Teach for America Interview Questions & Reviews

Interview Details After submitting my initial application, I was told I was qualified enough to skip the phone interview and go directly to the in-person interview. At the in-person interview, I was asked to give a 5-minute lesson in any grade level/subject area. The interviewers cut you off once you hit the 5-minute mark. I then took a short quiz (very simple) and then participated in a group assessment, in which we had to problem-solve a school-level issue in 20 minutes. In the afternoon, I had my one-on-one interview with one of the two interviewers, in which I was asked to comment on my problem-solving experiences.

Negotiation Details – There is no negotiation with TFA- you are given a regional, grade level, and subject assignment and you can either accept or decline your offer. Salary is based on incoming teacher salary in the region, and negotiation with area principals is expressly forbidden by TFA.

Interview Details Several steps to interview process beyond the basic interviews (phone/in person interviews) that you have to complete online. Over the course of your application you have to fill out several questionnaires about readings and such that they provide. These will also be referenced in your in person interviews. Other deadlines: selecting cities to work, entering your entire school transcript manually, submitting an official transcript, etc. Occasionally webinars are provided to help your process

Reason for Declining – Research placement options before you add them to your list (see Seattle)

Interview Details Interview was set up to meet with 5 different people from different departments over the span of 4/5 hours in one sitting.
At the last minute two of the interviewers decided to sit together and ask questions, in the interest of saving time.

Interview Details The entire process is pretty straightforward. TFA doesn't have a set quota because there is such a lack of teachers so they will hire anyone that meets what they're looking for. You must respond to questions with TFA's values in mind. In the final interview, you have to teach a very short lesson, discuss a scenario with your group, and have a one-on-one interview with one of the interviewers (there were two). Everyone was very honest and friendly.

Interview Details The hiring process is long and extensive. After filling out all the online requirements, which include the basics and a statement, you proceed to the phone interview. The phone interview is short and tedious, but none of the questions are out of left field. The most difficult thing was the short amount of time given to get your points across.

Interview Details First is the initial application. This is pretty straightforward and requires a very short essay. Nothing too difficult. There was a short learning test but, again, not too hard. Pretty open-ended questions. Then came the phone interview, which was very formulaic. My interviewer didn't seem too enthusiastic and if I took too long to answer a question she would skip over it or rush me.

I was invited to the all-day in-person interview. I designed a 5-minute lesson plan and didn't go over my time! Yay! Some people were RIDICULOUSLY prepared, though. They went out and purchased a bunch of real classroom materials (posters with laminated velcro stick-ons) and one person even bought $4 American flags for everyone in the room. This is where my criticism begins. TFA very much favors a certain kind of person... the kind of person who goes to a private college, plans on going to law school (i.e. TFA is a grad school app-boost), has NO experience with TFA teachers (i.e. privileged) and is crazy anal about getting good grades. Probably was class president in high school, joined all the clubs on the first day and never came back.

That kind of person.

Don't get me wrong, there are some awesome people in TFA (including some of my good friends). But judging from the people at my interview who got in... that's how it works.

There's even an "early application" type thing they do with juniors at Ivy League schools.

Just saying.

The hardest part was the practice school board meeting. We were supposed to figure out how to get grades up without spending any more money. The result? A bunch of privileged kids practically foaming at the mouth and speaking over each other, whining about WHY COULDN'T PARENTS JUST BE MORE RESPONSIBLE AND GET INVOLVED WITH THEIR KIDS. Everyone was just rabid for their chance to talk. I talked once or twice, but as soon as I was done with my point the next person was just like "Yeah! Great idea! Anyway, back to my point...." It was like little kids kind of waving their hands in their air going "ooh! ooh!" without actually raising their hands. People were literally bouncing up and down in their seats.

In addition, they require you to dress very professionally. Which is fine, but again favoring people who have the money to buy professional clothes for a ONE DAY INTERVIEW. They even say you need panty hose. For guys, that means a suit, tie, dress shirt, dress shoes... which are all VERY expensive.

It's easier for girls; I just wore a semi-classy dress (I don't want to talk about the panty hose). I didn't think I'd get very far in the application process. To be honest, I don't really see myself as a teacher, but I had a bit of a "I NEED A JOB. NOW" phase when I applied. No hard feelings about not getting in. For me.

My boyfriend, on the other hand, was the perfect candidate. Or so I thought. He grew up with TFA teachers in his schools, was the first in his family to go to college, had a single-parent household way under the federal poverty line, had immigrant parents with elementary/middle school education, is bilingual, ridiculously smart, got good grades, wanted to be a teacher and has super good people skills (read: interview abilities) that I am insanely jealous of. Education major. Teaching and tutoring experience. Most well-read guy you've ever met.

He didn't get in.

The frantic Stanford junior who wore pearls and bragged about her new car and biophysics-economics double major, information systems minor and her Important Work with the Poor Children did get in.

Anyway, that (and the unorganized, kinda crappy way they run their training and support services for teachers, as I've heard from almost everyone I know who did get an offer) really ruined TFA for me. It seemed so idealistic, but I guess the support for underserved kids ends once they graduate. Then the privileged kids get accepted and hired, just like with any other job.

Interview Details online app with statement of interest, phone interview, online assignments, in person interview

Interview Details Online application, followed by a phone interview, some applicants are directly moved to the day-long final interview.
Final interview: 15 interviewees present, 2 interviewers.
Each applicant teaches a five minute lesson
Then there is an observed group activity.
Finally a 30 min. individual interview.

Interview Details The day of the interview you give a lesson. The interviewers will blurt out questions so be prepared to answer them. The group activity is used to see how you interact with other people and see how you think. The one on one interview can last anywhere from 15-45 minutes.