The DEIA Recruiting and Hiring workgroup developed the sample Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
(DEI) interview questions listed below. These interview questions can be used as a reference while
conducting interviews. Please share this document with your team or anyone who may conduct
interviews.
Sample Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Interview Questions
1. Tell us about a time when you have taken steps to ensure that everyone (on your team, in
your organization) felt included. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the
outcome.
2. What diversity, inclusion, and/or cultural competence training have you received and how
have you applied what you learned on the job?
3. Describe a time when you had to help resolve a conflict between two colleagues. Describe
the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
4. Describe how your career has been enhanced by exposure to diverse people, places, or
experiences. Please provide a specific example.
5. What is your approach to dealing with discussions about potentially difficult topics related
to DEIA? Please provide a specific example.
6. How have you incorporated diverse viewpoints and perspectives into your decision/policy
making? Please provide a specific example.
7. What do see as the most challenging aspect of working with a diverse team? What steps
have you taken to meet this challenge?
8. Tell us about a time when a colleague was not accepting of another’s diversity. Describe the
situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
9. Tell us about one or two specific things that you have done to promote diversity, equity
and/or inclusion in your current (or last) job, or school.
10. What steps have you taken to reduce bias and champion diversity understanding in your
current job? Please provide a specific example.
11. What steps have you taken at your current (or last) employer to create an inclusive work or
learning environment?
12. What diversity challenges do you face in your current (or last) job? How did you address
those challenges? Please provide a specific example.
13. Please describe how you work to create an office environment that is welcoming and
inclusive. Please provide a specific example.
14. What is your definition of diversity? How do you encourage people to honor the uniqueness
of each individual? Please provide a specific example.
15. How do you challenge stereotypes and promote sensitivity and inclusion? Please provide a
specific example.
16. Describe your experience in serving underserved communities. What did you learn from
this experience?
17. Describe a situation in which you utilized your multicultural skills to solve a problem.
18. Please provide an example of how you approached educating co-workers/staff about
diversity, equity, or inclusion.
19. Tell us about a time when you changed your style to work more effectively with a person
from a different background.
20. Tell us about a time when you had to deal with conflict at work. Describe the situation, the
actions you took, and the outcome.
21. Describe the most difficult colleague you've ever had to deal with at work. Why was he/she
challenging? What did you do?
22. Describe a time when you needed to work cooperatively with someone that did not share
the same ideas as you. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
23. Tell us about a time when you were unable to be tolerant of another person’s point of view.
Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
24. Tell us about a time when you created an environment of honesty, inclusion, and respect for
others. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
25. How will you contribute to the organization’s/Department’s efforts to enhance diversity,
equity, and inclusion in a meaningful way? How have you approached this on your current
(or last) job?
26. Provide us with an example of how you work with people to create or foster civility in the
workplace.
27. Tell us about a time when you responded to someone who made an insensitive remark.
Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
28. Tell us about a time when you were challenged by a situation where others were behaving
in an inappropriate or uncivil way. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the
outcome.
29. Tell us about a time when effective listening skills helped you in a problematic situation.
Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
30. Describe a time when you were able to overcome a communication barrier. What steps did
you take and why? What was the outcome?
31. Tell us about a time when you showed empathy toward another individual or group.
Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the outcome.
