Job interview for this position does not belong to the most difficult interviews, for one simple reason: you will compete with no more than two other applicants for the job. Sometimes you will actually be the only person who applies for the job. If you have the qualification, and if you can convince the hiring committee of your right attitude to work, and if you demonstrate some knowledge about their school and things they try to achieve with special needs students, they will hire you. Show
The members of the hiring committee (or a school principal, if you interview in front of one person only) will ask you some personal, behavioral, and technical (job-specific) questions. They do so to understand your personality, attitude, as well as your readiness for this beautiful and difficult job. We will have a look at the questions on the following lines. Personal questions and your motivationTo work with children with special needs is a rewarding job, but also a challenging task. The interviewers will ask you questions about your motivation and goals, trying to understand whether you will enjoy doing the job for a long time, or burn out quickly, and leave the school. Expect to answer some of the following questions:
Behavioral questions to test your attitudeAsking about certain work related situations, the interviewers try to see how you would act in your daily job, and if you know what is expected from you. Your answers should correspond with the philosophy of their educational institution (you can learn more about their vision and philosophy of teaching while researching about the school, something you should do prior to the interview, or you can also ask about in an interview–especially when they do not talk about it on their website). Let’s have a look at the questions:
* Tough questions? Check my eBook, the Special Education Teacher Interview Guide for multiple brilliant answers to each question from this article, and winning interview strategies for special ed teachers. Streamline your interview preparation and get ready for every challenge this interview presents. Technical questionsOnce they tested your motivation, and your attitude to various work related situations, they will inquire about the technical aspect of the job, meaning the teaching methods, lesson plans, and other things that relate to this job. You can get the following questions:
Answers to all difficult questionsIf you struggle with the answers, or simply need help, have a look at the eBook I wrote for you, called Special Ed Teacher Interview Guide (sold exclusively on InterviewPenguin.com). In the eBook you will find brilliant answers to 25 difficult interview questions for special ed teachers, and also a guide on how to make the best possible impression on the hiring committee. Some questions are answered directly on the eBook page, so even if you do not plan to purchase anything, you can at least have a look at the answers. Thank you, and good luck in your interview! Glen Hughins, InterviewPenguin.com Expert * You can also download the full list of questions in a one page long PDF, and practice your interview answers anytime later: special education interview questions, PDFMay also interest you:
Recruitment Consultant and Interview Coach from Philadelphia, Glen had worked as a school principal for fifteen years, before he started his career in recruitment consulting and interview coaching. He contributes to Interview Penguin with articles about careers and interviews in teaching, and in educational administration. Latest posts by Glen Hughins (see all) What questions are asked in a special education teacher interview?Role-specific questions. What do you enjoy most about teaching?. Why did you choose to work with students with disabilities?. What do you hope to contribute to the special education field?. What's the biggest challenge/reward in working with students who require special education?. Why do you want to work in our school?. What are the 10 most common interview questions and answers for teachers?Teaching interview questions. Tips for answering interview questions. ... . Why do you want to be a teacher? ... . Why do you want to work in our school? ... . How will you manage challenges at work? ... . What experience do you have in schools? ... . What are the core skills and qualities that pupils look for in teachers?. Why do you want to be a special education teacher?Special education's person-centered approach makes the job as varied and unique as the individual students. Both compassion and creativity are at a premium in this field, which sometimes makes special education more challenging — but it also makes the career deeply rewarding.
Why do you want to work with special education students?Working with special needs students gives you the opportunity to impact the lives of children who have disabilities, learning disorders, and developmental delays. Not only are you making an impact in the lives of students by giving them tools and resources to learn according to their learning style.
|