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Be Prepared to Answer the Following Sample Questions You May be Asked when Interviewing for a Teaching Position

  1. Briefly describe your background, including high school, college, activities and interests.
  2. Why do you want to be a teacher? What differentiates a good teacher from a great one?
  3. What are the main priorities in education today? What main things should we do for students?
  4. What are your primary strengths as a teacher? What are your weaknesses?
  5. Is a student's failure the fault of the teacher? Why or why not?
  6. Do you believe that students perform according to their teachers' expectations?
  7. What is the key to effective classroom management and discipline?
  8. How would you handle a child who is two grade levels or more above the rest of the class? (Interviewer may substitute "two grade levels below" the rest of the class.)
  9. What do you hope to be doing in five years? (The interviewer may substitute 10 or 15 years).
  10. Tell me about your student teaching and other teaching experiences you have had. Where were they? What type of classes and subjects did you teach? Were you involved in team teaching? What was the most important thing that you learned?
  11. What professional organizations do you belong to? What have you learned as a result of your memberships?
  12. What recreation, community activities or organizations are you interested or active in? What have you learned as a result of your involvement?
  13. Do you think that most students are or are not interested in learning? Why?
  14. Is it acceptable for students to disagree openly with teachers? Can you cite an example?
  15. As a teacher, what can you contribute to an ethnically diverse classroom environment?
  16. Could you describe how you dealt with some particularly tough problems you faced?
  17. What are your thoughts on inclusion and mainstreaming?
  18. Describe your level of computer competency.
  19. Why should we hire you over someone else?
Northeastern Illinois University - Office of Career Services - Office of Student Affairs
Building B, Room-119, | 5500 North Saint Louis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60625
Phone: (773) 442-4680 | Fax: (773) 442-4690