Top Prescreening Questions to Ask for Undefined Positions: A Comprehensive Guide

The Major Conundrum

“What's your major and why did you choose it?” This question is an employer's swift route to knowing you. Here, the interviewer aims to understand your educational background and the thought process behind your choice of major. It also provides a peek into whether or not your major aligns with the given role.

Understanding Interest

“Why are you interested in this research assistant internship?” Here, the interviewer is assessing your passion and motivation. They are interested in knowing what drew you to this opportunity and how you envision it aligning with your career path.

Relevance of Courses

"What specific courses have you taken that are relevant to this research position?" This question is aimed at deciphering your competence for the internship role. Mention any relevant courses, why you chose them, and how they have equipped you with fundamental background knowledge or skills fitting for the research position.

Experience Check

"Can you describe any previous research experience you have had?" Through this question, the interviewer wants to understand your past experience and how it prepares you for the challenges you might encounter in their research role.

Career Alignment

"What are your career goals and how does this position align with them?" Interviewers want to know if your career goals align with what the position can offer. Be honest and specific with your goals, and draw clear connections with the internship role.

Evaluating Skillset

"What skills and abilities do you have that make you a good fit for this role?" This is your chance to sell your key skills and abilities. It's important to be specific and provide examples, preferably pertaining to a research context.

Dealing with Pressure

"How do you handle multiple tasks and deadlines?" This question gauges your time management and organizational skills, crucial for any research role.

Probing for Analytics Experience

"Can you elaborate on your experience with data analysis tools such as SPSS, R, or Python?" Here, the interviewer is interested in your competency in handling data and your familiarity with analytical tools.

Review of Literature

"Do you have experience in literature search and review?" This question evaluates your competence in reviewing literature, a key aspect of any research role.

The Research Methodology

"How would you go about conducting an academic research, based on your understanding?" This question gauges your understanding of research design, implementation, and analysis.

The Reference Point

"Which professors have you worked with, if any, and in what capacity?" This opens a window for the interviewer into your past professional relationships and collaborations.

Coursework Readiness

"How have your courses prepared you for a research role?" This question invites you to draw connections between your coursework and the research role, illustrating your understanding of applicability of theoretical knowledge in practical situations.

Previous Research Contributions

"Can you give an example of a research project you contributed to and your role in it?" This question allows you to tie your past contributions to your potential contributions in the internship role.

Literature Review Proficiency

"How comfortable are you with reading and summarizing academic papers?" Your ability to critically read and synthesize academic literature is crucial in any research role. Here, demonstrating comfort and proficiency can be a plus.

Attention to Detail

"Tell me about a time when you had to pay attention to details in order to complete a task or project." Sharing specific anecdotes about your attention to detail shows your potential as a diligent researcher.

Statistical Analysis and Quantitative Research

"Do you have any experience with statistical analysis or quantitative research?" Displaying a good understanding of statistical techniques and quantitative methodologies can be beneficial for any research position.

Addition to the Team

"What do you think you could bring to our research team?" This question allows you to highlight your unique skills, the different perspective you can bring, and how it would benefit their team.

Tackling Challenges

"Describe a situation when you faced difficulty in a project and how you solved it?" Here, the interviewer is interested in your problem-solving skills, resilience and how you handle setbacks.

Awareness of the Research Area

"What knowledge do you have about the area of study related to this research?" This question evaluates your understanding of their field of research, your general knowledge of the subject matter and how well you keep up with current trends or breakthroughs.

Independent Work Comfort

"How comfortable are you working independently, with guidance but potentially minimal supervision?" This last question gauges your ability to work independently, a key characteristic of a successful intern.