Education & Teaching Interview Questions & Answers

The first stage of the AD position was the application form online, consisting of about 8 questions. Provide as much detail as possible and give good examples of your experiences.
The second stage of the process, was an interview held at one of the centres. I was interviewed by the Centre Director, and there was an Assistant Director on hand as well who took notes throughout. The whole session lasted about 2 hours. I was shown around the centre, and given the logistics about how it worked. I would advise to do plenty of research before you arrive so that you have plenty of questions to ask about the centre - show your enthusiasm for the centre and let your personality shine.
I was then sat down and asked about my experiences and skills. I was given a few scenarios to deal with for example, if the CD was away and there was an urgent issue, what I do?
The final stage was a role play exercise. I had to pretend to stop someone in the street and promote a gym membership. The goal was to sign the person up for a free trial. Just make sure you use your communication skills effectively and ask questions to engage the client. There is also a chance to repeat the role play too.

The scenario questions were perhaps the most difficult part of the day, but just use your common sense. If they question your answer, explain the problems that you would have and maintain a positive attitude throughout. This will show your confidence in problematic situations. And keep smiling! We are not all perfect, and they are just looking for someone who is willing to learn and take on the challenges that will be involved in the job.

Explore are really looking for passionate and enthusiastic people who are confident to take on the challenges that the role can bring. Really demonstrate how your experiences will aid you in the role and be positive throughout the day. Ask questions, be engaged, and enjoy it. If you get things wrong, don't worry. Recognise your mistakes and turn it into a positive - show that you can learn quickly. It is a fantastic company to work for and if you show that you want to work for them, your chances of being given the role are a lot higher.

The day started with a welcome presentation. A schedule had been created for each person of when they would do their verbal/numerical reasoning test (which wasn't difficult), marketing presentation, and another for the one-on-one interview. There is a fair bit of waiting around at this part of the day, but everyone was so lovely and it wasn't one of those uncomfortable assessment days where you feel you are in competition with everyone. Yes there is an element of competition, but the other candidates were all lovely and we all chatted about our experiences.
The marketing presentation (task given before assessment day itself): my task was to create a sales event or marketing initiative and present it to one of the interviewers. Be clear, concise and confident. I typed up my presentation, but maintain eye contact and be positive about your idea.
The one-on-one interview: this was more about your experiences and skills and gives you the opportunity to really sell yourself. Be confident throughout and ask questions; show your interest and passion to work for Explore. There were a few more scenario questions at this point too.
We were then taken to Zizzi's for lunch; the most stressful part of the day was over so it was nice to just relax and chat with the other candidates and managerial staff.
The afternoon consisted of a group activity. We started by going around the room and picking words out of a hat. We then had to talk about that word for 1 minute. Be imaginative and funny if you can! We were then split into 2 groups and given a survival scenario; rating objects in order of importance.
The day then ended, and we were told we would find out within 3 working days if we were successful.

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 process was very relaxed and definitely not something that you should be worried about; they are just looking for you to be yourself. I was nervous about the gym membership role-play but the interviewer got into character very well making it easier. Meeting the children was really enjoyable, you almost forget that you're in an interview. Just be sure to chat to them, ask them what they're learning etc.
Overall a great experience!

Which of the Visions and Values do you think is most important?

Just be yourself. They are looking for friendly, confident and approachable people. If you make sure you are well prepared for the interview and the assessment day you'll do absolutely fine. Also try to make sure you have some questions planned in advance to ask them to exemplify your interest in their company/the role.

The assessment centre was a very enjoyable day, totally relaxed but obviously still important. The other candidates were all very friendly, and it definitely helped to know that I wasn't in competition with any of them. We had our individual presentations at different times so there was a fair bit of waiting around and chatting! The maths and English tests were very basic, all below GCSE level. Near the end of the day we were told to write a random word on a piece of paper to give to another candidate who then had to speak about the word for a minute. This was probably the hardest part of the day! Finally, there was a group activity about saving people on a shipwreck. I really enjoyed my day, particularily the lunch at Zizzi's getting to know everybody.

Upon completing the application I was invited for an interview via email (unfortunately I could not attend the initial interview date, however the panel agreed to change the date for me). Upon arrival I was welcomed into the interview room where a panel of three colleagues were waiting for me. They offered me a seat, a drink of my choice and asked several nerve-quenching questions such as "How are you?" and then we proceeded to some friendly banter.

Once the tension had been broken, the panel alerted me that the interview would now officially begin. The first question they asked is one which I am asked by all employers: "Why do you want THIS job?". This question is something that you must spend time preparing for as anyone who brings someone into their business must be assured that it is that particular job role you care about above any other.

The three colleagues took in turn to ask many other typical questions such as "If you were offered the job, what are the positive impacts you would have?" and "Say for instance you were in crisis situation 'x' (relating to the job role), how would you respond and who would you report to?".

If you are reading this and truly seeking valuable advice, mine would be that if you honestly care about the graduate role you are going for: you absolutely must take the time to prepare a portfolio demonstrating what you can bring to the position and how you can make a positive impact. And unless you are going for a change-management consultancy role, never tell the employer how you think they could improve (assume they are happy with the way they do things). There will be plenty of time for your valuable input on change!

The most difficult question that I was faced with during that particular interview was "What are the three most exciting aspects about the job role?". I know this is pointing out the obvious, but make sure you know the job specification inside-out before entering the interview. Luckily I had prepared at least two answers for every question that I could think that they would ask (always prepare at least two).

If you are applying for the company you must get across a friendly and academic approach. You have to demonstrate that you are approachable by students, and that you will also be seen as a professional academic figure. It is also vitally important that you show a full appreciation for the job role and express what it means to you and your career development (preferably a long and prosperous career with the company).

N/A.

First, I had a telephone interview just to go over my application form and CV. They told me straight away that I had made it to the next stage.

For the interview stage, I was interview by the Director and one of the Assistant Directors at the centre. I was given a tour of the centre first. I had to prepare a 5 minute role play to promote a gym to someone in a supermarket. This went really well, and they let you do it again. You must keep asking them questions and getting to know them - they like that! For the rest of the interview they asked me competency and scenario questions. I got to spend a short time with the children, but there were only 3 there due to it being the holidays. I got to talk to them and the tutor they were with.

Overall, they were really friendly and made you feel at ease during the interview.

The questions weren't overly difficult, as I had prepared a lot for most of them. I guess the scenario questions were the hardest as you never quite know what they'll ask.

Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the Assessment Day stage. The feedback they gave me was that my managerial style wasn't assertive enough, so this may be a hint to what they want! Make sure you make a real effort when you get to speak to the children. I wish I was able to have more time with them and that there were more of them there so I could've have shown them more of my ability.

5 minute role play.

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

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.

After completing a very complex application procedure between November and December 2013 (in which 4 copies of all my academic records, references, passport, medical assessments etc. had been posted to the Embassy of Japan in London), I was e-mailed to say that I had been invited to interview (which I had to confirm my prospective attendance again by e-mail) in late January 2014 at the JET Office in the Embassy of Japan in London. I had applied for the ALT position with a friend and we both were given a 1pm interview time so we traveled down to London together by coach the day before and stayed in a cheap hotel about 20 minutes away and on the day arrived at the Embassy at around 11.30am so we had plenty of time to check-in to the Embassy which was also quite a complicated procedure. Then a previous JET member guided us around the building (who had completed two years of ALT teaching in the city of Sanda in Japan), we completed a 5-minute written English test prior to the interview, then talked to other previous JET members to find out about their experiences whilst watching a sample video of the experiences of teaching in Japan, then I was called to be seated outside the interview room with a large sign placed in front of me which I had to read before entering the room (it said in large letters that if I went into the interview room before I was called in by an interviewer then my interview would be cancelled and I would have to leave - it's just so that I don't overhear anything that would give me an advantage over other candidates prior to interview, but it felt like I was waiting for a long time, possibly 20 minutes to be called in), then when I was asked to come in I shook the hand of the English interviewer who led me into the large interview room to be seated in front of a grand wooden desk, the English interviewer sat next to a Japanese interviewer at the desk, and there was another Japanese man seated separately like myself and he was judging how well the interviewers interviewed me. I shook everyone's hands both when I arrived and when I left the room, and I was asked questions as to why and how I could bridge the gap between science and teaching? why Japan and JET specifically? to which I answered I was very interested in science communication which I could possibly add to this programme and it would give me an edge over other candidates, and I have always been interested in Japan but not for the animé more specifically for the culture/food/hobbies that can be carried out in Japan, the humbleness and hospitableness of the people of Japan and the fact that I knew somebody who had previously been involved with a JET-like activity and who had said they enjoyed it (they actually applied to JET but had to cancel as they didn't graduate in time for the programme but have since participated in the Interac programme which is very similar; HOWEVER, please if you mention you do know somebody who has participated in the JET programme find out what specifically they enjoyed about the TEACHING ASPECT of the programme as I was grilled on this but didn't actually have an answer - so I sort of tried to bluff my way by saying something I thought they might like to hear, but they may well have seen through my bluff, please be prepared!!!), the interview lasted around 20 minutes like they said it would in the interview letter and I think overall it went quite well but I find out in April 2014 whether I have the place outright or whether I'm on the reserve list or whether I don't have a place at all.

Could you demonstrate for us how you would teach a class of Japanese children? and I had to stand up and pretend to be a teacher (bare in mind that I have had no formal teacher training whatsoever, but this didn't matter as I wasn't expected to have any, apparently I found out later from friends who had previously applied that they were testing me to see how I cope under pressure / the unexpected)

Just be yourself, apparently they seem to want you to be humorous and be able to story-tell and be interesting, but just do your best as many of the questions were unexpected as they asked me about my previous cultural experiences and if your previous jobs aren't compatible with teaching, they really drill down to the specifics as to why you want to change into teaching from your previous area of expertise (mine being science) and how you would be a good candidate because of your previous experience / how you can apply it to teaching? ... I would also urge applicants to not focus too much during the previous JET member questioning period (just before being interviewed) as it could cloud your mind if you think too much about things that interest you about the JET programme e.g. social/extracuricular activities as they are not exactly related to the teaching job you will ultimately have, so pose a few questions to the previous JET members but don't lose track of your thoughts / prepared answers to interview questions as it could negatively affect your interview performance if you become too engrossed in what previous JET members did.

As I said the check-in procedure to the Embassy is very complicated, me and my friend had to place our baggage on a conveyer belt and step through a metal detector (similar to the security in the airports), then we walked up a flight of stairs to reach reception where we had to hand in our interview vouchers (which had our names on, details of the assessment which we had previously filled in, an attached passport-sized photo of ourselves), plus our passports (which we needed to bring along for verification purposes), we then had to sit and wait for around 20 minutes in a separate see-through-glass-seperated exhibit room (which contained Japanese artifacts / pieces of art/literature of importance to the Embassy) which already contained two other applicants to the JET programme who were interviewed around the same time as me and my friend, then we were called upon and guided through a set of electronic lock-operated wooden double doors by the previous JET member who was wearing an earpiece to receive instructions from JET interviewers/officials within the building, we left our phones etc. in lockers and then went up in a lift to complete the written English test (there were 5 grammar/spelling/proof-reading questions which had to be answered in 5 minutes, both me and my friend only answered the first 4 questions - it is very difficult to complete in such a short amount of time as each of the questions were fairly detailed / require a good amount of concentration), then we spoke to previous JET members about their time e.g. where were they placed in Japan? did they get involved in AJET? (= like universities have an NUS organisation in England, the JET programme has AJET for job-related issues, extracurricular activity organisation etc) What level of Japanese speaking / writing proficiency are they now at following the JET programme? etc. ... it was quite useful and completely different experience to the interviews I have had in the past.

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.

Friendly, welcoming staff made the interview process pleasant and intimidating. There was multiple opportunities to gain feedback throughout the process which meant you could adapt and respond immediately. Both days enabled me to gain an insight into the company and it's ethos, enabling me to be sure it was the right choice for me as well as the right choice for them.

The gym membership role play was tough to prep for as I was initially unsure what they were looking for.

Be confident and assertive. They are looking for people for have initiative and drive but also great interpersonal skills. Practical business awareness and common sense is key too. For the role play, be sure to ask questions rather than just doing a sales pitch, as they are looking for the ability to build rapport with a new customer.

Head office, head office staff conducting interviews.