Top interview questions and answers for teachers

This is usually the interviewer's first question to gain insights into your background, qualifications, teaching style, and experience. It allows them to assess your suitability for the role and understand how your previous experiences align with the current position's requirements.

Sample Answer

Experienced Teacher: Hello, everyone! My name is (name), and I am a graduate of (university name). Over the past years or months, I have gained diverse work experience in various fields. Initially, I worked at (school or institution) for (years or months), where I had the opportunity to teach (subject) to (grade) students while also focusing on (subject). Additionally, I had the privilege of being a sponsor for extracurricular or volunteer work. Given my active involvement in the (additional department) during my time in school, I was thrilled to utilise some of that training as a curriculum developer for (subject).

Later on, I made a transition to (school), where I taught (grade) for (years). Alongside my teaching responsibilities, I had the chance to coach (sports), which turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable. It was a rewarding experience to engage with students outside the traditional classroom setting.

I am genuinely excited to bring my pedagogical skills and subject expertise to your school and have the privilege of getting to know a new group of students and colleague

Landing a teaching position requires preparation. But how can teachers separate themselves from the other well-dressed, enthusiastic, articulate job candidates? Researching potential employers and preparing thoughtful responses to common interview questions for teachers helps job candidates put their best foot forward.

Typically, teachers can expect three types of interview questions: questions about who they are personally, questions about their teaching methods, and questions related to teaching’s social aspects.

Personal Teacher Interview Questions and Tips

Personal interview questions help interviewers discover a teacher’s unique passion. These questions allow teachers to share what motivated them to get into the profession. The following are some typical personal questions for teacher interviews and tips for how to respond:

What Made You Decide to Become a Teacher?

Teachers should be able to confidently explain who they are as educators and what they have to share. Discussing how they decided to become teachers is their opportunity to shine.

Tips for Answering

Teachers can share what inspires them about teaching and offer personal stories about what drew them to the profession, such as recounting an experience with a special teacher who made them see the power teachers have to affect other people’s lives. Teachers should also express their purpose for teaching. What do they hope to accomplish? Sharing goals and plans with interviewers shows that the teacher has a vision and has thought about how to accomplish it. By taking time before the interview to list their long-term goals and detailing how they plan to achieve them, teachers will be better prepared to answer this question clearly.

What Are You Currently Learning About and Interested In?

Schools want educators who are excited about their own learning. This question gives teachers a chance to describe their personal love of learning and show that they have a curious nature, a quality they can

The key to a successful teaching interview is good preparation - discover the questions you could be asked and how to approach them

If you've secured an interview, this means your chosen school wants to know more about you - and your potential as a teacher. A teaching interview is your opportunity to demonstrate that you've got the knowledge, skills and experience to become a teacher.

The questions you'll be asked vary between schools, but there are some common themes in teaching interviews - whether you're interviewing for a place on a PGCE course, with School Direct, another teacher training route, or your first teaching post.

Read on for some common questions you may be asked in an interview and guidelines for finding your own answers.

Examples of teaching interview questions

Why do you want to be a teacher?

You need to demonstrate that teaching is your first choice, not a plan B. Talk about your motivation and emphasise your passion for teaching. Provide good examples from your time in school and the specific teaching elements you find satisfying. Avoid broad responses such as 'I have always wanted to be a teacher'.

Why do you want to work in our school?

Often one of the first questions in most teaching interviews, preparation is vital to successfully answer this question. Think about why you would be a good fit to work or study in the school you're interviewing at. Talk about why you're interested in their school specifically, mentioning what you know about its ethos, values, demographics, educational goals and objectives, initiatives, or extra-curricular activities

How will you manage challenges at work?

Interviewers want to hear that you're aware of the challenges in your PGCE, teacher training or ECT year and have the stamina and dedication to cope. Perhaps describe how you successfully managed a demanding situation. This could be your experience of studying and working at the same time - experience of preparing lessons and managing a teaching c

Getting ready to interview for a new teaching job? It’s time for all the feelings—excitement, anxiety, and more anxiety. This is your time to engage with principals and showcase your experiences, beliefs, and skills. The key to a good interview is preparation. We talked to Kimberly Liscomb, principal at Cony Middle and High School in Augusta, Maine, and Raquel Martinez, principal in Pasco, Washington. They shared their favorite interview questions with us, plus what they’re looking for in teacher candidates.

One thing to know about interviewing is that principals aren’t looking for you to be perfect or have had every experience ever. “Being honest and truthful and up-front is more of an advantage than someone who can’t answer a question but is trying anyway,” says Martinez. Principals want authenticity and someone who can join and contribute to the school community, and that could be you!

Check out the principal-vetted teacher interview questions and tips for answering below. Plus fill out the form on this page to grab your free printable list of questions to help you prepare for your next interview.

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Teacher Interview Questions About Professional Experience and Goals

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This is a classic question, so be ready for it. Liscomb asks this question to see how reflective candidates are about their own practice. “Do they know what they are good at and what they need work on?” she told us. “Do they provide specific examples of how they are working on the areas of concern?”

Prepare to answer this question by listing out your strengths and weaknesses. For each strength, write down one example. And make sure you can explain how you’re working to improve your weaknesses so principals know that you have a growth mindset.

Tell me about your background and experience and how it relates to our school.

This question is broad and specific at the same time. Martinez