Teacher Interview Questions And Answers

Most Common Teacher Interview Questions

Teacher Interview

Teaching, as they say, is a noble profession. You get the rare opportunity to engage with both the young and old. You play an incredible role in shaping their future and helping them learn what the world expects of them. As you look forward to getting an opportunity to teach, it is essential to practice common questions you expect to be asked in an interview. It will make your journey to your dream job easy.

Like other interviews, in a teaching interview, there are also common questions that you need to prepare for. Other than those, you will, of course, come across other questions that focus more on the profession. Keep reading to understand how you can tailor your answers to fit the interview.

1. What made you want to be a teacher?

There must be something that drove you to the teaching profession. That is what the hiring managers will be trying to find out when they pose this question to you. Ensure you understand yourself both as an individual and as a professional. Also, you need to know what new ideas you’ll bring to the school. What should they expect from you?

Sample:

“In my third grade, I admired my class teacher. Even after a lesson, I would follow her to get more help with my classwork. I used to look up to her for advice, and that made me get interested in becoming a teacher. I would like to be someone young people look up to and lean on for help.”

2. What philosophy do you employ in your work?

Show the interviewer that you can fully dedicate yourself to make your students better individuals both within and without the classroom. Also, prove that you can help mold them into all round individuals. The interviewer should be aware that you have your student’s interests at heart.

Sample:

“I am a strict, but fair teacher. I understand that learners need not only to excel in their coursework but also achieve other goals outside the classroom. By doing that, they eventually become better at school and outside. They can solve problems by themselves even in the future.”

3. How have you managed unruly students before?

Every classroom has at least one difficult student. The interviewer needs to know how you’ve handled such individuals in the past or how you’ll handle them in the future if they hire you. You also should show that you can analyze the cause of a student becoming difficult.

Sample:

“I will have a private conversation with the student to ascertain why they behave so. Once I get the cause of such reckless behavior, I’ll work with them to find a solution. In my previous school, I used this method, and it yielded immense success. “

4. Let me know about how you motivate your students

It has some similarities to the question above; the interviewer is interested in knowing how you make students follow your instructions. How do you ensure they do what you say? If you’re hunting a virtual teaching job, you’ll not miss this question in an interview. Motivating students online may be stringent than in a classroom.

Sample:

“I get to understand what students love most. I use that to motivate them by giving it to them as gifts, mainly when they perform well. I know that those little things go a long way to motivate them to work even smarter in their subsequent tests.”

5. Tell me how you build good relationships with parents

Parents contribute immensely to how students perform. Sometimes it is the same as or even more than how teachers do it. Therefore, you must show that you can build trust with parents and also work hand in hand with them to make sure students realize their dreams.

Sample:

“The adults in the students’ lives are people I hold with high dignity. Therefore, I make sure that I have personal meetings with them every beginning of a new year. I discuss with them what I would like to do to make sure their children meet their expectations at the end of the year.”

6. What new interests are you pursuing?

The interviewer is aiming at knowing whether you keep learning. A great teacher is one that seeks to acquire more knowledge. You should prove that you are a continuous learner, and you can positively impact the education of the students you’ll be handling.

Sample:

“I have been speaking French since my college days. Now I am learning Italian, and already, I have mastered the basics. Soon I should be fluent in it. I will also be traveling to Italy at the end of the year to learn more about their culture and enjoy their cuisine.”

7. When did you work in a team to find a solution to a problem?

You work with a big team to help students excel. After students and parents, there are other teachers and members of staff in the school. You have to work collectively to help students have a bright future. You should show your interviewer that you can work in a team without any challenges.

Sample:

“As the head of the department in my previous workplace, I coordinated with other teachers to ensure we marked examinations and released results to students in two days. It was at a time when we had challenges that had squeezed our calendar. Therefore, we were left with a shorter time than usual to complete the work.”

8. Have you ever helped someone succeed? Tell me more

When attending a teacher training institution, you can learn a lot of things. From delivering content to making sure students understand every bit of your lessons. However, you cannot be taught how to make students succeed. Students have to believe in themselves, and you should help them do that.

Sample:

“I helped a student who had low self-esteem in my class. I noted that the student was often quiet and could not concentrate most of the time. I took the initiative to make sure she composed herself and also encouraged her to be confident about herself. Within a short time, she could address a whole class.”

9. Talk to me about a challenge that you overcame

The interviewer wants to know how you handle problems. Challenges are in every workplace, and you’re likely to face some if they hire you. They also want to know whether you like accomplishing something. Once you face a challenge, do you try to get over it?

Sample:

“I once had to teach a topic that students didn’t grasp fast. I took my time to give them close attention and created extra time to handle it. I gave them tests on the topic to make sure they had understood. Once the main examinations came, they all answered the questions with ease.”

10. Tell me about when there was a change in the place of work, and you had to adapt

Changes may occur in place of work. However, some people do not cope up with them and instead of embracing the change they keep complaining. The interviewer wants to know whether you can adapt to any changes and embrace them. In your answer, demonstrate that you are open to change.

Sample:

“When I was the head of a department, we used to give results to students manually. An electronic system replaced the manual transmission system without notice. Therefore, I had to adapt to the changes. Also, I had to encourage my staff to take quick lessons on the use of the new system.”

11. What Questions do you have for me?

It may seem to be the most straightforward question, but you should prepare for it adequately. The questions you ask should be related to the job or the school at large. The interviewer will use this question to know whether you took your time to research and know more about the school.

Try any of these questions; What qualities make teachers succeed in your school? What are you planning to accomplish this year as an institution? What do you wish you knew before starting this school?

What Do Interviewers Look To Find Out In Interviews?

If you’re first getting into the teaching profession, you should know what hiring managers need to know about when interviewing you. Here are some of the things they aim at understanding.

  • Your teaching skills. They aim at knowing how you teach students both as a class and individual. Therefore, you have to show that you have the expertise they need.
  • Teamwork. Being a team player is one of the qualities anyone can have despite the industry they work in. You should show that you can work with other people in the institution to achieve the mission and vision.
  • Organization. As a candidate, you have to impress your interviewer by demonstrating that you are very organized and can meet your classroom goals.

The best secret to succeeding in a teaching interview is to understand what the school wants. Once you know what they want, you can easily tailor your answers to their needs. Besides, you’ll be able to demonstrate that you have something new to bring to the table. Also, be confident, be yourself, and be professional.