Lehigh University Interview Questions
& Process

The interview process was a long, two-day marathon, typical for a tenure-track job. It included meetings, meals, a job talk, and campus tours. The meetings started very early, around 7 AM, and the day ended late at 10 PM after dinner.

I have been applying to Lehigh University for many years and finally got a call four months ago for an interview for a position that is better than others I previously showed interest in. I got a call from the HR recruiter about a week after applying online, and my interview was two weeks later. The interview was odd, focusing on my resume with what seemed like fake interest from the recruiter. All the questions were behavioral, with some being tricky (e.g., Did you ever refuse a task from your manager?). They were repetitive, asking the same basic questions in different ways, which made it hard to answer when I had already provided valid examples multiple times. I was well prepared because I know many superiors at the university, but I didn't expect the insincere vibe during the HR screening. Knowing my interview went poorly, I emailed the recruiter to reiterate my interest, but it took almost three weeks to get an automated email stating another candidate was chosen. My suggestion is for the recruiter to show genuine interest in candidates and remember that some people possess the skills needed, even if their goals differ.

You gotta check the Lehigh jobs site for openings. Follow the instructions there carefully. A cover letter is a must, seriously, don't skip it. And be super precise with everything, like spelling and grammar. After that, hiring managers will look at applications and pick the folks who seem like the best fit. If you make the cut, you'll get an interview with the hiring manager. You might also talk to the team you'd be working with. If you keep moving forward, you'll then interview with higher-level managers. It can be a bit much, interviews often are. The whole thing might take about 6 weeks to find the winner.

The interview process started with a phone screen with the hiring manager, followed by a nearly all-day onsite interview. The onsite included various panel sessions with different teams and a couple of one-on-one meetings. There was also a brief presentation session where the topic was given beforehand, followed by a Q&A. Lunch with a team and a campus tour were part of the midday activities. Overall, it was a pretty positive experience.