University of Hawai'i Interview Questions
& Process

It was a panel interview, and they asked me questions about my competencies and past experiences. They also asked me scenario-based questions that required open-ended answers. There were at least three people on the interview committee, and each of them asked questions related to the job I was applying for.

I saw the job posting online and it was closing the next day so I sent my cover letter and resume immediately to make sure it got there overnight. Two months later, I got a call from someone in the hiring department about a 60 minute interview happening the next month, which was during the holidays. I said yes. I spent the next month getting ready by thinking about my past experiences with students and programs, and also looking up info about the department, their programs/students/staff, and the University. I also reached out to people I knew who worked there for their inside perspective. The phone interview was with a committee of staff and students. It was a bit chaotic, but I didn't let it throw me off. They asked me a bunch of different questions about student development, building strategic relationships, planning events, leadership, and more. I didn't realize it at the time, but this was the only interview for the position. You should definitely ask the hiring department about their selection process when you apply. If I had known this before, I would have prepared a bit differently and answered questions more completely. When you interview, act like it's the only one you'll have – that's good advice. A couple of weeks after following up on my application status, they requested more references because they couldn't reach the ones I originally provided. I know they called those references the same day. A week later, I got a letter in the mail saying I didn't get the job.

I had an interview with UH Cancer Center. Honestly, they were really disrespectful. I've interviewed with other big tech companies, and this was the worst due to their rudeness. They don't schedule interviews in advance. The assistant emailed me the morning of, asking if I could do a phone interview in 2 hours. I said yes, but they didn't call on time. After waiting 20 minutes, they emailed again to ask for a Zoom interview right away. It was an unprofessional last-minute change. During the interview, the doctor/professor added tasks not in the job description. I realized this team is not a good place to work, as they don't respect candidate time and offer little pay for a lot of work.

I came across an open position and applied. Make sure your application is complete, including things like your driver's license, official transcripts, resume, and a statement. Then, I got ready like I would for any interview. I researched the organization and the specific program or department I was interested in. I dressed professionally and brought necessary items like a notepad, pen, extra resumes, and my prepared questions. The interview mostly focused on the job description and how my skills matched the requirements. I had two interviews: one with a committee and another with the administrator responsible for the area. The interview took place in a classroom, which was comfortable but plain. The interviewers were nice and polite.