For many people, teaching is their dream job. But before that dream can become a reality, they must be able to ace a job interview!

Teacher interviews are very different from the corporate world. Fortunately, I’ve put together the eight questions you absolutely must prepare to answer.

1. “How Well Can You Handle Technology?”

You may or may not love technology. However, now that technology has entered the classroom, it has become a significant part of every teacher’s life.

The school will want to know how well you can navigate around everything from simple e-mail to a Learning Management System. Your familiarity with things like Google Docs and Google Drive is also essential because it means you can make content more accessible to students.

Remember, virtually every student is connected to the internet via a smartphone. Your ability to handle technology represents how well you can truly reach your students.

2. “What Can You Offer to Our School?”

A prospective school wants to know what unique skills and abilities you are bringing to the table. If (more like when) they ask this question, you are going to need to have a specific answer.

You can rig the game in your favour by studying up on the school, the position, and the department you’ll be working in. Giving highly specific answers may impress the hiring committee by showing that you know how to do your own “homework.”

3. “What Is Your Teaching Philosophy?”

Not every teacher has developed a teaching philosophy in a formal educational setting. However, a prospective school will ask what your philosophy is!

Don’t answer this question with generalities. Instead, make sure you have a teaching philosophy ready ahead of time and that you can talk about it at length.

By the way, don’t pick a philosophy that you think sounds impressive. Instead, choose the one that most closely resembles your teaching style and pedagogical philosophy.

4. “How Do Your Lessons Prepare Students for the Real World?”

While it often offends teachers, many people draw a dividing line between school and “the real world.” Accordingly, your teacher interview will likely include questions about how your lessons help students build the skills they need for life after school.

Keep in mind that not every student is bound for higher education. Instead, be prepared to discuss how your lessons foster skills in critical thinking and analysis that are important to any vocation or educational endeavour.

Smart answers won’t just get you the job; they will also help make your teaching stronger!

5. “How Do You Manage Your Classes?”

Ever wonder why they call it a teaching “philosophy?” Because “philosophy” is very different from actual classroom management.

Your interview committee will want to know how you manage your classes. Be sure to address specific concerns (such as how you handle bullies and disruptions) and any innovative techniques you try (such as class contracts).

If it helps, think of teaching as the ultimate management position. The school wants to know how you will create order out of chaos before they trust you to start teaching.

6. “What Clubs Can You Help With After School?”

Sometimes, teachers are drawn to education because of the easy schedule. However, they often fail to realise how many extracurricular activities are involved in a teacher’s life.

This is why the interview committee will want to know what clubs and organisations you can potentially help with. Be honest in your answers: if you’re hired, they will consider this as a promise regarding your future employment!

Be honest with yourself, as well. If you are clumsy, don’t volunteer as an athletics coach; stick with things you are good at!

7. “How Do You Measure Progress Aside From Grades?”

Grading is the cornerstone of how all teachers assess the progress of all students. However, your committee will want to know what other assessments you use besides formal grading.

Because different students learn in different ways, not all of them will perform equally well on formal assignments. A versatile teacher must have other means of assessing student engagement and progress.

This might range from participation points to multilevel assessment models. Just be sure to have a good answer when the time comes.

8. “What Made You Want to Be a Teacher?”

Many people think of teachers as superheroes. Therefore, your teacher interview will likely include a question about your origin story. Specifically, why did you want to become a teacher in the first place?

You should be honest and forthright in your answer. However, know ahead of time that they don’t want people motivated by a cushy salary or light schedule. First and foremost, they want to see your passion and understand your devotion to helping others learn.

Think of this as an audition for how you’ll act in the classroom. Good luck.