Careers

Why Do You Want to Become a Teacher? Clever Interview Responses

Why do you want to become a teacher? Thinking about what to say when they ask you this question in a job interview? This article has all the info you need to help you out.

What the Interviewer Is Interested in Discovering

Your answer must demonstrate your passion for teaching and how you connect with this job.

Get ready with a response that shares your teaching beliefs, career journey, skills, and qualifications.

Every candidate will answer this question differently because of their own unique experiences. This is normal, considering your individual work history.

What’s important is that you focus on how your career decisions can help the employer and your potential performance in the job if you are hired.

How to Respond to the Question: ‘Why Did You Choose to Become a Teacher?

Getting ready in advance, like you would for any interview question, will make it simpler to answer. You won’t be surprised if this question comes up. Think about why you decided to become a teacher.

You can also think about sharing personal stories. Talk about how you applied what you learned from a teacher to make a positive impact in a classroom or how you effectively taught a challenging lesson.

Answer #1

The best teacher I ever had was my high school history teacher. Even though I preferred English and science to history, she was able to make the subject come alive beyond just dates and facts.

For instance, we read old newspaper articles about historical events and then pretended to be journalists from that time by creating our own blogs.

Her special teaching methods really motivated me, and I want to pass on that same excitement for innovative ways of learning to my students.

Why It’s Effective: This answer shows that the candidate recognizes the impact of an inspiring teacher on their life and the values they want to impart to their own students.

It also reveals that the interviewee understands the potential value of unconventional teaching methods for building connections with students, which is probably something highly appreciated at this school.

Answer #2

My high school’s assistant principal had a big impact on me, and she’s one of the main reasons I chose to become a teacher.

Her talent for guiding students, along with her fairness and commitment to justice, motivated me to want to instill these values in my own classroom.

Why It’s Effective: This response not only shares a story about an influential teacher but also highlights the principles that drive the applicant’s work as a teacher today.

Answer #3

During my student teaching, I had the chance to work one-on-one with a student struggling with a challenging math concept.

I realized I had chosen the right path when I showed him a different way to approach the problem, and he finally understood it.

Why It’s Effective: This response lets the candidate connect with the interviewer through a common experience, assuming the interviewer is also a teacher. It highlights a meaningful

Tips for Giving the Best Response

Here are some strategies for framing your response:

1. Be Honest

Why do you want to be a teacher? Interviewers often ask this to understand what motivates you.

When you answer, be sincere and think about the reasons that brought you to this profession.

2. Share Examples or Tell Stories

Did a teacher of your own inspire you? Have you ever read a news story that showed you the impact a great teacher can have? Sharing personal stories or memories can make your answer more compelling.

3. Reasons to Become a Teacher

Many teachers are drawn to teaching because they have a genuine love for children, or their own thirst for knowledge pushes them to educate.

Some educators choose this path because they want to have a lasting impact; students remember their teachers long after they graduate.

Others are inspired by a teacher who made a positive impact on them during their own education. Teachers can be seen as leaders, mentors, or even like second parents.

4. Describing a Favorite Teacher

This might lead to a question about your best teacher or favorite instructor and why you admired them.

Since a teacher is like your first boss in an academic setting, this question is about more than just your career choice; it’s also about your work style.

Did you appreciate your teacher for their patience or because they went the extra mile to help you?

Explaining what qualities you liked in your teacher will interest the interviewer because it reveals your preferred management style and what helps you succeed.

No one forgets a teacher who had a big impact on their life. Since it’s a personal question, your answer should be personal too.

It’s also a chance to mention some of your own strengths that you developed from your teacher’s guidance.

What Not to Say

Here are things you should never say:

I’m really looking forward to having the summer free!

Do not respond to this question by focusing on work benefits like short days or summer vacation. While those can be motivating, they may not make you seem dedicated or help you stand out as a candidate.

2. Anything Dishonest.

your inspirational story should be authentic, and that should be obvious.

Attempting to fabricate a connection by exaggerating your interactions with one of your own teachers or inventing a story we not help you connect with the interviewer.

It’s worth thinking about why you do not have a genuine story to share.

7 Reasons Teaching Could Be the Perfect Choice for You

If you are thinking about becoming a teacher, you are likely weighing the pros and cons. Life and jobs come with their share of unavoidable challenges and tasks that you may not enjoy as much as others.

But if you are considering a teaching career, it’s essential to examine your reasons behind this choice. Luckily, we have seven compelling reasons to help you get started.

1. You Can Make a Difference

If you are thinking about becoming a teacher, you are likely considering the pros and cons. Life and jobs come with their share of unavoidable challenges and tasks that you may not enjoy as much as others.

However, if you are pondering a teaching career, it’s crucial to examine your motivations. Fortunately, we have seven compelling reasons to help you get started.

As a teacher, you will have a significant impact on future generations by shaping the curriculum and imparting valuable life lessons. You’ll teach both essential subjects and important life skills.

You are likely to spend more waking hours with these students than their parents. This means you will play a important role in helping them learn social skills, time management, conflict resolution, stress management, and staying focused on their tasks.

If we were fortunate, we had a teacher who made an enduring impression on us. They showed care for us and their subject, inspiring us to excel and go beyond our limits. Now, it’s your turn to inspire someone else’s learning journey.

2. Your Days Will Offer a Mix of Different Experiences

Why become a teacher? If the idea of going to an office and doing the same things every day from 9 to 5 does not sound appealing to you, think about teaching!

Teaching is a job full of change, where no two days are the same. You will explore new lessons, discover different topics to teach, and have new students every year, making it interesting.

Even if you teach high school and repeat the same lesson a few times a day, it will feel different each time with new students and their personalities. They might ask different questions, face various challenges, and respond in unique ways. Your days will likely be full of excitement and variety, making them less dull and sluggish.

3. You Can Share Your Love for Learning

If you had a teacher who really loved what they taught, you probably enjoyed the class more.

Actually, research shows that how good the education is and how well a teacher knows their subject are very important for teaching.

One way to make your students excited about what you like is to get them interested in it. You’ll also discover new things and learn with the kids.

You can also go back to school. You will keep learning because new technology and teaching methods come out, and important events happen in real time.

4. You’ll Have Great Job Security

If you had a teacher who really loved what they taught, you probably found the class more enjoyable.

In fact, research shows that good education and a teacher’s knowledge of their subject are very important for teaching.

One way to get your students excited about what you like is to get them interested in it.

You will also explore new things and learn alongside the kids.

Furthermore, you have the opportunity to return to school. Your learning journey continues as new technology and teaching methods emerge, and significant events unfold in real time.

5 We encourage having a good time.

The best teachers share their excitement, charm, and humor with their students. They work hard to find new and creative ways to teach, making it more interesting for kids.

Your children will likely catch your enthusiasm, making the classroom a lively place. Let your personality shine to make learning better.

Use your special talents to inspire your classmates. Some days will be tough, and a good sense of humor will help.

Teaching is a social job. When you become a teacher, you will be part of a supportive community. You will talk to students, parents, and other teachers. As you get to know families, you will become an important part of the community.

6 You’ll enjoy a wonderful schedule.

If you want to be a teacher for a flexible schedule, it might not always happen.

Sometimes, you will need to plan lessons after school, but you can often do this at home.

If you have kids, the schedule works well because you will likely have the same days off.

Teachers get great vacations. You can have almost eight weeks off in the summer and paid time off in the winter and spring. Plus, you get paid holidays with no students around.

7 There are rewards that you can’t measure or touch.

Small, intangible rewards make teaching enjoyable. When you teach kids, there are little joys.

The funny stories they write, the things they say that make you smile, their unique habits, the smart questions they ask, and their amusing comments all make the job satisfying.

The memories and keepsakes you collect will stay with you forever.

But the best part is when a student who struggled finally understands something. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their excitement when it clicks for them, and they celebrate their success.

Teaching is more than just a job.

8 Teacher Interview Questions and How to Answer

Teaching is a rewarding job, and you might want to become a teacher. To do that, you will need to get teacher certification, update your resume, and start the interview process.

Interviews can be scary. They can seem tough at first, but after reading these tips, you’ll feel more confident for your teacher interview.

Before your interview, think about and research these teacher job interview questions.

Remember, this list isn’t complete. It just shows what you need to do to get the teaching job you want.

Thinking about these questions will not only help you during the interview but also make you a better teacher.

1. What Do You Love About Teach

Here are some questions you might be asked during a teacher interview:

Why do you want to be a teacher?
What’s motivating you to leave your current job and pursue teaching?
Can you share a story about one of your favorite teachers and why they were your favorite?

When you are interviewing for a teaching job, it’s important to show that you are not only qualified but also genuinely care about being a teacher. Teaching is a job where caring really matters because you are there to help young people.

So, make sure to highlight your passion for teaching. Before the interview, think about what you love about teaching and why you want to make it your career. Writing down your thoughts can be helpful.

When answering interview questions, provide clear explanations, examples, and personal stories when appropriate.

Some common reasons people want to become teachers include:

They love learning and being in a learning environment.
Teaching offers a lot of variety.
It’s a way to serve their communities.
They appreciate the creativity and independence teaching provides.
They value having summers off.
They want to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Questions about your passion for teaching are an opportunity to show that you are sincere and relatable. If possible, share a story about a teacher from your past or someone else who inspired you to become a teacher.

Everyone responds to different types of stories, so let your enthusiasm and love for teaching come through in whatever you share.

2 How Do You Approach Teaching?

Your teaching philosophy is about why and how you teach. When you are asked about it, it’s good to have it written down beforehand so you can talk about it during interviews. Here are some things to think about:

Why is what you teach important for society?
Why does it matter if anyone learns it?
What’s your role in what you teach?
How do you teach it to match your philosophy?

You also need to explain how you will use your philosophy in class, along with your beliefs. How do you test your students’ learning, both during and at the end of a lesson?

Remember that your methods depend on how old your students are. It’s important to understand both the “how” and “why” of your philosophy. Knowing “how” will help you get ready for questions about how you teach and manage your classroom.

3. What Are Your Teaching Style and Methods?

Explaining how you teach shows you are ready to be a teacher. Here are some things to think about:

How do you help students understand your subject?
How do you assist kids who learn differently?
What do you do if a student is struggling with the material?

You’ll learn more when you start teaching, but it’s good to know some basics about your subject.

Your teaching methods are how you put your teaching philosophy into action. What assignments work best for your subject?

How can you make your students interested and excited about what you are teaching?

People learn in different ways, like by seeing, hearing, or doing things. How can you make sure everyone can learn through their senses?

For example, you could have students draw or paint to help visualize a concept. Crafts can be useful, especially for elementary students.

If some students like music, you can use it in your lessons. Others prefer to be active or outside. Think about activities that can keep them interested.

Your fellow teachers can help with fresh ideas for the classroom. And there are many online tools to assist you in teaching your subject.

4. How You Will Manage Your Classroom?

Knowing how to manage your classroom shows that you’re not only skilled in your subject but also good at leading and connecting with students.

Classroom management is like how you run your class. When you are organized, there are fewer problems between you and your students.

In an interview, they might ask:

Are you strict or easygoing as a teacher?
Have you dealt with a difficult student before?
If yes, how did you handle it?

Teachers work with students who have different levels of interest in the subject. Not all students are excited about school. That’s why you need to know about classroom management.

For Special Education teachers, managing the classroom is important. They need to know how to keep students focused and deal with disruptive behavior. They should also explain how they will help students with tough assignments.

You can use your past experience or research online to find methods that match the age and type of students you’ll be teaching.

Before your interview, learn about the school’s rules. Then, adjust your answers accordingly. Know what you should do and how your methods fit with the school’s ideas.

For example, if you are teaching elementary school, you might use a strategy where you write one letter of “sorry” on the board each time someone breaks a rule. If the students spell the whole word right, they get to skip a fun activity for the day. This can help encourage good behavior.

It’s also good to talk in your interview about how you should prevent conflicts from happening. You could make eye contact with each student during the day or greet them all at the start of the day to show you are happy to see them.

5. What is Your Greatest Strength?

During interviews, it’s common for hiring managers to ask about your strengths. Your response to this question can show why you are a good fit for the teaching job.

Think of it as explaining how you can benefit the school, not bragging about yourself. If you do not have relevant strengths, it’s hard to get hired.

Before your interview, think about what your best qualities are. Consider both your professional and personal strengths.

Did your boss praise you for achievements at work?
What recent successes have you had, and what skills helped you achieve them?
Have your coworkers or friends pointed out any strengths? You can ask them for their input.

Even though these are people you know personally, they can help you identify your key qualities.

For example, if people see you as a great communicator, give recent examples of that strength. Then, explain how you will use it in teaching. This could include public speaking, setting clear class expectations, or communicating with parents promptly.

Whatever you mention, use specific examples from your past and explain how they apply to the teaching job you want.

6. Why Do You Want to Work in this Job/School/District?

Never go to an interview without knowing about the organization that’s interviewing you. Answering this question well shows that you are interested in the job and helps you decide if it’s a good fit for you.

Some common mistakes during interviews are:

Not being ready
Giving cliché answers
Looking uninterested

Doing your homework and getting ready for the interview will help you avoid the first two mistakes. Showing your excitement for teaching, as mentioned before, will help you avoid the last mistake.

Learn about the job, the school, and the school district:

What’s special about the school?
Do the students there have specific needs you can handle?
Do you like the school’s philosophy?
What’s the school doing well that excites you about working there?

Researching the position will help you with all your interview questions. You can use what you find in your answers when it fits.

7. What is Your Biggest Weakness?

Be ready to answer a question about your weaknesses:

What’s your main weakness as a teacher?
What do you like the least about teaching?
What’s the toughest part of teaching for you?

Everybody has weaknesses. This question is a chance to show you are honest and can learn from your mistakes.

You might worry that telling the truth will make you seem unfit for the job. But you can answer honestly and still show you are a strong candidate.

Every job has challenges and things that are not fun. That’s just part of working.

Use this question to your advantage by explaining how you handle challenges. Maybe you had a big weakness in the past, but you have overcome it. Describe how you did that and what you do differently now.

8. Do You Have Any Questions for Me?

When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, do not be caught without any. This is another chance to show you are serious about the job and to figure out if it’s really what you want.

Asking questions shows you are genuinely interested in teaching, and it’s a chance to learn things you could not find in your own research.

If you have concerns, this is the time to ask. You might want to know:

What’s the school’s atmosphere like?
Tell me about the students.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of each grade?
Do teachers support each other?
What can you say about the administration and parents?
What challenges have the staff faced recently, both in the school and the district?
How does the school connect with the community?

Avoid asking about time off or salary at this stage. Those questions are not appropriate until the school offers you the teaching position.

Conclusion

In conclusion, preparing for a teaching job interview is very important, and providing thoughtful responses to questions about your teaching philosophy, strengths, weaknesses, and questions for the school can significantly increase your chances of landing the position. Demonstrating your passion for teaching, willingness to learn and adapt, and genuine interest in the school and its community can set you apart as a strong and dedicated candidate.