Sample Questions
Tell Us about Yourself
This is your greatest opportunity. You are likely to be asked this, so plan to use the open-ended nature of the question to your advantage. It is not necessary to answer autobiographically. Summarize the most relevant and recent information. You may wish to organize your thoughts around your interest in the job and why you are prepared to do it.
What would you do if... (cites specific situation)
The interviewer is looking for judgment and maturity in handling complex situations. Strive to make your answer thorough and concise. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate both your ability to "see the big picture" and your grasp of the accepted practices in your field.
Tell me about a time when you ... (describes a behavior or activity)
The interviewer is using a technique called "behavioral descriptive interviewing." The theory behind the question is that past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior. The situation that you describe can be related to the industry or job that you are applying for, but can be drawn from other experiences. The STAR Answer Format is very effective for this type of question.
The following list is comprised of very common interview questions. You may want to develop answers for them in advance. Avoid "scripting" an answer. Not only does scripting raise your anxiety level because you may try to remember the script verbatim, but it can also make you sound wooden or stiff.
About Your Qualifications
Can you summarize the contribution you would make to our department?
Please tell me about the greatest professional assignment you've ever handled.
Tell me about your experience at SVSU.
Why did you chose to attend SVSU?
Tell me about your most significant work experience.
Why are you the best candidate for this position?
Have you ever supervised anyone?
What are your strongest skills? (back up answers with specific examples)
Tell me about the most difficult experience you've faced and how you handled it.
Why should we hire you? (be ready for this one. Even if it's not asked directly, the answer to this should be woven throughout all of your responses)
What do you think is the most significant problem in our field today?
About Your Ability to Work in the Environment
Why are you interested in this job?
Why are you interested in working for us?
Describe your greatest strength.
Describe your greatest weakness. (Note: the key to this question is to be honest about a work related flaw - but to thoroughly describe how you are working to improve. By being honest, you build trust with the interviewer and you demonstrate your ability to overcome challenges.
What do you know about us?
Are you a team player?
How do you handle conflict?
How competitive are you?
What do you expect from your supervisor?
Describe to me the best/worst supervisor you ever had.
Why did you chose to specialize in ___________________?
How do you define success in this field?
What are the most important qualities necessary for success in this field? Which of these qualities do you possess?
How did you motivate a resistant student/client to comply with your instructions?
About Your Career and Personal Choices
How would those who have worked with you describe you?
How would you describe yourself? How would a supervisor or colleague describe you?
When did you know you wanted to be a _______ (teacher/counselor/administrator, etc.)?
What are your long-range career goals?
Where do you see yourself in five years? (you may wish to answer this in terms of skills acquired)
What do you do in your spare time?
What do you enjoy doing when you're not working?
How do you relieve stress?
What will it take to persuade you to take this job?
What kind of salary are you looking for?
What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
What did you like best/least in your college experiences?
What gives you the most satisfaction in your work? Why?
What two or three things are most important to you in your job?
For Career Changers
Isn't a job like this a waste of your training?
Why would you be interested in this kind of work?
How do you expect to get up to speed in all the areas that will be unfamiliar to you?
What are your salary requirements?
I see you are changing career fields, tell me how your _________ background relates to __________.
For Teacher Candidates
Why did you go into teaching?
What about teaching is most rewarding for you?
What have you learned from your teaching experience that you didn't learn in school?
What makes an outstanding teacher?
Tell us about your parent-teacher conferences. How do you prepare?
Have you ever dealt with a parent who was upset where you place his/her child in a reading group?
What are your special abilities?
Describe your vision of the ideal building principal.
How would you handle a student who you caught cheating?
What is "hot" in education right now (new processes, teaching methods, or theories)?
Describe the components of a good lesson.
Tell us about classroom management.
As a new teacher coming to our district, what type of support would you expect from us?
How do you handle a student who says "I can't" or "I won't"?
Are you the type of person who likes quiet time (structured classroom) or lots of activity (loose classroom)?
How does a teacher deal with children with special needs?
What are the current methods and texts of preparation in your field?
What problems did you encounter in student teaching and how did you handle them?
Why do you want to work for this district?
Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
The right answer is always "yes", or you risk appearing uninterested. Prepare some questions in advance. Also, ask questions that show that you have learned new information from the interviewers. Examples:
Can you tell me how success in this position is measured?
Who would I work with most closely on a day-to-day basis?
What do you consider the most challenging aspect of this position for someone who is new to your organization?
What are your department's major projects in the coming year?
What is the lifecycle of new software in your department?
How do you encourage your employees to keep current with professional developments in the field?
I know that you've recently experienced a period of very rapid growth. How has that changed the ways you operate?
What do you think are your greatest competitive strengths with clients?
Be prepared for tough questions, but do not be afraid to pause to formulate your answer. You should know three examples for each claim you made on your resume and cover letter. To help structure your answers, consider using the STAR Guide.