The Most Common Teacher Interview Questions

Updated June 17, 20222.7k

In a teacher interview, it’s important that you have great answers to a variety of questions. How can you prepare yourself for these questions early on?

Teacher Interview Questions

Teachers need to be able to answer a wide variety of questions relating to all sorts of elements of the teaching process. When you’re getting a teaching job, it’s important to remember that teaching often has an incredible impact on those you instruct. Whether you teach high school, special education, middle school, preschool, or something else entirely, hiring managers want candidates who can make a huge positive impact on students’ lives. Here’s what you need to know to ace that teaching interview.

Tips for Preparing for a Teacher Interview

If you want to get a teaching job, especially if it’s highly competitive, you need to know how to ace the interview process. Here are a few overall interview tips you can use to prepare.

Go over your resume before going into the interview.
Reread the job description to know what the hiring manager is looking for.
Research the school, including research online at the school’s website and social media pages, as well as potentially going to the school and talking to other teachers currently employed there.
Create a portfolio to show off your skills, including past lesson plans, information about your teaching style, and quizzes.
Practice using mock interviews.

If you’re looking to get a teaching position that’s more competitive, such as a college-level professor or a teacher at a very prestigious high school, then you’ll want to do more of these things to prepare for the interview.

Ten Common Teacher Interview Questions to Be Ready For

One of the best ways to practice for the interview is to know what questions an interviewer may ask you. Create some notes that will help you devise answers for these teaching interview questions:

Why did you decide to become a teacher?
What is your personal teaching philosophy?
Do you know how to handle an IEP or other teaching initiatives for students with disabilities?
What is your favorite subject?
What past experience do you have with teaching?
What would you do if you had an argument with school leaders over your teaching strategies?
Do you have any extracurricular activities you might be interested in helping with?
What do you want to work on for your professional development?
What has your teaching experience taught you about (many different skills and habits, e.g., “problem-solving skills,” standardized tests,” “student teaching”)?
Do you have a personal mission statement?

While not every recruiter will ask every one of these questions, they’re very common questions when you’re going through the interview process to be a teacher. Prepare for them if you want to do better in your interview.

Questions You Can Ask During a Teacher Interview

Remember that an interview is not just a one-way street. It’s common for interviewers to ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” and coming up with questions to ask at the end of an interview is an important part of showing your skills and the fact that you really care about getting the job. Here are a few questions you might want to ask if you’re looking for the best information:

What leadership opportunities could I take advantage of here?
What student-to-teacher ratio do you tend to have in your classrooms?
What are the classroom management techniques this school uses?
What type of impact will a schoolteacher have on the choices the school district makes?
What kind of support does your school offer teachers? (e.g., professional development, or providing the right resources for classrooms and students)
What are the next steps after this interview?

These questions can all help you learn more about teaching at the specific school you’re applying for. Plus, they show that you’re not just trying to get this job no matter what; you actually want to know whether you’ll be a good fit for the job.

FAQ: Teacher Interview Questions

What elements do you need to include in your teacher resume?

A teacher resume should follow a standard resume template. Include a header, a resume summary or resume objective, a skills section, a work history section, and an education section. Because educators need to have a great grasp on their subject matter and amazing teaching skills, these sections are all important for teacher resumes, regardless of the grade level you’re going to be teaching. Use the ResumeNerd resume builder to build your teacher resume just like any other resume.

Which format should I use for a teacher resume?

Teacher resumes typically work best in a chronological format. Most of the time, a teacher already has some experience they can include in their resume. Even if you’re trying to get your first job, you may have done volunteer work during school, for example. However, it’s a good idea to look at the different resume formats before you start writing your resume to choose the right option.

Is there anything I should avoid when going through a teacher interview?

Generally, present yourself well and professionally. Make sure your demeanor is that of a teacher for your target demographic – polite, professional, and knowledgeable of your subject. Prepare for the interview just like you would any other interview.

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.