Job Interview Questions, Answers, and Tips To Prepare

Preparing for a job interview can be a daunting task, but with the right preparation, you can feel confident and ready to impress your potential employer. In this guide, we'll cover some of the most common job interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them effectively.

First, it's important to research the company and the position you're interviewing for. This will help you tailor your responses to fit the company culture and show that you understand the role you're applying for. It's also helpful to practice your responses to common interview questions beforehand, so you can feel more comfortable and confident during the actual interview.

Here are some common job interview questions, along with suggestions for how you might answer them:

1. "Tell me about yourself." This is an opportunity for you to give a brief overview of your background, education, and relevant work experience. Keep your answer concise and focused, and try to highlight your skills and accomplishments that are most relevant to the job you're applying for.

2. "Why do you want to work for this company?" When answering this question, it's important to do your research on the company and its culture, mission, and values. Talk about what you admire about the company and how you align with its goals and values. You can also mention any specific projects or initiatives that you're excited to be a part of.

3. "What are your strengths?" When discussing your strengths, be specific and provide examples to back up your claims. Avoid listing general qualities like "I'm a hard worker" or "I'm a good team player," and instead focus on specific skills or achievements that demonstrate your strengths.

4. "What are your weaknesses?" It's okay to admit that you have weaknesses, but be sure to frame your answer in a positive way. For example, you might say something like, "I tend to be a perfectionist, which can sometimes hold me back from meeting deadlines. However, I'm working on time management skills and setting more realistic expectations for myself to overcome this weakness."

5. "How do you handle stress or pressure?" When answering this question, it's important to demonstrate that you can handle stress in a healthy and productive way. Talk about the strategies you use to manage stress, such as taking breaks, setting priorities, or seeking support from colleagues or supervisors.

Some tips to prepare for a job interview:

1. Research the company and the role you're applying for.

2. Practice common interview questions with a friend or family member.

3. Dress appropriately for the interview and arrive on time.

4. Bring copies of your resume and any other relevant documents.

5. Prepare examples of your work or accomplishments that demonstrate your skills and experience.

6. Be honest and authentic, and don't be afraid to ask questions.

7. Thank the interviewer for their time and follow up with a thank-you note or email after the interview.

What Is a Bait and Switch Interview?

Whether you call it a proxy interview, fake interview or bait and switch job interview, the practice of misrepresenting who you are during an interview is a form of interview fraud.

If you’ve never heard of a bait and switch job interview, it may be because the practice was fairly rare in the past. But according to Matt Erhard, the managing partner of recruiting firm Summit Search Group, the unethical practice of having someone stand in for you as a proxy during an interview is becoming more common during the hiring process.

“It’s something that’s become more of an issue as remote and virtual interviews have become more widespread,” Erhard says.

What Is a Bait and Switch Job Interview?

A bait and switch interview – also sometimes called a proxy interview, fake interview or interview fraud – is the practice of a potential employee hiring someone to be their stand-in during the interview process, according to trial attorney Allan M. Siegel, founder of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata Siegel, P.C.

Siegel notes that while proxy interviewing may seem harmless when you're still providing all of your correct information, it’s still considered bait and switch interviewing and is dishonest. You should thus be aware that this practice is not an acceptable one in any industry.

“Whether someone believes they're too awkward or inexperienced to complete a successful interview, having someone pretend to be you during an interview is fraudulent,” Siegel says.

What Jobs Are Targeted by Bait and Switch?

Certain types of jobs are more likely than others to be the target of this kind of scam – and bait and switch scammers have varying motivations for their actions.

“Some are simply trying to cheat the system and make it easier to get a job, but others have more malicious intents to gain access to company systems and cause trouble once they’re there,” Erhard says. “Roles with access to customer or company financial data, or other proprietary and sensitive information, are the most at risk for this second type of scam.”

Erhard says that for all types of scam candidates, remote positions in general have a higher risk than hybrid or in-person jobs because it’s easier to pull off this kind of deception remotely. Brigid Davey, who is the general manager of marketing at the money lending site Nimble, agrees, stressing that it’s “easier than ever” to pull off a bait and switch, with more and more companies conducting job interviews via video chat and hiring remote employees.

“Phone interviews are the easiest to forge,” Davey says. “Applicants would only need to find a stand-in who sounds similar to them. Meanwhile, on-camera interviews can be faked by claiming that the webcam is broken, sticking a tape to partially obscure the view of the camera lens or using digital blurring.”

Other industries and positions commonly targeted by proxy scams include IT positions, nonmanagerial roles and noncreative jobs, resulting in unqualified hires potentially gaining access to critical infrastructure, according to Davey.

How to Identify a Fake Interviewee

How can a hiring manager verify the identity of a potential new hire to identify a fake interviewee? Since phone interviews are the easiest for scammers to get through undetected, Erhard recommends shifting to video.

“Given the ample videoconferencing tools that are now available, it’s very easy to replace phone interviews with a video call,” he says. “This doesn’t eliminate the risk of scammers, but it makes things more difficult for them.”

As part of this process, you can ask the candidate not to use any backgrounds, filters or other camera alterations during their interview, and to use their computer’s speakers rather than a headset.

“This cuts down on the ways they could be fed information from someone off-screen,” Erhard says. To help identify a fake interviewee, another easy preventative measure that he recommends is to have the person send a scan of their photo ID as part of their application materials – then ask them to show that same ID on camera beside their face at the start of a video interview.

“While it’s possible for scammers to forge an ID, it’s an extra step a lot of them won’t want to put the effort into – as a rule, scammers go after low-hanging fruit,” Erhard says.

Other ways to spot phony interviewees include making sure hiring teams are doing their due diligence to verify candidates beyond the application and interview. To that end, Erhard suggests the following strategies:

Always call references for remote candidates. Go beyond just calling the references the interviewee provides by also following up with the companies listed on their resume. Verify they actually worked there in the position and time span they list.

Explore their social media pages, especially LinkedIn. Look at the pictures on these platforms, which can help confirm whether the person on-camera was who they said they were. Siegel too notes the importance of this method. “If the potential employee you're interviewing is providing information that doesn't match up with their online profiles, such as LinkedIn, they might be proxy interviewing,” Siegel says.

Look for red flags. “If they worked at a company for multiple years, they should logically have other people from that company among their contacts,” Erhard says. “If they don’t, and they otherwise seem active on the platform, this could be a sign of an issue – either they’re making up their employment or they didn’t make any professional connections during their time there, and either way that’s not a good sign.”

How Should Employers Handle Interview Fraud?

If you miss the signs of a fake interview candidate and do end up hiring a fake interviewee, Erhard explains that the first step of fixing the situation should be immediate termination. “Regardless of their aims with the scam, you cannot trust that individual as an employee, and that means they shouldn’t be employed in your company,” he says.

Once you’ve removed them, the next step is to have someone review the work and activity they did at your company to see if anything problematic resulted from it – especially if they handled sensitive information or systems.

“Do this as soon as possible and document everything, even if it doesn’t seem like anything was amiss,” Erhard says. “Hopefully you won’t need to use that documentation, but having it will be an asset if the employee tries to claim unemployment or wrongful termination – or if they did steal data or commit other criminal acts.”

Are There Any Legal Consequences to Bait and Switch Interviews?

Is it illegal to bait and switch a job? Ben Michael, an attorney at Michael & Associates, pointed out the difficulty of taking legal action against a bait and switch interviewee.

“Legally speaking, it can be hard to pin down interview fraudsters with anything specific – unless money has changed hands or they've signed or submitted documents claiming to be someone they're not,” Michael says. “In the vast majority of cases, these kinds of people are caught as soon as someone else shows up to the first day of work, in which case the best course for the company is to simply fire them and blacklist them.”

Michael added that in cases where an employee falsely represents themselves and then actually does paying work for the company for a while before being caught – for example, while working remotely – companies may have a case for legal action. “Anyone discovered attempting interview fraud wouldn't be hired, or would be fired if they made it through the interview process, and would likely be blackballed in the industry,” Siegel says.

The Best High Paying Careers in Education

 

The potential careers in Education and training are so varied that deciding which path to take might, at first, be intimidating or simply confusing. Our intention with this article is to give you some clarity and help you individuate which education careers best suit your professional skills and aspirations.

Workers in education and training share information and knowledge through teaching. Employment in education, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), is projected to grow 7%, translating to over 650,000 new jobs in the next decade and over 900,000 openings each year. While becoming a teacher is the most obvious career in education, it is also only one of the many roles in this industry.

Even though most careers in education require a bachelor’s degree or higher, it is possible to find opportunities even if you haven’t graduated college. Choosing a career in education means putting yourself, your knowledge and skills in service of others, truly making a difference in their lives. Whether you decide to become a teacher, counselor, social worker, tutor, or administrator, training and education careers are among the most rewarding there can be.

Let’s have a look at the most sought-after and highest paying careers in education and training.

Best High Paying Careers in Education and Training

Art Teacher

Art teachers are professional artists who teach students how to understand and produce arts. They can work in elementary and secondary schools, private institutions, and other settings with young and adult students. Besides a great passion and talent for the arts, an art teacher needs to have great active listening and effective communication skills, be patient, organized and creative.

The educational qualifications to be an art teacher vary from institution to institution, but most schools require at least a two-year art teacher diploma. The average salary for art teachers in the U.S. is $44,394 per year and in high-demand job locations like New York and Boston this increases to $51,768 and $54,133 respectively.

Browse all art teacher jobs available on Monster.

Childcare / Preschool Teacher

Amongst careers in early childhood education, childcare and preschool teachers are in charge of the care and education of children younger than five years old. They teach them basic skills, plan curriculums, organize activities and work in groups or one-on-one to help children learn through playing, problem solving, and experimenting.

To pursue such careers in education in most U.S. states and employment settings you must have an associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood education or a related field. Employment for childcare and preschool teachers in the United States is projected to grow 15%, which is much faster than the average. The salary for preschool teachers in the U.S. averages $12.84 per hour and in high-demand job locations like Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA this increases to $15.19 and $15.85 respectively.

Browse all preschool teacher jobs available on Monster.

Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher

Kindergarten and elementary school teachers welcome young minds into the school system and prepare them for middle school. They teach students the basics of subjects like reading, science, and math, but also how to interact, communicate with others, follow behavioral rules, and overcome learning challenges.

A bachelor’s degree in elementary education is typically required to pursue careers in education like kindergarten or elementary school teacher, however requirements vary by state and classroom setting. The median salary for elementary teachers in the U.S. is $43,039 per year and in high-demand job locations like Dallas, TX and Modesto, CA it increases to $49,337 and $57,744 respectively.

Browse all kindergarten teacher jobs and elementary school teacher jobs available on Monster.

Middle School and High School Teacher

Careers in education as a middle school or high school teacher involves planning lessons, instructing and grading students’ work in the subject you teach and supporting them in overcoming specific learning challenges. These teachers also communicate progress to the students’ caretakers, and work in synergy with other teachers and staff to provide a great school environment.

To become a middle school or high school teacher you typically need to have at least a bachelor’s degree and to acquire a teaching license. Requirements, however, vary by state and whether you decided to work in public or private schools. The national average salary of middle school and high school teachers is $44,859 per year and in cities like San Antonio, TX and Los Angeles, CA goes up to over $50,000 per year.

Browse all high school teacher jobs available on Monster.

Higher Education Professor

Post-secondary professors plan lessons, provide support and teach graduate and undergraduate students in colleges, universities, and technical schools. They can teach one or more courses, but their duties can also go beyond teaching. In this position, you can also publish research papers, conduct experiments, supervise graduate teaching assistants, and advise students.

Most college and higher education professors typically hold a doctorate or master’s degree in their field. However, exceptions exist for careers in higher education. Even celebrities nowadays serve as college professors in their field of expertise. Employment for higher education teachers is projected to grow 12% in the next decade. The median salary for college professors and instructors in the U.S. is $57,473 per year and can reach over $90,000 per year in high-demand job locations.

Browse all higher education jobs available on Monster.

Special Education Teacher

Completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree program is the main path to become a special education teacher in the United States. However, mainly due to a special education staffing shortage, in certain U.S. states there are also alternative pathways. For example, in Washington State, a temporary out-of-endorsement assignment or a pre-endorsement waiver can be enough to obtain a special education teaching position.

To be a great special education teacher, it is important to have impeccable communication and listening skills, adaptability, compassion, and patience. The national average salary for special education teachers is $20.44 per hour and in cities like Boston, MA and New York, NY this rises to over $25 per hour.

Browse all special education jobs available on Monster.

Teacher Assistant

One of the most needed and important careers in education are teacher assistants. The main role of teacher assistants is to help teachers monitor students’ progress. They are also called teacher aides or paraprofessionals and often work with special education students, but always under the guidance of a licensed teacher.

Education requirements to work as a teacher assistant vary, but to find employment in public schools you usually need to have at least an associate degree and obtain a teacher assistant license. The hourly estimated teacher assistant salary in the U.S. ranges from $10.85 to $17.63 depending on the employment location. Cities offering teacher assistants a salary above the average include Las Vegas, NV at $15.52 per hour and Boston, MA at $16.71 per hour.

Browse all teacher assistant jobs available on Monster.

Childcare / Preschool Director

Careers in education such as a childcare or preschool director require first and foremost being a passionate educator who believes in unleashing each and every child's potential. You also need to be a leader for the team of educators, motivate and support them, and make sure that every class has a safe, healthy, and nurturing environment.

While requirements to assume this role might vary, a bachelor’s degree in education is preferred and several years of working the field are required. The yearly estimated salary for childcare and preschool directors in the U.S. averages $41,635 and ranges from $27,154 to $56,457 depending on where the job is located.

Browse all preschool director jobs available on Monster.

Substitute Teacher

Substitute teachers are flexible educators, ready on an as-needed basis to fill in when regular teachers are unavailable. Substitute teaching is one of those careers in education where the requirements vary from state to state and change often.

The bare minimum education requirement to work as substitute teacher is a high school diploma or GED. However, having a bachelor’s degree is preferred and in many employment settings is in fact necessary. The average salary for a substitute teacher in the U.S. is $30,807 per year but can range from $23,710 to $49,541 per year depending on the employment location.

Browse all substitute teacher jobs available on Monster.

School Nurse

Being a school nurse is more than providing first aid care and health assessments to students. Its helping with preventative care, educating students and staff, writing health plans, having excellent organization skills, empathy, patience, and the ability to keep calm in stressful situations.

School nurses also consult with teachers and parents on how they can better care for students’ needs, symptoms, and illnesses. The average salary for school nurses in the U.S. is $58,072 per year and in high demand job locations like Pasadena and Boston increases to $72,751 and $66,923 respectively.

Browse all school nurse jobs available on Monster.

School Counselor

School counselors, also called school advisors, help students make choices regarding their academic needs. As a school counselor you might focus solely on certain groups, like new or foreign students, particular areas of need such as, academic success or post-secondary and career advice.

This is one of those careers in education where candidates need to have a master’s or doctoral degree to be considered for employment in most U.S. states and work environments. For school and career counselors and advisors, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics foresee a faster than average job growth (10%). The yearly estimated salary for school counselors in the U.S. averages $42,734 and ranges from $31,300 to $58,233 depending on where the job is located.

Browse all school counselor jobs available on Monster.

School Superintendent

School superintendents’ main job is to direct and supervise all of a school district’s matters and workforce. They work closely with the school board to implement decisions about educational programs, expenditures, staff, and facilities.

While requirements to become a school superintendent slightly vary from state to state, most individuals hold a PhD in Education and have several years of experience in the field as teacher or school principal. The average salary for school superintendents in the U.S. is $94,835 per year but can range from $49,237 to $141,420. High-demand job locations include San Antonio, TX and New York, NY.

Browse all school superintendent jobs available on Monster.

School Social Worker

School social workers are trained mental health professionals that provide services to students within the school system. Their main duty is to help students with social withdrawal, aggressive behavior, absenteeism, and other issues caused by physical, emotional, and economic problems. When working with older students, a school social worker can also educate students about substance abuse and sexuality.

While a bachelor’s degree in social work might be enough to find employment as school social worker, a master’s degree is preferred and recommended by the National Association of Social Work (NASW). The Monster salary tool reports that school social workers in U.S. earn a median salary of $51,254 per year in a range between $33,632 to $69,199 per year. High-demand job locations include Chicago, IL and Phoenix, AZ.

Browse all social work jobs available on Monster.

School Librarian

School librarians maintain and promote the school library’s collection and services and manage daily operations, like assisting students in the use of library materials. They also help plan events in the library, like story time and crafts projects.

Requirements to work as a school librarian in the U.S. vary from state to state but in most you typically need a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median salary for librarians in the U.S. is $47,937 per year and in high-demand job locations like Washington, DC and Boston, MA the average goes up to $62,572 and $56,940 per year respectively.

Browse all school librarian jobs available on Monster.

Other Administrator Careers in Education

Besides the superintendent, careers in education as school administrators include roles like principal, assistant principal, dean of students, dean of admissions, provost, and department chair. School administrators provide leadership and oversee matters relating to academic programs and students’ admissions, recruitment, retention, and success.

Monster’s salary tool reports that elementary and secondary school administrators across the country earn a median salary of $50,434 per year. School principal and assistant principal salaries average over $70,000 per year, while provosts’ salaries average more than $90,000 per year.

Browse all provost jobs and school jobs available on Monster.

Discover Plentiful Careers in Education Awaiting You on Monster

Whether you’ve already chosen or are still unsure which education career is right for you, joining Monster will help you find employment faster and easier. Creating a profile on our website is completely free and so is uploading your resume to our database. We’ll share your profile with tons of hiring professionals and companies looking for new staff. As a member, you can also activate alerts to receive updates from us when new jobs in your preferred locations and fields are available.