Sample Interview Questions
Read and consider how you would answer the following sample interview questions:
Personal assessment and career direction
- Tell me about yourself.
- What are your long- and short-range goals? How have you prepared to achieve them?
- What are the most important rewards you expect in your career?
- Why did you choose the career for which you prepared?
- What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
- How would you describe yourself?
- How would someone who knows you describe you?
- What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort?
- Why should I hire you?
- What qualifications do you have that will make you successful in this field/position/organization?
- In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?
- Describe how you work under pressure.
- In what part-time or summer jobs have you been most interested? Why?
- How would you describe the ideal job for you following graduation?
- What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
- Do you have a geographical preference? Where? Why?
- Are you willing to relocate?
- What are some examples of your creativity?
Work attitudes
- How do you define success? According to this definition, how successful are you?
- What qualities should a successful manager possess?
- Describe the relationship that ideally exists between a supervisor and supervisee.
- What criteria are you using to evaluate the company for which you hope to work?
- Are you willing to spend at least six months as a trainee?
Academic assessment
- How has your college experience prepared you for a career?
- Describe your most rewarding college experience.
- Did you work while you were going to school?
- Why did you select your college or university?
- What led you to choose your field of major study?
- What changes would you make in your college or university? Why?
- How would you plan your academic study differently if you could? Why?
- Do you have plans for continued study? An advanced degree?
- Do you think your grades are a good indication of your academic achievements?
Sensitive issues
- How did you get along with your last boss?
- You seem overqualified for this position. Can you explain why you applied?
- What is the hardest job you have ever performed?
- How much do you think this position pays?
- Tell me your position on drug testing.
Knowledge of the employer
- What do you know about this organization? Where did you find this information?
- What contributions do you think you could make to this organization?
- If you were hiring a graduate for this position, what qualities would you look for?
- Why did you decide to seek a position with this organization?
Other interests and experiences
- What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?
- What major problem have you encountered and how did you deal with it?
- What have you learned from your mistakes?
Situational or behavioral questions
- Describe the most difficult interpersonal situation you’ve had with a professor, supervisor, supervisee or colleague. How did you handle it?
- If your supervisor were setting impossible deadlines, what would you do?
- How would you handle a situation where your direct supervisor asked you to do something that was not consistent with your professional judgment?
Teacher/education-specific questions
- What would your classroom look like?
- How do/would you use technology in the classroom?
- How do/would you manage a variety of different ability/skill levels in the same classroom?
- How do/would you handle a student who refuses to follow directions and is rude during your class discussion?
- Please give us two examples of situations in which you used effective classroom management strategies?
- What are five things that are vital for a successful classroom?
- How do you create community in your classroom?
- Why do you want to be a teacher?
- What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses as a teacher? In what ways have you improved?
- How do teaching and learning relate to each other?
- What is the role of parents in your classroom?
- How do you know if a student is/has been successful?
- What unique skills and qualities would you bring to the school/team?
- Respond to the following statement: The parent is always right.
- What is your educational philosophy?
- Why do you want to work at this school? Why do you want this position?
- What kinds of resources/materials would you need/use in your classroom?
- How do you challenge students of all levels and learning styles?
- How do you incorporate state and national standards into your curriculum?
- What is the importance of and how would you prepare your students for standardized testing?
- Respond to this statement: It is important for my students to like me.
- In what different ways to you assess student learning? How do you recognize, encourage and assess multiple intelligences in your classroom?
- What are your personal and professional learning goals for the next few years?
Last modified August 28 2012 02:26 PM