Teaching interviews tend to be more demanding then interviews for other jobs because it is a profession that demands verbal competency backed by a sound personality to handle the students. No school would want to invite scandal just because of the mistakes of the teachers. There is more than one way to successfully tackle teaching interview questions and answers. The key however, is to be well aware of what qualities they are looking for in a teacher.

Called for a teacher interview for the first time?

If you have never been to a teacher interview, here are a few steps that will help you get selected from the first interview itself. Just as you would prepare for a test, so should you prepare for the teaching interview questions and answers. You can do this by anticipating questions and preparing the answers likewise. Write them down and keep reading them as frequently as possible so that it sinks into your mind. At any case avoid memorizing because the interviewers will easily know. Most probably, the first question they will ask is something about you like “tell us something about yourself”. Prepare this answer beforehand. Once you start off on a good footing, it will get you the right confidence and in all probability, this will lead you through the whole interview.

Other questions most commonly asked in teaching interviews is about your anticipation on the work ahead and how well prepared you are. United States citizens will be mostly asked about their particular state’s teaching standards. Presenting before you interviewers your own version of lesson plan made in accordance to the state’s standards will go a long way in showing how well versed with the work you are already. Also, when you talk about the work ahead as a teacher, do remember to bring up some specific details. For example, every grade level has its own specific standardized assessments. Talking about these and bringing up some names of these assessments will demonstrate how reliable you are as a teacher.

Been interviewed more than once but never gets selected?

You may have followed all the teaching interview questions and answers I mentioned earlier and even more but somehow never gets selected. Beginning to think you just do not have what it takes to be a teacher? Remember, nothing is impossible for those who try. Most probably it might have something to do with your opinions. In this case, you will have to work on certain types of questions that aim at getting to know your personality and approach towards teaching the students. These are question like your philosophy on discipline and what approach you use towards maintaining it among the students. Show that you use the method of prevention like making sure your class is interesting enough to get the full attention of the students. Never say that you will notify the higher authorities even at the silliest slackness because this will reflect bad attitude. Make them feel that you as a teacher take responsibility for the indiscipline of the students and so you should discipline yourself first before you demand any from the students. Mentioning small details like pasting your classroom rules in advance or following the rules of the school as a teacher will earn you a lot of bonus. Show that you treat every student differently according to his/her needs.

Your nerves get the better of you in all your teacher interviews?

What all interviewers look for in a teacher is verbal competency. Even if you are verbally comfortable, being confronted with questions that expect a careful answer can be challenging. So anticipating the questions and preparing your answers beforehand will help you overcome that. For any person to answer sensibly, you will need some time to think. In an interview, this will create an awkward silence which will be a huge disadvantage to you. No matter how smart and correct your answers are, pausing longer than needed for every question asked will not impress the interviewer. If you continue this, you will lose your confidence midway.

Your nerves get in the way especially when you are confronted with tricky questions. In order to be able to answer the questions without confusion you should be prepared in advance. Also, even if you are prepared they might still just ask you a question that gets you off guard. In such situations keep your answers as subtle as possible so that even though your answer might not be the smartest, you will clearly not be on the wrong side either. For example, if they ask you your weaknesses and your strengths as a teacher, you cannot say outright that you do not have patience. This will clearly make you ineligible for the job. Instead, keep your answer ambiguous by saying things like you lack experience in certain areas as a teacher but that you hope to correct it in time and with the necessary” experience”.

Another equally tricky question would be something like –‘where do you see yourself in about 10 years from now?’ Unlike other careers where moving out of the current position is a sign of progress, this is just the opposite in teaching. They will definitely not be impressed if you say you intend on moving your position up by relocating to the more expensive school nearby which pays a higher salary. The most you can say is perhaps open your own school which addresses specific problems like teaching specially challenged children. But this sounds very farfetched so the best bet is to comment on some improvements you would like to make on the students which the school famously seem to lack.

Keeping these in mind, try and go over your answers as often as you can without memorizing it. This will make you comfortable in the actual interview and thereby giving you the right confidence to go on even if it is your first time. Stand in front of the mirror and go over the teaching interview questions and answers again and again.