During your interview with the teacher, you will need to do more than just give generic answers to the questions they ask you. The best candidate will be able to explain how they are qualified for the job and why they would be a good fit for school.
Make it personal.
Take the time to personalize your answers to the interview questions. Include highlights of your background, skills, and professional experience that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Focus on the skills most relevant to the field. Here’s a list of the teaching skills interviewers are most interested in. Of course, communication, organization, and critical thinking are high on the wish list.
Make a couple.
Take a look at the job listing for each position you apply for. In addition to emphasizing your skills that are relevant to teaching in general, you should focus on the specific requirements that the employer has listed. Take the time to match your qualifications to the job description. Make a list of the job requirements and a list of your experiences that match them.
Use your list as a guide to answer questions about your background.
Provide examples.
The interviewer is likely to ask you behavioral interview questions, requiring you to provide an example of a time when you did something. For example, an interviewer might say, “Tell me about a time you handled a behavior problem with a student.” These types of questions require you to think of examples from past teachings.
To answer these questions, describe the specific example you are thinking of. Explain the situation and what you did to solve a problem or achieve success. Then describe the result.
Even if the question is not a behavioral interview question, it is often helpful to provide a specific example. For example, situational interview questions ask you to consider a possible future situation at work. An interviewer might ask, “How would you handle a parent who thinks they unfairly rated their child?” Although these are future situations, you can still respond with an example from a past experience. It helps to create a list of anecdotes that you can draw on, focusing on situations where your action has a clear and positive result.
Research the school.
Research the school district and the school where you will work if you are hired. You can find much of this information on the school district website. Also, if you have a connection to a teacher who works in the school, the district, or any parent who attends the school, ask them for their knowledge of the job. The more familiar you are with academics, extracurricular activities, sports, student profiles, and the curriculum, the better equipped you are to ask meaningful questions and provide nuanced answers to interview questions.
Be prepared for a panel interview.
When interviewing for a teaching job, you may be expected to interview a variety of different constituencies.
You may need to meet with a panel, which could include the school principal, administrative staff, other teachers, and parents. In some cases, you may need to interview with a search committee that is tasked with selecting applicants before moving on to a formal job interview.
Teacher Interview Questions and Best Answers
Review this list of questions to be asked during a teacher job interview, with examples of how to best answer each one.
Questions about you as a teacher
Share your enthusiasm for teaching, working with students, and examples of how your class would teach. Be prepared to answer questions about why you are interested in the job, how you teach different types of students within the same class, and how you handle challenges in the classroom.
You should also be prepared to discuss their teaching and classroom management philosophies.
Why did you decide to be a teacher?
What is your teaching philosophy?
What kind of classroom management structure would you implement if hired?
How have you used or how will you use technology in the classroom?