How to Prepare for Your Teaching Interview

Interviewing season is coming for teacher education graduates. Prepare for your interview by practicing answers to the following questions.

When and why did you choose to become a teacher?
This is a basic, but important question. You should mention during this question any teaching or work with children/teens that you have done that solidified for you that this is the correct chosen profession.

What do you like most about teaching?
Give an example of a time when you really enjoyed teaching.

What do you find most frustrating about teaching?
Be honest, but try to find a positive spin to your frustration. Teaching can be frustrating at times, every good administrator knows this. Administrators are looking for plans that you have to deal with your frustrations and a clue that you will not leave the teaching profession in the next few years due to these frustrations.

What does your typical day/class look like?
Give specifics. How do you start off the class? How do you end the class? How much time is spent on lecture? How much independent work do the students get? How do you break down the class time?

What was the last book you read? When was this?
Administrators want to know that you are a life-long learner. Reading, whether fiction or nonfiction, is a good indicator of your thirst for knowledge and shows that you would be a good role model for your students.

What teacher inspired you? What inspired you about this teacher? How do you hope to be like him or her?
These answers give administrators insight into what kind of teacher you would like to be.

Describe a time that you were faced with a challenge in the classroom. What did you do to address the challenge? What would you do differently?
All teachers will eventually face a challenge, whether it be a discipline challenge or a academic challenge (i.e. you don't know the answer to a question, a controversial subject was broached, etc). Administrators want to know that you can think on your feet in these situations. If you did not perform well under these circumstances, administrators want to know that you have reflected on the incident and that you have a plan for the next time a challenge arises in the classroom.

What is your educational philosophy?
Often, these are required as part of your application packet. However, the administrator will want this verbalized.

Do you have any questions for us?
The answer is always YES. Make sure that you have a list prepared before the interview. The administrators will want to make sure that you have been thinking about this position and that you are prepared for the question.