Being a teacher is incredibly rewarding. After all, you get to shape how your students learn, grow, and see the world around them.
Of course, teachers have things they need to learn, too—like how to answer interview questions in a way that’ll nab you a job at that amazing school you’ve had your eye on.
To help you prepare, check out these common teacher interview questions—with advice on how to answer them and example answers. Plus, learn what skills and qualities hiring managers are looking for and get some bonus tips for nailing your next interview.
Teacher Interview Questions – 50 Sample Questions To Prepare For The Teaching Interview
The interview is an opportunity to get to know an applicant in ways that cant be gleaned from a resume. While 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 the profession. For those interviewing for a teaching position, use these questions as guidelines to prepare. See key interview questions below. (Tailor these to the level of the candidate.)
Whether you need to fill a teaching position or whether youre applying for one, its worth exploring common questions asked during interviews. Here are 50 questions that help draw out applicants knowledge, experience, and more.
Why do you want to become a teacher?
Sample Answer: I have always had a passion for teaching, and ever since I was a child, Ive wanted to be a teacher. The gift of teaching allows me to be in a true helping profession. After all, the things that I teach the children in my class are the fundamentals that they will need to thrive as adults. There is no higher calling or more noble occupation in my eyes. All of my heroes have been teachers. And besides, I love kids. That’s important. You must love kids if you want to teach; there’s no two ways around that!
Tip: When asked this question, be honest. Chances are good that you really did decide to become a teacher in order to help others and make the world a better place. There’s no canned answer that can be used here, but in general, most teachers choose their career path because they love children and want to be in a helping profession. They definitely aren’t ‘in it’ for the money!
Why do you want to be a teacher?
“You have to know who you are as an individual and as an educator, and you have to know what you can bring to the school,” says Calvin Brown, Senior Recruiter at Alignstaffing, an education staffing firm. This question gets to the heart of that passion and self-awareness.
What are hiring managers looking for when interviewing teachers?
No matter the specific role or workplace, hiring managers look for common themes in qualified teaching applicants:
Keep these themes in mind as you prepare for your teaching interview and look for opportunities to communicate them whenever possible—especially in response to these common questions.
Need some tips for writing your teaching resume? Find a full guide here.
FAQ
What are the 10 most common interview questions and answers for teachers?
- Tips for answering interview questions. …
- Why do you want to be a teacher? …
- Why do you want to work in our school? …
- How will you manage challenges at work? …
- What experience do you have in schools? …
- What are the core skills and qualities that pupils look for in teachers?
What are some good interview questions for teachers?
- Why did you decide to become a teacher? …
- How do you cope with stress? …
- What is your teaching philosophy? …
- What did you like/dislike about working remotely? …
- How do you use technology in the classroom? …
- Describe your classroom management structure.
What are 10 good interview questions?
- Tell Me About Yourself. …
- Why Are You the Best Person for the Job? …
- Why Do You Want This Job? …
- How Has Your Experience Prepared You for This Role? …
- Why Are You Leaving (or Have Left) Your Job? …
- What Is Your Greatest Strength? …
- What Is Your Greatest Weakness?
What is the hardest question for teachers?
- Tell me about yourself. …
- Can you tell me about a time you’ve failed? …
- If I walked into your classroom during an outstanding lesson, what would I see and hear?
