Southwestern University Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 6 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
3 roles · 6 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Southwestern University.
Southwestern University
Assistant Director of Study Abroad
Manager Easy Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation
The email offering me the interview started with a casual "Dear @firstname," which I found off-putting. I was so excited to get the interview request that I continued with the process. After the virtual interview, I heard nothing for about 2 weeks. I then received a very confusing email that required that I ask for clarification. I was told that I was still in the running for the position and that they'd let me know if I was chosen for a second interview. 2 more weeks go by, so I email to request a status update. Only then do I receive the rejection. My recommendation: Treat your applicants with respect. I won't be applying here again due to the poor communication which was an obvious reflection of deeply flawed processes.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Can you tell us about yourself and your interest in this position, as well as the skills you possess that would contribute to your success in this role?
Southwestern University
Video Specialist
Mid Easy Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The interview started with a one-on-one chat in a relaxed setting. Then, I met with the search committee who were really familiar with my past work. They asked me how I'd handle the types of tasks I'd face and talked about my previous projects. It was a comfortable experience. Since higher education isn't as focused on profit, the interview felt less intense than typical ones.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Can you walk me through your typical workflow and how you'd tackle a problem?
- What's your estimated turnaround time for completing a given task?
Southwestern University
Instructor
Mid Average Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite Presentation Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Presentation Technical
The job was listed on the university's site. The application was pretty detailed and took a while to complete, and they requested a lot of references, almost too many. About a month after applying, I got a call to see if I was still interested and to schedule a phone interview. The phone call lasted about 30 minutes and was mostly about explaining the job and the classes I'd teach. They asked a few questions about my teaching experience from my resume, then asked me to come in for an on-campus interview. The in-person interview lasted about an hour with several staff and administrators. They went over the course details and expectations again. We discussed my resume, and they asked for more details on certain points. Then they asked how I'd deal with specific situations like disruptive students, low attendance, and my thoughts on acceptable failure rates. Finally, I had to give a short lesson on a topic I chose. I heard this isn't always required, but it's probably a good idea to be ready to give a short talk on a topic. After the lesson, they said they'd be in touch in a few weeks.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Since the role is for an instructor, you should be able to easily discuss a topic and answer simple questions about it. If you're not prepared to give a mini-lesson, I could see someone getting flustered.
Southwestern University
Very Long, But Not Too Difficult
Entry Average Negative experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Phone screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral
I had a phone interview with three people from the department for the position I applied for. Then, they offered me an in-person interview. Since I was coming from out of town, the university paid for my hotel stay for one night. The interview process took all day, which allowed me to meet with many different people. I met with my immediate supervisor first, then the other staff in the department. After that, I had lunch with students and was given a campus tour. In total, it took about six hours.
Confirmed questions1 question
- I don't remember specific questions from the interview itself, but later on, after I started the position, I had to talk about myself in front of a large group of students, which was uncomfortable.
Southwestern University Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Southwestern University interview reports.
“What's your estimated turnaround time for completing a given task?”
Read reports →“Since the role is for an instructor, you should be able to easily discuss a topic and answer simple questions about it. If you're not prepared to give a mini-lesson, I could see someone getting flustered.”
Read reports →“I don't remember specific questions from the interview itself, but later on, after I started the position, I had to talk about myself in front of a large group of students, which was uncomfortable.”
Read reports →“Tell me about how you would deal with a conflict or problem involving a coworker.”
Read reports →“Can you tell us about yourself and your interest in this position, as well as the skills you possess that would contribute to your success in this role?”
Read report →“Can you walk me through your typical workflow and how you'd tackle a problem?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 6 Southwestern University interview reports.