20 ITHAKA Interview Questions and Answers

ITHAKA is a not-for-profit organization that supports the academic community through a variety of programs and services. ITHAKA’s mission is to help scholars preserve their work and the scholarly record, advance research and teaching in sustainable ways, and build new models for access to and sharing of knowledge.

If you’re hoping to land a job at ITHAKA, you can expect the interview process to be pretty competitive. To give yourself the best chance of success, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some tough questions.

In this article, we’ve gathered a list of sample ITHAKA interview questions and answers to help you prepare for your interview.

ITHAKA Interview Process

The interview process at ITHAKA can be long and detailed, depending on the position you are applying for. For some positions, such as software engineering internships, the process may only include a few interviews. However, for other positions, such as analysts, the process may include multiple interviews, a written assignment, and a presentation. In general, the interview process is thorough and includes questions about your skillset, experience, and fit for the role.

1. What is your greatest strength and weakness?

This question is a common one in interviews, and it’s important to answer honestly. Employers ask this question because they want to know what your greatest strengths are so that you can use them on the job. They also want to know about any weaknesses so that you can work on improving them. When answering this question, think of two or three things that you’re proud of and two or three areas where you could improve.

Example: “My greatest strength is my ability to communicate with others. I have always been good at speaking up when I need to and asking questions if I don’t understand something. This skill has helped me succeed in previous jobs and school projects. My weakness is that sometimes I get overwhelmed by large amounts of information. If there is too much going on around me, I find it hard to focus on one thing. I’m working on learning how to better manage my time.”

2. How would you handle a situation where the requirements of two different projects were in conflict with each other?

This question can help interviewers understand how you prioritize your work and make decisions. Use examples from previous experience to show that you can think critically, weigh options and communicate with others about the best course of action.

Example: “In my last role as a project manager, I had two projects where the requirements were in conflict with each other. One project was for an academic library system, while the other was for a public library system. The libraries both wanted similar features but different ones as well. In this situation, I met with both teams to discuss their needs and find out what they valued most. We then discussed ways we could meet all of their needs within budget constraints.”

3. Tell us about a time when you had to make an important decision without consulting your boss or manager, how did it turn out?

This question can help the interviewer get a better sense of your decision-making skills and how you handle responsibility. Use examples from your previous experience to highlight your critical thinking, problem-solving and leadership abilities.

Example: “In my last position as an IT specialist for a small business, I was tasked with updating our company’s website. The owner wanted to add more pages and features to the site but didn’t have enough money in the budget to do so. So, I had to come up with a plan that would allow us to update the website without spending too much money. After some research, I found a way to integrate new features into the existing website by using coding languages. This allowed us to save money on development costs while still providing our customers with a quality user experience.”

4. Why do you want to work at ITHAKA?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your interest in their organization. They want to know what attracted you to the job and whether it aligns with your career goals. Before your interview, research ITHAKA’s mission statement and values. Use these as a guide for how you can answer this question.

Example: “ITHAKA is an innovative company that has made great strides in its field. I am excited to be part of such a forward-thinking team. I also love the idea of working at a place where we are all committed to lifelong learning. As someone who loves education, I think this would be a great fit for me.”

5. Describe a project that you have worked on that required extensive collaboration between teams.

Collaboration is an important skill for any librarian to have. Employers ask this question to see if you are able to work well with others and how you handle collaboration projects. In your answer, explain the project in detail and describe what steps you took to collaborate with other teams.

Example: “At my previous library, I was responsible for managing a large-scale digital archiving project. The goal of the project was to migrate all physical books into our online catalog. This meant that we needed to work with multiple departments within the library to ensure the migration went smoothly. We worked together to create a timeline for the project and assigned tasks to each team member.”

6. Are you comfortable working remotely?

ITHAKA is a virtual organization, so the interviewer wants to know if you have experience working in this type of environment. If you do not have any remote work experience, explain what your thoughts are on it and how you would approach it.

Example: “I am very comfortable with remote work environments. I worked for a company that was entirely remote, so I’m used to communicating through video conferencing software and other online tools. I think it’s important to be able to communicate effectively, even when there isn’t someone physically present.”

7. Do you feel more comfortable working alone or as part of a team?

This question can help an interviewer determine how you might fit into the ITHAKA culture. It’s important to be honest about your preferences, but it can also be helpful to explain why you feel that way.

Example: “I definitely prefer working in a team setting. I find that when I’m working on my own, I sometimes get distracted and lose focus. When I work with others, I have more accountability for my actions and am able to stay focused on the task at hand. In fact, I think I perform better as part of a team because I can bounce ideas off of other people and learn from their feedback.”

8. Give me an example of a time where you had to deal with a difficult co-worker, what was the outcome?

This question is a great way to see how you handle conflict and can help the interviewer determine if you would be able to work well with their team. When answering this question, it’s important to focus on your ability to resolve conflicts in a professional manner while maintaining positive relationships with others.

Example: “In my last position, I had a coworker who was constantly late for meetings and often missed deadlines. This made it difficult for me to complete projects on time because I needed his input. After missing several deadlines, I approached him about the issue. He apologized and promised to do better. We set up weekly check-ins so that he could update me on his progress. It helped us both stay organized and ensured we met our goals.”

9. If hired, what kind of skills would you bring to the company?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your background and what you can bring to the company. When answering this question, it’s important to be honest about your skills and how they could benefit ITHAKA. You should also try to think of skills that are unique or uncommon in order to stand out from other candidates.

Example: “I have excellent communication skills, which would help me work with clients and colleagues alike. I’m also very organized, so I’d use my time wisely and complete tasks on time. Finally, I am highly motivated by challenges, so I would do everything I could to succeed at this job.”

10. What qualities should a good software engineer have?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you have the skills and abilities needed for this role. When answering, it can be helpful to list specific qualities and explain why they are important.

Example: “A good software engineer should be able to think critically about problems and come up with solutions. They should also be organized and detail-oriented so they can create plans and organize their work. Finally, I believe it’s essential for engineers to be creative problem solvers who enjoy coming up with new ideas.”

11. Provide an example of a time when you had to give constructive criticism to someone.

This question can help an interviewer understand how you handle giving negative feedback to others. It can also show them your communication skills and ability to work with a team. When answering this question, it can be helpful to focus on the steps you took to deliver the criticism in a constructive way.

Example: “In my last position as a library assistant, I noticed that one of my coworkers was having trouble organizing books by subject. This made it difficult for patrons to find what they were looking for when searching the shelves. Instead of telling her outright about the problem, I asked if she could use me as a resource while working. She agreed, so I spent some time showing her how to organize the books properly. Afterward, she thanked me for helping her learn something new.”

12. Can you tell me about a time you made a mistake and what you learned from it?

Employers ask this question to see how you respond to mistakes and learn from them. They want to know that you can take responsibility for your actions, apologize when necessary and use the experience to improve yourself in the future. When answering this question, be honest about what happened and explain what you learned from it.

Example: “When I first started working as a librarian, I was so excited to get to work with students and teachers. One day, I saw a student who had lost his book. I gave him one of mine because I thought he would need it more than me. Later, I found out that he lost my book and never returned it. I learned that I should have talked to the teacher before giving away their materials.”

13. What are some of your favorite web applications?

This question can help an interviewer get to know you better and understand your interests. It also helps them see if you have experience with the types of applications they use in their own work. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention a few that are relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Example: “I love using Google Docs because I find it so easy to collaborate on documents with others. I’ve used it at previous jobs to create presentations and reports with my coworkers. Another application I really like is Trello. I find it’s great for organizing projects and tasks into different categories. I’ve used it before when working on group projects to keep track of everyone’s progress.”

14. How would you describe yourself as a leader?

ITHAKA is a collaborative environment, so the interviewer may ask this question to see if you can adapt your leadership style. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe how you would lead a team in a way that fits with ITHAKA’s culture.

Example: “I believe that as a leader, it’s important to set an example for others and help them understand their roles within the organization. I am always willing to answer questions or provide guidance when needed. I also think it’s important to encourage my team members to take on new challenges and responsibilities. For instance, at my last job, I noticed one of my employees was interested in learning more about social media marketing. So, I asked her to create a campaign for our company’s Instagram account.”

15. What interests you most about this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your interests and how they align with the position. They want someone who is passionate about their work, so it’s important to show that you are excited about this opportunity. When answering this question, think about what attracted you to this job posting in the first place. Consider mentioning a few things that interest you most about the role and company.

Example: “I am really interested in working for an organization that values lifelong learning. I have always been passionate about education, so I was thrilled when I saw this position open at ITHAKA. I also love the idea of helping students find new ways to learn and understand complex subjects. I feel like my skills and experience make me a great fit for this role.”

16. There are times when we will need to respond quickly to customer inquiries. Would you be able to work under pressure like that?

Employers ask this question to make sure you can handle the pressure of working in a customer service role. In your answer, explain how you would respond to an urgent situation and provide examples of when you have done so in the past.

Example: “Yes, I am comfortable with responding quickly to customers. When I worked at my previous job, we had a lot of customers who needed help right away. I learned that it’s important to prioritize these situations because they are usually emergencies. For example, if someone is having trouble logging into their account, I would try to solve the problem as soon as possible. If there was something more complicated going on, I would find someone else to help them while I researched the issue.”

17. Have you ever worked for a non-profit organization before?

This question is a great way to learn more about your potential employer’s values. If you’re applying for a position at a non-profit, it’s likely that the organization has similar values as other non-profits you’ve worked for in the past. When answering this question, try to highlight how your previous experience aligns with the job description and company culture.

Example: “I have never worked for a non-profit before, but I am passionate about education reform. In my last role, I was able to work on an initiative to improve literacy rates among children in low-income areas. My team and I were able to create a program that provided free books to families who couldn’t afford them.”

18. What programming languages are you familiar with?

ITHAKA is a technology company, so it’s likely that you’ll be working with programming languages. The interviewer may ask this question to see if you have experience using the same or similar languages as those used at ITHAKA. If you don’t have any experience with the languages they use, consider asking what languages they use and how much time you would need to learn them.

Example: “I’m familiar with Java, C++ and Python. I’ve worked in an environment where we used all three of these languages before, but I can also quickly pick up new languages. In fact, I find learning new languages fun.”

19. Do you consider yourself to be a creative person?

Employers ask this question to see if you have the ability to come up with new ideas and implement them. They want someone who can think outside of the box, but also has the skills to execute their ideas. When answering this question, show that you are a creative person by giving an example of something you’ve done in the past that was innovative or unique.

Example: “I definitely consider myself to be a creative person. In my last position as a marketing manager, I came up with the idea for our company to sponsor a local baseball team. This helped us reach out to more customers while also supporting the community. It ended up being very successful, so much so that we continued sponsoring the team for two years.”

20. We often use open source technologies here at ITHAKA. Is there any experience you have with these types of technologies?

Open source technologies are often used in the library and information science field. This question allows you to show your knowledge of open source software, which can be beneficial if you’re applying for a position that requires you to use these types of programs. In your answer, explain what open source technology is and give an example of when you’ve used it before.

Example: “Open source technology refers to any type of program or application that’s free to use and modify as long as the user gives credit to the original creator. I have experience with open source technology because I worked at a public library where we used open source applications like Moodle and Drupal to create our website.”