If you’re interviewing for a teaching assistant position, you should be prepared to answer a few competency-based teaching assistant interview questions to show the interviewer that you possess the skills, experience and attributes necessary for the job.
What are competency-based interview questions?
Competency-based teaching assistant interview questions are those that ask you to provide an example of a time when you demonstrated a particular skill or ability in a similar role.
These types of questions are usually asked to assess whether or not you have the relevant skills and experience required for the TA post you’re applying for.
Competency-based questions can be tricky to answer, but there are some key things to keep in mind before giving an answer, these are:
- It’s important to have a clear understanding of the competency that is being asked for.
- You need to be able to provide a specific example that illustrates your ability to meet the competency.
- You need to be able to articulate the key lessons that you learned from the experience.
How to answer competency-based teaching assistant interview questions
When answering these questions, it is important to use the STAR technique. This stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Describe the situation you were in, the task you needed to complete, the actions you took, and the result of your actions.
This will help the interviewer understand not only what you did in the past, but also how you approached the situation and the type of results you were able to achieve from your actions.
22 Competency-based teaching assistant interview questions examples
1. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult student.
2. Describe a time when you had to go above and beyond to help a student.
3. Tell me about a time when you had to use your people skills to diffuse a tense situation.
4. Can you think of an instance where you had to use creative thinking to solve a problem?
5. Tell me about the most challenging academic material you’ve ever had to teach and how you made it easier for your students to understand.
6. Tell me about someone who was particularly difficult to work with and how you managed the situation.
7. Describe how you would handle it if one of your students was consistently disruptive in class and not following your instructions.
8. What would you do if a student came to you with a personal problem that was affecting their ability to focus on their studies?
9. Can you give me an example of when you utilized teamwork in order to achieve success?
10. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenging parent or guardian.
11. What would you do if two students got into a physical altercation in your classroom?
12. Tell me about a time when you had to manage a difficult situation.
13. How do you deal with students who are struggling in your class?
14. What methods do you use to keep your students engaged?
15. How would you deal with a situation where a student was not meeting your expectations?
16. What would you do if you were having difficulty managing a class?
17. How do you handle stress while working?
18. What would you do if you were having difficulty teaching a particular concept?
19. Can you give me an example of when you had to be patient with a student?
20. What do you do if a student asks for help outside of class?
21. Tell me about a time when you struggled with a particular concept while teaching.
22. Describe a time when you were faced with a challenging situation in class and how you overcame it.
Tip: The interviewer may also ask about your experience working with students of different ages and backgrounds, so be prepared to talk about any challenges or successes you have had in this area.
Wrapping up
While most of the competency-based teaching assistant interview questions above focus on technical abilities, you need to remember that a good teaching assistant is also patient, level-headed, and able to think on their feet.
In your interview, be sure to emphasize not only what you know but how well you can work with others and how calm you stay under pressure. With these questions and this attitude, you’ll be sure to land the TA position you’ve applied for. Good luck with your interview.
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