complete the duties in a timely fashion?
- Describe a time when your priorities shifted rapidly. How did you handle it?
- Tell me about a time that you had two important assignments due at the same time. How did you decide which one to work on?
Subject Matter Professional
Accountability
- Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done.
- Describe a situation in which you made a mistake. How did you handle it?
- Give an example of a time when you took ownership of a situation. What was the result?
Collaboration
- Tell me about a time when you successfully encouraged participation in a meeting. How did you do it?
- Give an example of a time that it was difficult to build a relationship with a coworker. What did you do and how did it turn out?
- Describe a situation when you had to build consensus around a decision. What was the result?
Communication
- Give me an example of a time when you communicated clearly and concisely with someone. How did you communicate with that person and how did you know what you were communicating was clear?
- Provide an example of a time that you had to modify how you delivered a message based on who you were talking to.
- Describe a time when your active listening skills benefited you. What was the situation?
Customer Focus
- Describe a time when you felt it was necessary to modify or change your actions in order to respond to the needs of another person. What did you do?
- Give me an example of when you modeled positive service behavior. What was the situation and the impact?
- Provide an example of how you evaluated a customer’s experience to ensure that you were effective.
Diversity & Inclusion
- Tell me about a time when you had to understand someone’s perspective that was different from your own. How did you handle it?
- Give an example of how you contribute to a respectful environment.
- Describe a time when you integrated diverse perspectives into a decision or project. What was the result?
Judgment
- Describe a time when you had a complex decision to make. How did you go about making that decision?
- Describe an instance when you identified an improvement to an existing process. What was the result?
- Tell me about a time when you made a decision that affected others. How did you evaluate the short and long term effects of that decision?
Time Management
- Give an example of a time when you had a heavy workload and you had to set priorities in order to complete the duties in a timely fashion. What was the result?
- Provide an example of when you encountered an obstacle to a goal. What did you do?
- Tell me about a time when you were particularly effective with prioritizing tasks and completing a project on schedule.
Management
Accountability
- Tell me about a time when you delegated a project or task to a direct report and it didn’t go well. What happened and how did you handle it?
- Provide an example of when you clearly communicated your expectations to an employee. What was the result?
- Give me an example of how you stay up to date on your employees’ goals, including changes, delays and/or risks.
Collaboration
- Give an example of a time when you participated or led in a cross-functional/departmental team. What was your role on the team and what was the result?
- Explain an instance when you failed to keep someone up to date. How did you handle it?
- Describe a time when you successfully integrated multiple viewpoints into a project.
Communication
- Give me an example of a time when you communicated clearly and concisely with someone. How did you communicate with that person and how did you know what you were communicating was clear?
- Provide an example of a time when you had to adjust your communication style in order to be successful. What did you do?
- Describe a time when your active listening skills benefitted you. What was the situation?
Customer Focus
- Tell me about a time when you anticipated a customer’s needs. What was the situation?
- Provide an example of a time when you built a positive relationship with a customer. How did you go about doing that?
- Give me an example of how you evaluated a customer’s experience to ensure that you were effective.
Diversity & Inclusion
- Provide an example of a time when you served as a positive role model for diversity and inclusion. What was the situation?
- Describe a time when you integrated diverse perspectives into a decision or project. What was the result?
- Give an example of a departmental policy, practice and/or process that you examined to ensure it was inclusive. What did you examine and what was the result?
Judgment
- Describe a situation in which you identified and considered the pros and cons of a situation when you had to make a decision. What was the result?
- Tell me about a time when you made a decision that affected others. How did you evaluate the short and long term effects of that decision?
- Provide an example of when you had to consider the broader impact of a decision. How did you go about doing that and what was the result?
Time Management
- Provide an example of a time when you overestimated a direct report’s capacity. How did you handle the situation?
- Tell me about a time when a project deadline was approaching. How were you able to manage your team to complete the task within the established timeframes?
- Give an example of a time when you helped your team adjust to changing priorities.
Leadership
Accountability
- Tell me about a time when you gave more decision making authority to a direct report. What was the result?
- Provide an example of a time when you were able to motivate an employee to achieve a goal. How did you do it?
- Describe a time when you worked with another department leader to identify goals and objectives.
Collaboration
- Tell me about a time when communication between departments or functions was effective. What was your role?
- Describe a situation when you were able to build consensus during a cross-departmental or functional team.
- Provide an example of a time when you encouraged your team to build relationships across departments or functions. What was the result?
Communication
- Give me an example of a time when you were able to influence the way others acted. What was the result?
- Tell me about a time when you had to adjust your communication style in order to be successful. What did you do?
- Describe a time when you were able to effectively incorporate stakeholders’ input into a project. What was the result?
Customer Focus
- Tell me about a time when you identified an opportunity to improve customer service. What did you do and what was the result?
- Describe a past experience where effective customer service was an integral part of the organizational culture. What was your role in cultivating that culture?
- Provide an example of when you leveraged another team or department’s services to enhance customer service on your own team. What was the result?
Diversity & Inclusion
- Provide an example of a time when you served as a positive role model for diversity and inclusion. What was the situation?
- Describe a time when you integrated diverse perspectives into a decision or project. What was the result?
- Give an example of a departmental policy, practice and/or process that you examined to ensure it was inclusive. What did you examine and what was the result?
Judgment
- Describe a situation in which you had to make a decision with ambiguous information and limited time. What was the result?
- Tell me about a time when you made a decision that affected others. How did you evaluate the short and long term effects of that decision?
- Provide an example of when you had to consider the broader impact of a decision. How did you go about doing that and what was the result?
Time Management
- Tell me about a time when your team or department was over capacity. How did you remedy the situation?
- Describe a situation where several project deadlines were approaching. How were you able to manage your team to complete the tasks within the established timeframes?
- Give an example of a time when you helped your team adjust to changing priorities.
Reviewed 2019-08-05