Historian Interview Questions & Answers
Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.
Interviewers look for candidates that demonstrate excellent skills such as:
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Analytical skills
- Research skills
- Foreign language skills
In this blog, we discuss commonly asked interview questions during job interviews for Historian positions. We also discuss the qualities that interviewers look for in successful candidates. In other words, we’re here to help you out!
Also, read more about frequently asked job interview questions here and check our job interview preparation checklist.
Skills Interviewers Look For In Successful Candidates
Below we discuss the skills you can highlight in your answers to demonstrate that you’re qualified for the job.
Analytical skills
Why interviewers are interested in your analytical skills:
Historians must be able to examine various types of historical resources and draw clear and logical conclusions based on their findings.
Communication skills
Why interviewers are interested in your communication skills:
Historians must communicate effectively when collecting information, collaborating with colleagues, and presenting their research to the public through written documents and presentations.
Learn more about communication interview questions and how to answer them!
Foreign language skills
Why interviewers are interested in your foreign language skills:
Historians may need to review primary source materials that are not in English. This makes knowledge of the other language useful during research.
Problem-solving skills
Why interviewers are interested in your problem-solving skills:
Historians try to answer questions about the past. They may investigate something unknown about a past idea, event, or person; decipher historical information; or identify how the past has affected the present.
Learn more about problem-solving interview questions and how to answer them!
Research skills
Why interviewers are interested in your research skills:
Historians must be able to examine and process information from a large number of historical resources, including documents, images, and material artifacts.
(source: bls.gov)
Historian Job Interview Questions & Answers
During a job interview, the hiring manager wants to discuss several things. Think of your:
- Employment history
- Skills and abilities
- Accomplishments
- Job qualifications
- Educational background
- Career goals
- Personality
Below you find a list of commonly asked interview questions.
Examples Of General Historian Interview Questions
- Tell me about yourself.
- How would you describe yourself?
- Why do you want to work here?
- What interests you about this position?
- Walk me through your resume.
- What motivates you?
- Why are you leaving your current job?
- Describe your work ethic.
- What is your greatest strength?
- How does your experience qualify you for this job?
- What is your greatest weakness?
- Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
- Tell me about a challenging work situation and how you overcame it.
- What are your expectations for this position?
- What are your career goals?
- Why should we hire you?
- What did you like most about your last position?
- What did you like least about your last position?
- How do you handle stress?
- What is your greatest accomplishment?
Learn how to answer these common job interview questions!
Examples Of Specific Historian Behavioral Interview Questions
Learn more about answering behavioral interview questions by using the STAR interview technique.
- What is your strategy to examine and process information from a large number of historical resources?
- How would you rate your problem-solving skills? Can you give me an example?
- Do you consider yourself a strong communicator?
- Describe a time you had to gather information from multiples sources. How did you determine which information was relevant?
- What is the most challenging project you have worked on so far in your career? What made it such a challenge?
- How do you stay up to date on new developments in your field?
- Tell me about the skills you think are essential for a historian? Can you give me an example of a time you successfully used those skills?
- What do you consider your specialty as a historian? Can you tell me more about your knowledge and skills?
- Describe a time you went above and beyond to get a job done.
- Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What did you do to fix it? What did you learn from that situation?
Learn more about questions to ask the interviewer during your job interview