Interview preparation plan: Research Assistant, Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies (Law, Politics, and Elections) at AEI

Practice questions (20)

1. Tell me about a time you led a team through a crisis.
2. Describe a situation where you convinced someone of an idea.
3. Tell me about a conflict with a colleague/manager and how you resolved it.
4. Tell me about a project where you collaborated with other teams.
5. Describe a difficult decision you had to make quickly.
6. Tell me about when you had to adapt to a major change.
7. Tell me about a mistake you made and what you learned.
8. Describe a time you had to work under pressure.
9. How do you handle feedback from peers?
10. Tell me about a time when you had to learn something new quickly.
11. Describe a situation where you had to motivate others.
12. Tell me about a time you had to manage competing priorities.
13. Describe how you build relationships with stakeholders.
14. Tell me about a time you provided constructive criticism.
15. How do you approach problem-solving with a team?
16. Describe a time when you had to change your approach based on new information.
17. Tell me about a situation where you had to advocate for your ideas.
18. Describe an instance where you had to manage a diverse team.
19. Tell me about a time you took the initiative.
20. What data analysis tools are you familiar with?

Questions to ask the interviewer (8)

• How does AEI integrate technology into its research processes?
• What is the team culture like in the Research Department?
• What are the biggest challenges currently facing AEI?
• What opportunities for professional development does AEI offer?
• How does AEI measure the success of its research initiatives?
• What qualities do you believe are most important for a Research Assistant at AEI?
• How does AEI foster collaboration between different research teams?
• What future projects or initiatives is AEI planning to undertake?

Study topics (7)

• AEI's Survey Center on American Life and Key Publications

  Study the mission, recent reports, newsletters, and op-eds from AEI’s Survey Center on American Life directed by Daniel A. Cox, focusing on polling, demographic trends, and American politics. Review specific outputs like bimonthly newsletters and survey-based articles to understand their research style and themes. This is essential as the role directly supports this center, involving research, writing, and fact-checking their materials.

• Current US Politics, Elections, and Demographic Trends

  Research recent developments in US elections, polling data, voter demographics, and political shifts up to 2026, including key events like midterm impacts or presidential cycles. Analyze trends in social capital, social mobility, and cultural changes using sources like Pew Research or Gallup. Critical for the role's focus on law, politics, elections, and demonstrated interest in these areas.

• Statistical Software for Survey Data Analysis (R or Stata)

  Learn basics of R or Stata for cleaning, manipulating, and analyzing survey data, including creating charts and graphics from polling datasets. Practice with public datasets like American National Election Studies (ANES) or General Social Survey (GSS). Required for using statistical programs to handle Survey Center data and produce visuals.

• Social Media Management and Analytics Tools (Hootsuite, Google Analytics)

  Study best practices for posting on platforms like X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and Facebook; track engagement metrics using Hootsuite or Buffer; monitor website traffic with Google Analytics. Review AEI's current social presence and media impact tracking. Vital for managing the Survey Center’s online presence and reporting metrics.

• Fact-Checking and Number Checking Methodologies

  Master techniques for verifying data, citations, and claims in reports using tools like FactCheck.org guidelines, cross-referencing primary sources, and statistical validation. Practice on political and survey-based content. Core responsibility for all published materials, including newsletters and articles.

• AEI Mission, Social/Cultural/Constitutional Studies, and Organizational Culture

  Review AEI's mission of advancing free enterprise and limited government; explore Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies projects on law, politics, and American institutions. Understand think tank culture emphasizing civil discourse and policy debate. Necessary to demonstrate interest in cover letter and align with application requirements.

• Event Planning and Execution for Policy Conferences

  Learn logistics for think tank events: planning roundtables, conferences, and panels on politics/elections, including vendor coordination, agendas, and post-event evaluation. Study AEI's past events via their website. Directly tied to helping plan and execute conferences with administrative support.