Sample Interview Questions for Library and Information Studies

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Students are encouraged to book an advising appointment for a mock interview to prepare for interviews, but you can also use these questions for self-study. You can book your advising appointment on campusBRIDGE.

You can also partner with a friend and they can ask you a sample question while you answer to practice interviewing.

  1. What are some of your career goals and how will this position help you realize those goals?
  2. What experience do you have working with [children]? (You can replace children with any client group mentioned in the job posting, such as seniors, newcomers, Indigenous patrons, etc.)
  3. Describe a program that you have created, delivered and evaluated. What did you learn from the experience that will inform your next programming initiative?
  4. Has a program or initiative that you created or maintained ever lost funding? If yes, what did you do?
  5. How do you connect what you do in the library with the curriculum?
  6. How would you promote reading?
  7. How would you attract [client group] to the library?
  8. Have you ever suggested a program to your supervisor that was rejected? Why was it rejected and what did you learn from the experience?
  9. Describe your previous supervisory experience.
  10. Describe your experience conducting your own research. What areas have you investigated?
  11. What is your teaching philosophy?
  12. How have you collaborated in the past with your peers and colleagues?
  13. Tell us how you stay up-to-date on changes in our field (librarianship).
  14. Tell us about a time when you had a conflict with a supervisor. How was this conflict resolved? What did you learn from this experience?
  15. Tell us about a time when you dealt with a difficult patron. What was the outcome of your action(s)?
  16. Tell us about a time when you researched and purchased a product or service available from an external vendor. What was your role in the selection process? What did you learn from this experience that you would apply when working with other vendors?
  17. What is your favourite area in the library? Why?
  18. Tell us about the last conference you attended and describe the sessions that you selected and why?
  19. A patron comes to the reference desk with the note: "This is my cousin Xander who wants to sign up for an email account. His English is very limited, but can you help him?" What would you do?
  20. A client wants information about the undulatus asperatus. How would you help this client?

Updated November 2023