Interview Questions and Approaches for Appointment of Teachers

The following are the questions and approaches that can be used for planning an effective interview for the appointment of teachers in schools. This excellent interviewing resource has been developed specifically for educators. These questions on different areas would help you in improving your interviewing skills. It will help you in identifying a well-qualified and competent candidate suitable for the required post of teaching.

Background & Introduction

• Tell us about yourself. (Include information about high school, college, activities, honours, student teaching assignment, work experience, etc.)
• What are your endorsements?
• Explain your experience as it relates to this position.
• What are your career goals (short and long-term goals)?
• Why do you want to teach in school?
• What characteristics do you have that will help you to work with colleagues or students who are different from you?
• Why did you select [subject] as your major area of study?
• What experiences have you had, both in your teacher education program and in other jobs or volunteer work that have helped to prepare you to become a teacher?

Students

• Describe some characteristics of students at different levels of schools.
• What makes you well suited to teach school students?
• Describe your experience working with special education students.
• Describe your experience working with English language learners.
• How do kids learn?
• What three expectations do you have of your students?

Instruction, Curriculum, and Assessment

• Give several examples of how you have instructionally designed your lessons to meet the varying ability levels of your students (low, average, high).
• How do you organize an effective lesson (planning, sequence, support, appropriate, engaging, etc.)?
• Tell us more about your instructional style. How do you teach? What would we see in your classroom?
• How do you teach reading in your content area?
• How do you incorporate technology into your instruction?
• How do you incorporate thinking skills into your class?
• When kids forget all the details of your subject, what are the main concepts you want them to remember?
• How do you use different teaching strategies to best provide for the learning needs of all students?
• Discuss ways you assess student learning. (How do you measure student learning and check for understanding?)
• What is the purpose of homework?
• Describe a typical homework assignment.
• How do you select resources? Why would you use a textbook?
• A math teacher on your team is teaching a unit on measurement. How could you relate this to the topic being taught in your class?
• What is the goal of your instruction?
• How do you motivate the unmotivated child?
• What is unique about your approach to teaching?

Classroom management

• Explain how you structure the 55 minutes of a class period.
• How do you begin each class?
• Discuss your classroom or team discipline plan.
• Tell us how you have handled a student that was repeatedly disruptive in the classroom.

Classroom and School Community

• How do you promote acceptance, tolerance, and diversity in your classroom?
• What are some ways you involve parents in your instruction?
• Whether on a team or in a special area, it is important that colleagues reflect a sense of teamwork. Describe ways you contribute to collegial support and staff morale.
• Aside from the instructional delivery of the curriculum in the classroom, how have you had (or how do you see yourself having) a positive influence on the lives of your students?

Situations

• Think of a time when a student did not understand a concept or a student was capable of performing well beyond the academic expectations of the class. How did you respond?
• How would you approach a parent who was upset or angry?
• Describe the toughest students you have had to deal with, and how you resolved the situation.
• Tell me about a lesson or unit you developed for this grade or subject and how you implemented it.
• Describe a lesson you taught that was particularly successful or unsuccessful. What did you do as a result of evaluating the lesson?
• What do you read to stay current in your field?
• What are your long-term professional goals?
• What did you learn this year that will make you a better teacher next year?
• What do you do to combat stress?
• Would you be interested in a high school position in your subject area should it become available?
• Think of your best teachers. What positive characteristics do you believe these teachers demonstrated? Which of these characteristics do you believe you have?
• What three words would your students use to describe you?
• What do you feel is your greatest strength? Weakness?
• Why do you feel you are the best candidate for the position?