The Most Common Teacher Interview Questions

• 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.