Explore Learning Interview Questions & Answers

I had no phone interview but went straight to a centre interview. This took the format of a tour of the centre and description of the role with the centre director. This was a bit annoying, especially the information on the role, as I'd thoroughly researched the job and the company and wanted to show that I knew all this, rather than being told! This was followed by some questions about my application and cv along with some scenario questions with both the centre director and one of the assistant directors, which lasted about half an hour. Then there was the role play, from which I was given useful feedback and then repeated. After that was some interaction with the kids, with one of the tutors which went on for about 15 minutes.

Scenario questions such as 'what would you do if the centre director was away for a while and performance among the staff started to drop?'

Do your research, especially on marketing and sales techniques. Look through information provided carefully by the company and listen to centre interview feedback before the assessment centre. Relax in both interviews, everyone seems very nice and they really want to just get to know you.

The day started with a talk from the operations director which lasted about half an hour on the company overall. This was followed by an interview with one of the graduate recruitment managers on my application and some management scenario questions. Then came the marketing presentation which lasted 5 minutes followed by some questions with another of the graduate recruitment managers followed by the role play. Then was the literacy and numeracy task which we could do in our own time. In the afternoon was the group task which involved choosing a selection of objects to keep on a sinking ship and having to present our findings within a small timeframe.

The interview had several stages first a one to one interview at a centre. This was competency based but also about the company and scanario based situations for example how would you deal with one of the staff if they were racist. Following, this you had to teach the children for 15 minutes.

Why do do you prefer law above teaching?
Do you think Explore learning is expensive?

Slow down responses and think before speak. Also brush up on commercial awarness

The assessment centre was attended by 12 people. It was made up of a competency interview which lasted 15 minutes. This was followed by a pre-prepared presentation about your idea for a community event. Next there was a role play to tell a teacher about the services Explore Learning offers. In addition, there there a numerical test including fractions with questions asking how you would explain the answer to children. Then there was a literacy test which assessed your ability to find grammatical errors. Next, they took us out for lunch at Zizzi. After a lunch we had to write random words on pieces of paper. Then draw out the words and talk about the word for 2 minutes in front of the group. Finally, we had to group task about increasing membership at a gym which we then had to present to a panel who asked questions.

I personally did not have to have a telephone interview due to my experience, but have seen many do.
The interview was very relaxing and the staff put you at ease. Firstly they take you on a little tour of the centre and let you ask questions (they liked being asked questions- so do your research). We then had a sit down and spoke about marketing, teamwork, leadership and working with children. The questions were easy to answer providing you had prepared. There were a lot of scenario based questions, but they were really common sense. I then had to do my role play (which you have to prepare in advance). This was scary at first but then they give you feedback and you get the chance to act on the feedback and do it again.

After the initial interview I was given the chance to play on the systems they use before working with the children.

There weren't any particularly difficult questions.

You need to be prepared! Look on there website and get a feel for what they expect from an assistant director. It might be handy to go into one of the centres and see what they do, so when you have your chance to work with the children you're prepared. Everyone freaks out with the role play but when you're in there it's actually not that bad.... so don't worry!

Most importantly let your personality shine through!

My Assessment Centre will take place in April but I understand this will be two interviews, a role play and a presentation along with team working and simple tests.

The Interview at the Explore learning center in Woking was wonderful. I was able to learn more information about the company and really got to see how things worked. The center was active whilst the interview was taking place so you were really able to understand how the tutoring worked, and got to talk to some of the children and see what systems they were using. The actual interview consisted of a sales role play which was quite daunting, but they gave me lots of feedback and the opportunity to do the role play again. There was then a few scenario questions based on interacting with parents and children. I was a very fun interview, serious but being in the environment allowed you to relax more. The interview lasted around 2 hours, of which about 45 minutes consisted of talking to the children and helping them out with their work. This consisted of being introduced to one or two children and then left to your own devices, especially as the center was very busy.

The most difficult questions were the ones that asked you how you would deal with children that aren't concentrating and how you would approach situations where the parents wish to take their children out of the program, as customer retention is a big part of the company's policy.

They really like to see personality, so just be yourself. And they are reliant on sales techniques and so I would recommend brushing up on the hard sell in order to push through the sales in the Role Plays.

The assessment center involved a lot of sitting around. There were 12 of us there, and after the initial introduction film and presentation, we were given timetables that told us the times that we would have the two different interviews and the personal task which was a numeracy and literacy sheet. The interviews consisted of a talk about my CV and what skills I had that I could bring to the company and what skills I needed to work on. Whilst the other consisted of a Role Play of talking to a teacher in a school. Again they gave wonderful feedback for the Role Play, which is brilliant information to take further on to other interviews. We then had lunch and got to know the interviewers a bit more, as well as getting to know more about the company and each other. It is not a competitive interview, so the relaxed atmosphere means that some of the pressure is lifted off. Then we were tasked with a group presentation where we were in groups of 6 and had to come up with a 5 point plan to get more members into the gym by the end of the month. This was the only bit of the assessment day that I felt could have been organised or worded differently, as we were given 20 minutes to come up with our plan but when we presented to the interviewers it became clear that they just wanted us to have come to the idea of half price joining fee or the first month half price.

Phone interview - brief (20 minutes) but decent questions regarding previous work experience, personal skills and qualities, how much I knew about the company/role, and scenario based questions. You are expected to have thoroughly researched the company and role to answer all questions in a fitting manner (i.e. all with relation to the qualities expected, the vision and values of the company, the requirements for the role). I was contacted within a week to arrange for a centre interview.

Centre interview - starting with a centre tour by the Centre Director, I was given similar personality/experience/skills questions in a private interview with the CD and Assistant Director. Following this was a sales role play, which was performed twice with feedback after each trial. They are looking for your receptiveness and adaptability as well as sales patter, so listen carefully and incorporate elements back in the second time. Lastly there was a period of observed interaction with children, with feedback afterwards. Friendly and professional, I was contacted within 1 working day inviting me to the next Assessment Day.

What would you consider the biggest obstacle you have overcome?

Do your research, really learn about the company and their culture/vision/values to help answer questions. Be confident in understanding the role (not just a teaching or managerial job), and if you have no sales experience make sure you do your research and practice before the interviews. Above all, be honest and genuine and friendly - they promote a supportive and family-like staff culture, so side-eyes and attitude do not go down well.

10-4.30, the day felt longer because of lots of waiting periods while other candidates were interviewed. The area was designed to be friendly and welcoming however, so it was not unpleasant.

Two individual interviews consist of a personal presentation, a sales role play (only once this time), and a skills-abilities interview. These are conducted privately with one interviewer, so no presenting or role playing in front of other candidates or staff. There was a short written task testing basic maths and English skills, and a short group activity in the afternoon designed to assess your team-work, response to other personalities, leadership, and cooperation.

Interviewers are all team members who started as ADs and progressed through the ranks, and most applicants were recent (or soon-to-be) graduates.

I went to a face-to-face interview with two directors of the learning centre that I was applying for. It started off with a tour of the facilities, which I was shown around upon entry. We then moved on to face-to-face interview questions, where I was sat down at a table with the two interviewers. They asked me questions on a variety of topics, such as my drive to succeed, my experiences with helping children overcome obstacles, and my previous work experiences. I then had to conduct a role play with one of the interviewers where I was trying to sell them, acting as a member of the public on the street, a gym membership for a new fitness centre. The interview concluded with me being taken to the room where the children were doing their after-school learning, and being encouraged to interact with them and ask them questions about the work they were doing, and I was also given the chance to assist them in their learning if they so wished.

Describe an obstacle you have had to overcome in the past where a child has had a lack of motivation for an activity, and you have had to ensure that they became more enthusiastic about the activity.

I had an initial telephone interview, which was with their recruitment team and lasted about 15 mins and was just about my experience and CV. Then I was invited to an interview in one of their centres. It was two interviewees, with basic questions about my experience and also scenario based questions like what I would do if someone complained of a colleague being racist or what I would do if the director was away and the teams performance started slipping. I also had to do a role play selling a gym membership, which they email information about previous to your interview. They then give you feedback and then you repeat the role play. Be sure to take their feedback on board for the second role play. Then I was just asked to chat with some children and they watched from a distance- this was the nicest part. Overall lasted about two hours. Was called the next day to be told I was through to the assessment centre round.

The role play was the most nerve racking

Also the question about the performance of the team slipping whilst the director is on holiday and how I would combat it

Definitely do you research and prepare because you need to be able to sell the product assertively in the role plays. Put across your assertive manner and confidence because that is what they are looking for, you need to show you also love the product. I'd say this is more a marketing role than teaching so be sure you know this before going in.

Again I was sent an email prior to the assessment day saying I had to prepare a presentation about marketing the explore product , and a role play with a primary school teacher who is interested in partnering with her school. This was done with two people watching. There was also another interview, one to one and maths and English tests which was pretty easy. There was then a lunch at Zizzi's in which they were definitely still assessing us! Finally there was a group session, one where we had to put items in priority from a shipwreck and where we all put words into a hat and had to talk about it for a minute.

No telephone interview: straight to centre interview.

Greeted by one of the Assistant Directors. Was told to take a seat and was given an Explore Learning brochure to look through. Was briefly shown around the centre. (Make sure you have questions ready as they ask you a lot 'do you have any questions' throughout the tour).

Was then greeted by the centre director and had an interview with them both. They asked me why I applied for the role, what I knew about the role, how i' d be suitable for the role, my best achievement etc. No scenario based questions were given to me at interview.

Then had my role play: this I thought went well and not a lot of feedback was given back rather than to ask more questions to get to know the customer a bit better before you advertise your product (gym membership). Took this on board and after my second attempt was told I had done better and that I had took on board the feedback. That it was good that I got to know the customer more personally the second time round and secured a trial day.

Was given 15 minutes with the children; the AD/CD however didn't really assess me as they weren't in the room whilst I was interacting with the children. I enjoyed this part the most and helped many of the children at their computer desks.

What is your biggest achievement?
What is your hardest achievement?

Prepare questions to ask

Make sure you know the role thoroughly; on my feedback on why I didn't get to assessment stage was because I didn't know enough about the role even though I mentioned the four main parts: management, sales and marketing, customer services and teaching throughout my interview (not sure how I would know about it any more thoroughly when I hadn't started the job yet?)

Didn't get to the assessment centre stage