Bringing Schools & Teachers Together

When an applicant addresses a mix of questions about background, teaching experience, and the "ideal" classroom, the interviewer learns about his or her enthusiasm for teaching and dedication to education.

Be prepared with questions that address specific issues related to the subject matter and teaching level the position involves.

Always give applicants the chance to ask their own questions at the end of the interview.

Here are some questions that you might ask at an interview. This is not a definitive list and it is essential that you ask questions that relate to your selection criteria.

Personality profile:

• What words would you use to describe yourself as a teacher?
• Are there any areas in your professional development that you would like to develop?
• What are your major achievements over the past two years?
• Tell me about yourself
• Why did you choose teaching as a career?
• Why do you want to teach at our school? Why should we employ you?
• Of your previous jobs which did you enjoy most and why? Which did you enjoy least and why?
• Describe what you have done in your career that shows your initiative
• What are your strengths? Your weaknesses?
• What does team work mean to you?

Personal motivation

• List five adjectives that describe yourself
• When did you decide to become a teacher, and why did you choose this field? What do you like most about teaching as a career? If you were not a teacher, what would you be?
• What is your favorite subject to teach? Why? What is your least favorite subject, and how do you overcome your indifference toward it to teach it well?
• What is the greatest success you have had in teaching?
• What is your least favorite aspect of teaching?
• What is the difference between a good teacher and a great teacher?
• What would you never want to do as a teacher, and why?

Personal development.

• What personal strengths do you find especially helpful in your teaching?
• What is one of your weaknesses, and how are you working to improve it?
• Describe the "worst" lesson you have taught. What did you learn from it?
• What do you want to be doing in five years?
• Describe your best professional development experience.
  

Education philosophy

• What is your philosophy of education?
• What do you think is the greatest challenge facing students today?
• What is the most difficult aspect of teaching today?
• What are the qualities of an excellent teacher?

Teaching Style

• Describe your teaching style.
• How do you organize your classroom?
• How do you structure your time to manage all of the duties associated with teaching?
• What will you do to ensure that we enhance our goal of being an effective learning-focused school -- not just a teaching-focused school?

Classroom management:

• Describe what classroom management means in terms of behaviour and organisation.
• What teaching methods have you found most effective (for year 'x')?
• What differences are there in teaching, for example, a class of Year 7 (11 year olds) and Year 11 (15 year olds)?
• How would you deal with disaffected children in your class?
• What is your approach to classroom management?
• What role do standards play in your classroom?
• What steps would you follow to deal with a student who displays consistent behavioral problems in your classroom?
• A student in your class consistently causes disruptions. Explain the steps you take and your reasoning for each step.
• Under what circumstances would you refer a pupil to the DP’s or Principal’s office?
• What could a visitor to your class expect to see?

Curriculum knowledge:

• What resources/ syllabi do you use to deliver the curriculum?
• What experience do you have of teaching the National Curriculum?
• What do you feel is the highest level of ability you are able to teach?

Lesson planning:

• Give an example of a lesson you felt went particularly well.
• Give an example of a lesson you felt went particularly badly - why, and how did you resolve the situation?
• When planning a lesson, what elements do you ensure are covered within it?
• How do you organise homework for your class?
• Describe your ideal lesson.
• Describe your planning process for a major project or unit.
  

Managing different levels of achievement

• How have and will you address your students' different learning styles?
• How do the assignments you give offer students the opportunity to express their creativity and individuality?
• How do you modify your teaching to reach students who are struggling to perform at grade level?
• How do you provide support for students with exceptional ability?
• If most of the students in your class failed an assignment, test, or project, how would you respond?
• What would your students say they had learned after spending a year in your class? (Or: What do you want students to remember about your class?)

Motivating pupils

• How do you motivate your students to become active learners in your classroom? (Or: How do you encourage class participation?)
• Tell us about a troubling student you have taught and how you helped him or her.
• How will you ensure that your classroom is an exciting place -- a place where students always are engaged?

Stakeholder management

• How would you establish and maintain good communication with the parents of your students?
• What role have parents played in your classroom? In what ways do you involve parents in the learning process or in your classroom activities?
• What are your expectations of your Principal? HOD?

Use of technology

• How have you integrated technology into your teaching instruction? What plans do you have for the integration of technology in your own classroom?
• What experience have you had with team-teaching? What is your opinion of it?

Extra-curricular

• What interests do you pursue outside of the classroom?
• To what teams and/or clubs do you belong to?
• What activities might you coach or advise as a member of the teaching staff?

Key responsibilities:

• Do you hold any key responsibilities within your school?
• Describe your management style.
• Have you been involved in any extra curricular activities?

Questions for new teachers:

• What is a strength of the teacher training program at ____ (teachers college)?
• How have your former teachers influenced your teaching?
• Describe the positives and negatives of your student-teaching experience.
• What do you most look forward to in establishing your own classroom?

Finally

• Why should you be employed for this position?