Teacher Recruitment Day
Tuesday April 10, 2012
Indiana Wesleyan University Education Center
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Sponsored by the Consortium of Northern Indiana Colleges, including
Grace College, Huntington University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Manchester College,
Taylor University (Upland), and University of Saint Francis
Preparing for the Interview
The interviews at Teacher Recruitment Day are 25-minute screening interviews. They are meant to allow an employer to get to know you and for you to make a positive, lasting impression on them. Some interviewers may ask you a lot of questions; others may use the time to talk about their school district to give you a clearer picture of who they are and what they have to offer. While we cannot predict what every interview will be like, below are questions that employers have asked in previous years and some sound advice to help you prepare for the big day.
Demonstrate PASSION for working with kids!
Employers like to see a demonstrated passion for working with kids within the first 10 minutes of your interview. You can help to communicate passion by smiling, providing a firm and confident handshake, making good eye contact, maintaining good posture, and using energy in your voice. Be enthusiastic!
Articulate your EXPERIENCE and approach.
Be prepared to answer questions about inclusive classrooms and classroom management. What is your plan?
How you DRESS is critical!
All schools want to see interviewees (men and women) in suits. Women, if you choose to wear a skirt, the length is very important. Employers do not want to see you continually pulling your skirt down when you sit. Have an appropriate length.
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Polish the shoes. Men, make sure your socks match your pant color and your belt matches your shoes--a simple rule that makes a difference. Make sure the length of your pant in good, and seek help with your tie to avoid a sloppy collar.
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Men and women should minimize the use of perfume or cologne, and also minimize the jewelry (no more than three pieces).
Be PREPARED to discuss...
- Knowledge of laws/public trends that impact education
- Questions about people skills, teamwork, and collaboration
- Questions to find out if you are coachable and teachable
- Knowledge of reading in your content area
- Your discipline plan
- A variety of teaching methods
- Implementing technology in your classroom
- Parental involvement
- Assessments and evaluations of students and yourself
- Diversity
- Questions about your skills and strengths
- Questions about what you will bring to their classroom
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Potential Interview Questions
- What questions would you want to be asked?
- How would you initially engage students?
- What is something not asked that you would like us to know about you?
- What are three words to best describe you?
- How do you recognize students with various multiple intelligences?
- What school system would you most want to work in?
- How do your lesson plans meet academic standards in your subject?
- Take us through a typical 70-minute period of your classroom.
- What do you think about giving grades?
- Would you fail a student?
- Why did you choose teaching?
- What is your favorite children's book? Why?
- What are three important things that preschoolers should learn?
- What is your greatest strength? Weakness?
- What would you bring to our school system?
- What kind of different curriculum have you used to teach Reading?
- What instructional strategies do you use when teaching?
- What would you expect in your first year of teaching from the administration?
- Which age group would you prefer to teach?
- How much homework each night should students receive?
- Tell me about your ideal classroom.
- What kind of assessments do you use?
- What are two things that you would want to do today to improve as a teacher?
- Are you a student-oriented teacher or production-oreinted teacher?
- Why should we hire you?
- What has been your experience with diversity?
- What do you think about mentoring?
- If I came to your classroom to see a particular lesson, what would I see?
- How much laughter is a part of your classroom?
- Do you have a sense of humor?
- How would your friends describe you?
- What was your most rewarding life experience?
- What has been your biggest challenge in life? in student teaching?
- List 4 key components that are most important to you in making a lesson plan.
- What are 3 adjectives that describe your teaching style?
- Are you a good student?
- What criteria would you want your supervisor to evaluate you on?
- What qualities you want to know about your students before you teach them?
- What has made a profound impact on your teaching?
- Define and explain how your would use differentiation?
- What author has influenced you recently?
- How might you integrate the Bible into a math lesson?
- What is one thing about teaching for which your college prepared you well?
- What is one thing about teaching for which your college did not prepare you?
- What questions would you like to ask me?
- Who is the most important person in a school?
- Name four things that compose your lesson plans.
- How did your student teaching utilize tracking?
- What do you want to know about your students before they arrive the first day?
- Point out two things on your resume that say the most about you.
- Tell me about brain-centered learning.
- What would you do if a student said, "This class is lousy!!"?
- How would you educate children other than differentiated instruction?
- How would you deal with differentiation in the classroom?
- When did you step out of your comfort zone?
- How would you fill a 90-minute block of reading?
- How do you make sure students are engaged and not just going through the motions?
- How many library cards do you own?
- Would you ever tell a student that you liked them?
- How would you build respect in your room through content?
- How would you engage students with pedagogy and content?
If you have questions about the interview process or just want to make sure that you are at your best for the event, please contact your specific career center.
