How to Ace Your International School Interview

Landing a teaching position at an international school in China is competitive, but with thoughtful preparation, you can stand out from other candidates and secure your dream role. The interview process is your opportunity to demonstrate not just your teaching skills but your cultural adaptability, professional presence, and genuine enthusiasm for international education.

What Does the Interview Process Typically Look Like?

Most international schools follow a multi-stage interview process ^[1]. Initial screening involves resume review and often a brief phone or video call to confirm basic qualifications and interest. The first formal interview runs 30 to 60 minutes and typically involves HR or your potential department head. Many schools require a demo lesson of 15 to 30 minutes where you teach a short lesson to demonstrate your classroom presence. A final interview with the principal or head of school often follows successful earlier rounds. Reference checks happen before any offer is extended.

Some schools condense these stages into one or two rounds while more prestigious institutions may have four or five rounds. Understanding that the process takes time helps manage expectations and reduces anxiety about waiting for responses between stages.

How Should You Prepare Before the Interview?

Thorough research demonstrates genuine interest and helps you ask informed questions. Study the school's website carefully, noting their mission statement, core values, and curriculum approach whether IB, AP, British, or another system ^[1]. Check their social media for recent events and insights into school culture. Search for news articles about the school including accreditation status, awards, or recent developments. Reading teacher reviews on sites like International Schools Review provides valuable insider perspectives, though take individual reviews with appropriate skepticism.

Reviewing your own application materials is equally important. Interviewers have read your resume and cover letter, so you should be able to expand on every point listed with specific examples and details. Prepare stories that illustrate your achievements with concrete evidence. Know dates, names, and context for all past positions so you don't stumble on basic factual questions.

For video interviews, which are common in international hiring, technical preparation matters enormously. Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection the day before. Choose a quiet location with a neutral, uncluttered background. Position yourself facing a light source for good visibility. Have a backup plan ready such as a phone hotspot or alternative device. Close unnecessary applications to prevent notification sounds from interrupting the conversation.

What Questions Should You Expect?

Questions about your teaching philosophy probe how you think about education at a fundamental level ^[2]. Interviewers want to understand your approach to differentiation for diverse learners, your classroom management philosophy, how you integrate technology meaningfully, and what student-centered learning actually looks like in your classroom. Prepare thoughtful, specific answers rather than generic educational platitudes.

Experience-based questions ask you to demonstrate your skills through concrete examples. Be ready to walk through a successful lesson you taught recently with details about objectives, activities, and outcomes. Prepare a story about handling a challenging student situation that shows both empathy and effectiveness. Think through how you assess student learning beyond just tests and grades. Consider your experience with specific curricula the school uses.

Questions about international teaching assess your cultural readiness. Why China specifically, rather than other international destinations? How have you adapted to new cultural environments in the past? What challenges do you anticipate and what strategies will you use to handle them? How would you support English language learners in your classroom? What will you contribute to the school community beyond your teaching responsibilities?

Situational questions test your judgment and problem-solving ^[2]. A parent complains their child isn't being sufficiently challenged—how do you respond? Two students have a conflict that disrupts your classroom—what steps do you take? You disagree with a school policy—how do you handle it professionally? These questions have no single right answer but reveal how you think through complex situations.

How Should You Structure Your Answers?

The STAR method provides an effective framework for behavioral questions ^[1]. Start with the Situation to briefly set context. Explain the Task or your responsibility in that situation. Describe the Action you took, focusing most of your answer here on what you specifically did. Share the Result including outcomes and what you learned.

For example, when asked about improving student engagement, you might explain that in your previous school you noticed fifth graders were disengaged during reading lessons. Your task was to increase participation and reading comprehension scores. You implemented literature circles with student choice books, gamified vocabulary learning with a points system, and started a class book club that met weekly. Engagement visibly increased, student enthusiasm for reading grew, and your class reading scores improved 15 percent over the academic year. This structure keeps answers focused and demonstrates concrete impact.

What Makes a Demo Lesson Successful?

Schools use demo lessons to observe your actual teaching presence, not just hear you talk about teaching ^[1]. They watch how you capture and maintain student attention. They evaluate whether students understand what they're learning and why. They look for how you differentiate for different learners and check for understanding throughout the lesson. Your confidence, warmth, and professionalism all factor into their assessment.

Preparation makes the difference between a good demo lesson and a great one. Ask about your audience beforehand including age level, approximate ability range, and any English language learner considerations. Keep the lesson content simple so you can focus on execution rather than complicated material. Even in video demonstrations where you can't see actual students, design interactive elements and pause points for responses. Prepare clear visual materials and practice smooth screen sharing for virtual demos. Rehearse the timing since demo lessons often have strict limits. Most importantly, let your authentic teaching personality come through rather than performing a stilted version of what you think they want.

What Questions Should You Ask the Interviewers?

Thoughtful questions demonstrate genuine interest and help you evaluate whether the school is right for you ^[2]. About the role, you might ask what success looks like for this position in the first year, what team you would be working with, what professional development opportunities exist, and what typical class sizes are. About the school more broadly, ask how they would describe the school culture, what priorities the school has for the coming year, and how the school supports new teachers in adapting to life in China.

Avoid asking about salary and benefits during early interview rounds since these conversations belong in the offer stage. Don't ask questions easily answered by browsing the school website. Focus on questions that show you're thinking seriously about how to contribute and succeed in the role.

What Should You Do on Interview Day?

For video interviews, join five minutes early to verify your connection is working. Dress professionally including your full outfit, not just the visible parts, since you may need to stand or adjust your position. Have notes nearby for reference but avoid reading from them directly since maintaining eye contact with your camera matters. Speak clearly and at a moderate pace, allowing for potential audio lag. Convey enthusiasm through your tone and facial expressions since energy translates differently through video.

For in-person interviews, arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Bring copies of your resume, certificates, and any portfolio materials. Dress professionally with business casual as the minimum standard. Greet everyone warmly including administrative staff, who often provide feedback to hiring managers. Tour the school with genuine curiosity, asking questions about facilities, resources, and daily life. Thank each interviewer by name before leaving.

What Should You Do After the Interview?

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours of your interview ^[1]. Reference specific conversation points to show you were engaged and listening. Reiterate your interest in the position and briefly mention why you believe you'd be a good fit. Keep the message concise at three to four sentences.

Ask about their timeline at the end of your interview so you know when to expect a response. If you haven't heard back after the stated timeline has passed, one polite follow-up inquiry is appropriate. Continue applying to other positions while waiting since putting all your hopes on one school creates unnecessary pressure. If this school remains your first choice, don't accept another offer immediately without giving them an opportunity to respond.

What Warning Signs Should You Watch For?

Remember that interviews work both ways—you're evaluating the school as much as they're evaluating you ^[2]. Be cautious if interviewers give vague answers about salary, benefits, or contract terms. High teacher turnover without clear explanation may indicate problems. Pressure to accept immediately without time to consider suggests desperation or dysfunction. Negative comments about current or former staff reveal a potentially toxic culture. Unwillingness to connect you with current teachers for honest conversations about the school should raise concerns.

Trust your instincts. If something feels off during the interview process, that feeling often proves accurate.

What Mistakes Should You Avoid?

Not researching the school or curriculum thoroughly is immediately apparent to interviewers and suggests lack of genuine interest. Speaking negatively about former employers, colleagues, or students always reflects poorly on you regardless of circumstances. Giving generic theoretical answers rather than specific examples fails to distinguish you from other candidates. Ignoring the cultural context of teaching in China suggests you haven't thought seriously about the transition. Arriving without questions to ask signals disengagement. Technical problems in video interviews due to lack of preparation create a poor impression of your professionalism.

What Attitude Leads to Success?

The best interviews feel like conversations between professionals who are mutually evaluating fit rather than interrogations or performances. Prepare thoroughly so you can relax and be authentically yourself. Show genuine curiosity about the school and role. Let your passion for teaching and learning come through naturally. Demonstrate that you've thought seriously about what teaching in China involves and why you want this specific opportunity.

You have valuable skills and experiences to offer. The interview is simply your chance to help the school understand what you bring and whether there's a mutual fit. Approach it with confidence, preparation, and genuine interest, and you'll put your best self forward.