INTERVIEWING FOR TEACHING JOBS IN NEW YORK STATE:
A Multi-Stage Process
Many New York State school districts use a four-stage process for interviewing candidates for
teaching positions. Each of the stages offers you an opportunity to demonstrate different skills
and talents that you would bring as a member of the faculty.
Round 1 is a brief “casting call”, possibly involving several applicants simultaneously.
Interviewers may ask each applicant to respond to the same question or set of questions, or
they may ask each to respond to what the previous speakers have said, or they may ask
different questions of each applicant. In these brief sessions (15 – 30 minutes) interviewers are
trying to get to know you and sense how you relate to others, and also hoping to see that you
can make a good impression in a short time.
Round 2 is a more traditional interview, with a panel of teachers and administrators typically
asking you a pre-arranged set of questions. Click here for a list of the kinds of questions you
might be asked. You might also be asked situation questions, for example how you would teach
a particular topic, or assist a struggling student or handle a problem behavior. It is especially
important to prepare carefully for this round, so that you can offer well developed answers.
Remember that the interviewers will be comparing your responses to those of others who have
responded to the same question; make your response stand out with depth of thought, specific
details, and examples drawn from your experiences. Expect follow-up questions, so be ready to
“drill down” to explain in detail what you would do to in the scenarios they describe in their
questions. This is also the place to prepare some questions of your own for the interviewing
panel, perhaps about a mentoring program or professional development opportunities in the
district that align with your interests.
Round 3 is increasingly popular, though not used everywhere. Four or five applicants sit at a
conference table with three or four administrators and engage in a discussion of educational
issues. Interviewers are looking for more than just content knowledge: as they introduce new
topics every few minutes, they are assessing applicants for professional demeanor and
language, communication skills, (e.g., listening respectfully, building on another’s responses)
critical thinking (e.g., evaluating the assumptions in your peers’ responses and questioning them
thoughtfully) and for the ability to advocate for your point of view, possibly disagreeing without
being disagreeable.
Round 4 takes place after the interviewing team has recommended you for the position. It is a
1-1 meeting with the superintendent, and it may or may not include formal questioning. Prepare
for it by scouring every last line on the district website to learn all you can about the Board of
Education’s priorities and initiatives. You should be able to explain how you can be a strong
contributor to the district’s pursuit of its goals.