The teacher interview questions are important things to expect in a job search as a teacher. Interviews are especially important for teachers as the position requires strong presentation and interpersonal skills that are difficult to measure outside of a face-to-face meeting.
But even teachers who are familiar with public speaking can find job interviews stressful.
Well-planned preparation for your next interview can help you feel confident and prepared. Interviewers often tailor the questions to suit their institution, so it is wise to take into account your answers to these frequently asked questions and consider how to apply for your potential school or position.
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Is being a Teacher worth it?
Being a teacher is an incredibly rewarding job. You will have the opportunity not only to engage individuals large and small on a particular topic (or set of topics), but also to shape how they learn, grow, and see the world around them.
Of course, teachers also have things to practice and work on – like answering interview questions in such a way that you get the dream job at this great school.
In a teaching interview, you will still be asked the most common interview questions, such as “What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses” or “Why do you want this job?”
But you will also likely be confronted with more specific (and tricky) questions about working with students or other teachers will.
To help you prepare, check out these frequently asked teacher interview questions you’re sure to encounter – and tips on how to answer them.
What do hiring managers look for when interviewing teachers?
If you’ve never been to a teacher training interview before – maybe changing your job or just starting out in education – there are common topics that HR managers look for in qualified candidates, regardless of the specific role or workplace:
- Teaching Skills: Unsurprisingly, a candidate’s teaching skills – how they work with students on a group and individual level – are critical. “Do you know how to have an effective classroom where all children learn and get involved?”
- Data literacy: In today’s modern school system, data is also incredibly important: “Have you mastered data or are you mastery of handling data?”
- Technical expertise: Being a big influencer is the key to being a successful teacher, as is technical knowledge. Candidates must demonstrate that they have adequate knowledge of the area of content they want to teach.
So, in a way, to include in your interview response how much you know about the standards, or how much you can use the standards in your teaching, that’s another important point. - Teamwork: “Everyone interviews for teamwork. As a team player when working with other teachers, administrators, helpers and employees, you not only enable the students to succeed, but also help the entire school to be successful.
- Qualities to Match: Most employers should also ensure that you have the right personal traits and qualities that will make for a successful student-teacher relationship.
These can be characteristics such as reliability, responsibility, innovation, creativity, patience or adaptability.
Culture Fit: Every school is different and likely has different requirements for teaching methods and philosophies. Many will likely try to understand your own methods and see if they match those of the schools based on the needs of the students.
Tips to prepare for a teacher interview
While every school, employer, and the job interview is different, there are a few additional steps you can take to be successful in the candidate pool:
1. Research
Check the school and district websites carefully to make sure you can talk about their mission, methodology, and values when they align with your own.
This can also bring out the school’s weaknesses so you can point out ways you can address them.
You should also research their social media presence and any available information about their active leadership.
2. Ask for informational meetings with contacts
As a teacher, you may have contacts with schools or educational groups at the school with which you are interviewing.
When they’re ready, sitting down with them to ask questions about the school and get interview advice can be helpful. You can also find out if you think the school is a good fit for you too.
3. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the employer
This shows your passion for the position and your preparation for the interview. These questions can also help you determine whether your core values align with the school administration’s values.
You might want to ask what kind of support you can expect in terms of mentoring or training.
4. Follow up
After the interview, thanking your interviewers for their time is a proven practice in any job that can help you make a positive and lasting impression. Make sure you express both your gratitude and enthusiasm for the role.
There will always be differences in methods, expectations, and practices from one school to another. Understanding the school’s mission and values will help determine if this is the right place for you.
What are the frequently asked Teacher Interview Questions?
Here are some common teacher interview questions and advice on how to answer them with sample answers.
Remember that the interviewer is not only interested in the content of your responses but also in your general ability to be clear, approachable, and engaging:
1. Why did you choose to become a teacher?
Prepare a brief professional mission statement that explains not only how you would like to change the lives of students, but also how teaching will enrich your own life.
Also, look up the school’s mission statement and point out how your teaching reflects these goals.
2. How would you deal with a student who is constantly disruptive or defiant?
Rather than focusing on how you would react, explain how to proactively approach class management so that small misconducts rarely become chronic or serious.
3. Why do you want to teach?
If you are asked this question during an interview, it will be an opportunity to share your commitment to the classroom.
Each teacher will have their own reasons for taking up this profession, so don’t hesitate to include personal anecdotes in your answer.
Explain your passion for teaching and any person or experience that inspired you to take up the profession.
4. What makes you this school?
This question tells you if you’ve researched the school and the district. If you’re wondering how to prepare for a teacher interview, thorough research of the student body, community opinion of the school, test scores, and other aspects of the school district will show that you are serious about the position.
In answering this question, ensure you know the school and the district. Explain why this information piqued your interest in the institution.
A meaningful answer could be information about current test scores, specific programs, or school awards.
5. What qualities should students have from their teachers?
Every teacher has a unique way of teaching, but different students thrive under different teaching styles, so it is important that a teacher is adaptable.
A good answer explains what traits you think are most important for a teacher, how those traits benefit students, and how you cultivate those traits in yourself.
6. How does a teacher’s personality affect his or her success?
This is a great way to express your vision for success and the tools you need to achieve it. A good answer would describe some of the personal qualities teachers need to succeed and some obstacles to success they must overcome.
7. What role does discipline play in teaching and what is your approach?
Teachers have to deal with discipline issues from time to time, and dealing with discipline is a particularly important aspect of teacher interview questions and answers in elementary education.
Discipline is integral to classroom control and depends on student age, district guidelines, and teaching style.
To answer this question, you should carefully describe how you use discipline and how the correct use of discipline can affect teaching.
8. How do you integrate parents / guardians into the education of the students?
This question can be asked of you to find out how you would promote relationships with the students’ parents. Parents are vital to their children’s educational success, and teachers need to communicate clearly and effectively with parents.
A good answer highlights parents’ role in raising their child and explains how you want to involve the parents.
9. Have your lesson plans been influenced by Common Core standards or standards at the local and state levels?
Preparing for standardized tests is an essential part of the teaching profession, especially for those in public education.
In answering this question, you should describe how you have incorporated various standards into your lesson plan and how to develop a robust curriculum that is not just based on the standards.
10. What do you think is the place for technology in the classroom?
Many teachers now incorporate technology into their teaching. Your answer to this question should explain your thoughts about technology and how it affects your teaching. Many teachers strive to take advantage of the technology available without leaving it in the classroom.
11. Tell me about your teaching philosophy
It is common for employers to inquire about your teaching methods and philosophies to understand if you are a good culture for their school.
Many schools may already have established teaching methods and it is important that you express your openness and confidence in your own cultivated opinions about the best teaching methods.
12. How do you support literacy for all students, including English learners?
Regardless of their content area, every teacher is a literacy teacher. Explain how you will help improve your students’ reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.
13. Do you include collaborative and project-based learning?
Discuss the difference between collaborative and collaborative learning, and once you’ve implemented PBL, describe a specific assignment that your students have been working on.
14. How do you teach 21st century learners, integrate technology and lead students to become global citizens?
Be prepared to talk about teaching global citizenship and promoting critical thinking, creativity, and good communication skills.
15. How do you involve parents and guardians in the upbringing of their children?
Share how you inform, interact with, and collaborate with parents and guardians – through face-to-face meetings, notes, phone calls, or digital channels.
16. How do you maintain your own professional development and what areas would you choose for your personal growth?
You can read books and blogs, watch videos online, subscribe to magazines, attend conferences and workshops, or be a member of an educational society in your field.
Be ready to talk about the specific resources you will use to keep up with the latest trends in education such as gamifying learning.
As you discuss your personal growth, explain how you would like to develop your teaching skills – do not refer to “weaknesses” in teaching.
17. Tell me about a time when you worked with a team to solve a problem
Parents and students aren’t the only people you will interact with. You will often need to work with volunteers, staff, and other teachers to help students succeed.
Hence, an interviewer wants to know that you can get along with almost anyone.
18. How do you motivate students?
Interviewers want to see how you influence students to do what you want them to do. This is especially important when hiring virtual teachers, as motivating others through video takes a lot more creativity than teaching in person.
19. How Do You Like to Communicate/Build Relationships With Parents?
Part of being a teacher has to do with the students. But often the other half is about working with parents and guardians – people who influence your students’ learning and behavior in class as much (if not more) as you do.
Your job requires you to work with these adults to make sure your students live up to expectations.
20. What are you learning now
This question is about showing that you are curious and believe in continuous learning – qualities that are important for both a teacher and a teacher to pass on to students.
21. What can you bring to our school that makes you unique?
This question is pretty simple and the perfect opportunity for you to really show off your unique qualities.
Talk about activities you’ve participated in or your passions that are easily translated into educational moments and classroom activities outside the usual curriculum currently being implemented.
Don’t criticize what they do, explain how what you bring extends and complements what you already have.
22. How would your previous students, colleagues or administrators describe you?
This question is used to learn more about your personality and self-esteem. Employers can compare your answer with the description of your references.
A thorough and thoughtful answer can demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and awareness. Use anecdotes and examples from your experience to back up your answer.
23. Tell us about a behavior management strategy that you used to engage an individual learner or group.
You could talk about how you’ve successfully dealt with a disruptive student. Give an example of a situation in which a strategy you used was successful in the classroom.
Discuss the effective behavior management strategies you’ve come across or heard of.
24. What frustrates you most in a classroom?
This question will allow your interlocutors to find out what it takes to ruffle your feathers and how you will behave in this situation.
Find a fairly common situation for all teachers, and then explain how you dealt with that frustration.
Remember that you want to focus on the positive aspects of your teaching style. So, if you’re still frustrated with a situation and haven’t figured out how to work around it, maybe not using this as your example.
Share an example of when you improved your teaching and learning in the classroom and how you knew you were successful.
Before the interview, think about evidence to prepare you with clear examples of success. Consider taking some examples of your work, perhaps feedback from others or student improvement data.
Don’t be shy about where you’ve improved your teaching and learning because this is something your interviewers want to know about.
25. Can you give an example of a student who refused to participate in a class?
Your interviewers want to get a feel for you as a teacher. Here you can mention good working relationships with parents and career, school policy, working together as a staff team, or your behavior management strategies.
Prepare with a good example of where you’ve made a difference and any successful results.
26. Why should we appoint you? / What would we miss if we did not appoint you?
A related question is, “What do you bring to the role of a teacher?”
Don’t be humble about revealing your strengths in an interview. You can start with “As you can see from my application …” and then lead to a brief overview of your qualifications and relevant experience.
If you have not already done so, present your strengths and how you use them to improve your school’s teaching quality.
27. What would you say to an angry parent about their child’s grade?
One of the biggest challenges in class is communicating with disapproving parents. School principals need to know that their teachers can work calmly to defuse criticism.
28. What would you do if you suspected neglect or abuse in one of your students?
Teachers take a delicate line as advocates for the good of their students. Think about how you would react if you suspect a child has been molested.
29. What are some of the current issues in education?
Have some specific examples ready of topics you’ve heard about lately. Think about how they affect teaching and learning, and always use examples from your experience where you can.
It can be related to a staff room discussion, news report, or something you heard about in your class.
This is often something that is pressuring teachers at the moment. Stay up to date on at least one topic related to your subject or age group.
30. What questions do you have for us?
This question is usually asked at the end of the interview and is an important part of the interview. With well-thought-out and researched questions, you show your interest in the position and support a memorable final impression.
Prepare for the interview with five to ten questions and write down or write down any new questions that come up during the interview.
Other frequently Asked Teacher Interview Questions
These questions will help an interviewer understand your personality, interest in the position, and background:
- What is your educational background? What was the most rewarding part of attending this particular school?
- What are you reading for pleasure right now?
- What would you like to do in five years?
- Name five adjectives to describe yourself.
- What is one of your weaknesses and what are you doing to improve it?
- What are your interests or hobbies outside of the classroom?
- Which teams, associations or extracurricular activities were you involved in during your school days?
- As part of the teaching staff, what activities would you consider as coaching or counseling?
- Why do you want to teach at this particular level or subject?
- What are your strengths that support your teaching career?
- What do you like to teach best and why?
- What is your least favorite subject and how do you go about it to make sure you teach it well?
Questions about teaching experience and background
These questions will help an interviewer assess your qualifications for the position and assess whether your values match those of the institution:
- What do you like best about teaching?
- What do you dislike about teaching?
- What do you think are the greatest challenges for today’s education system?
- Describe your teaching style.
- How would you organize this classroom?
- How do you manage your teaching duties?
- What was the greatest achievement you have had in teaching?
- What do you think is the biggest challenge facing students today?
- What are the biggest challenges for teachers today?
- What are the qualities that make a great teacher?
- Describe your worst day of class. What did you learn from the experience?
- How do you motivate your students to become active learners in your classroom?
Other Detailed questions about the teacher interview
These questions will help an interviewer better understand your teaching style, goals, and problem-solving skills.
- Describe a disruptive student you taught and what you did to reach them.
- Describe your professional development experience.
- Explain your experience with a particular teaching strategy or technology.
- What are your plans for incorporating technology into your teaching?
- What is your experience with team teaching? Did you find it helpful?
- How will you approach different learning styles?
- How will you encourage your students to express their creativity?
- How will you modify your teaching to help students who have problems with the subject or level of learning?
- How will you support students with exceptional learning skills?
- How would you approach a student who refuses to attend or who frequently misses school?
- What would you do if most of your class fails a test, project, or assignment?
- What would you like your students to take away from their learning experience?
- How would you initiate and maintain communication with your student’s parents?
- What would you do to help a student with persistent behavior problems?
- What could a visitor in your class expect?
- What do you hope to learn from your mentor?
- How would you use community resources to improve your teaching?
- Why should we choose you for this position?
Conclusion
Now that you have a good grasp of the teacher interview questions you are being asked, don’t forget that there are hundreds of non-teacher interview questions that could be asked of you in your interview
References
- Top 10 Teacher Interview Questions [Example Answers |theinterviewguys
- 20 Interview Questions Every Teacher Must Be Able To Answer|weareteachers.com
- 50 Teacher Interview Questions and Answers | Indeed.com
- 25 Teacher Interview Questions & Answers [Common & Hard]|zety
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