17 CTE Teacher Interview Questions and Answers

Career and technical education (CTE) teachers are responsible for helping students gain the essential skills they need to enter the workforce. They work in a wide range of industries, including business, health care, information technology, and manufacturing.

If you’re a CTE teacher, you know that the job interview process can be daunting. You may be asked questions about your teaching philosophy, your experience in the field, and your ability to work with students. To help you prepare, we’ve gathered some common CTE teacher interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the professional standards for your subject area?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you are familiar with the standards for your subject area and how they relate to your teaching. You can answer this question by explaining what professional standards are, which subjects have them and how you use them in your classroom.

Example: “Professional standards are a set of expectations that teachers should follow when it comes to their practice. For example, my subject has several standards that I am familiar with. One standard is that we must be knowledgeable about our subject matter and able to communicate effectively with students. Another standard is that we must maintain an organized classroom environment and keep accurate records of student progress.”

What are some of the most important skills that you try to teach your students?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your teaching philosophy. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention skills that are important for students to have in their future careers or life in general.

Example: “I believe that one of the most important skills I try to teach my students is how to communicate effectively with others. This skill is especially important when working on group projects and presentations. Another important skill I try to teach my students is time management. Learning how to manage their time well can help them stay organized and complete assignments on time.”

How do you handle a student who is struggling academically?

This question can help interviewers understand how you handle students who are struggling in the classroom. It is important to show that you have strategies for helping students succeed and encouraging them to work hard.

Example: “I try to meet with each student at least once a month to see how they’re doing in class. If I notice a student is having trouble, I will pull them aside during lunch or after school to talk about their progress. I also encourage my students to ask me questions when they don’t understand something so we can work on it together. For example, if a student asks me a question during class, I always answer it right away so they know I’m there to support them.”

What is your teaching style?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how it aligns with their school’s culture. When answering, think about the different approaches you’ve used in the past and which ones were most successful for your students.

Example: “I believe that every student learns differently, so I use a variety of teaching styles in my classroom. For example, when teaching math concepts, I like to start by explaining the basics and then give students time to work through problems on their own before checking in to see if they need help. This allows me to assess each student individually and provide them with the support they need. If a student is struggling, I’ll spend extra time going over the concept until they understand it.”

Provide an example of a lesson plan you have created.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you plan lessons. When answering, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of a lesson plan that you created for a previous class. You can describe the process you used to create the lesson plan and what steps you took to ensure students learned the material.

Example: “In my last position as an automotive teacher, I had to create lesson plans on short notice when teachers were absent or needed help with their classes. To do so, I would review the curriculum guide and look at past assignments to see which ones we hadn’t covered yet. Then, I would write out the objectives for each assignment and decide how I wanted to teach them. Finally, I would print copies of the lesson plan and handouts for the students.”

If a student was considering a career in your subject area, how would you help them prepare for it?

This question can help interviewers understand your teaching style and how you support students. You can use this opportunity to explain what steps you take to prepare students for their future careers, including any specific skills or knowledge you teach them that they might need in the workplace.

Example: “I believe it’s important to show my students the practical applications of the subjects we learn in class. I would start by asking them about their interests and passions so I could find ways to incorporate those into our lessons. For example, if a student expressed an interest in sports, I would look for opportunities to include information on different types of athletic training and coaching methods.”

What would you do if a parent was dissatisfied with their child’s progress in your class?

This question can give the interviewer insight into how you handle conflict and address parents’ concerns. In your answer, try to show that you value communication with parents and are willing to work with them to find solutions for their child’s progress.

Example: “I would first ask the parent what they think is causing their child’s lack of progress. I would then explain my expectations for students in the class and offer suggestions on how to help their child succeed. If a student is struggling in one particular subject, I will often recommend tutoring or other resources that may help them improve. I also encourage parents to contact me if they have any questions about their child’s progress so we can discuss it together.”

How well do you handle criticism?

This question can help interviewers determine how you respond to feedback and whether you’re open to making improvements. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific time when you received criticism and how you used the information to improve your teaching methods or classroom management skills.

Example: “I find that receiving constructive criticism is an important part of my growth as a teacher. I try to take every piece of feedback I receive seriously so I can learn from it and make changes in my teaching style. In my last position, I had a mentor who gave me weekly feedback on my lessons and techniques. After several weeks of this, I noticed some patterns in her feedback and was able to adjust my lesson plans accordingly.”

Do you have any additional certifications or licenses related to your subject area?

Employers may ask this question to learn more about your professional background. If you have any additional certifications or licenses, explain what they are and how they relate to teaching CTE courses.

Example: “I am a certified welding instructor through the American Welding Society. I earned this certification after completing an online course that included a written exam and hands-on training at a local welding shop. This certification has helped me develop my curriculum for welding classes in my previous position as a CTE teacher.”

When preparing for a new school year, how do you set goals for yourself and your students?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you plan for the school year. Use examples from past experiences to explain how you set goals, create a curriculum and manage classroom expectations.

Example: “I start planning for the new school year by creating an outline of what I want students to learn throughout the year. Then, I develop assessments that help me measure student progress. Throughout the year, I use these assessments to adjust my lessons as needed. For example, if I notice some students are struggling with a concept, I’ll spend extra time reviewing it in class or provide additional resources for them to practice.”

We want to attract students from a wide variety of backgrounds. How would you go about reaching out to students who might not normally take this subject?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you plan to reach out to students who might not be interested in your subject. Showcase your creativity and ability to connect with all types of students by explaining a few ways you would encourage these students to take your class.

Example: “I think it’s important to show students that CTE subjects are relevant to their lives, so I would start each class by asking them what they want to do when they graduate. This helps me get to know my students better while also showing them that this subject is something they can use in their future careers. Another way I would attract students is through hands-on activities. I find that many students enjoy learning more when they have an opportunity to apply what they’re learning.”

Describe your process for giving feedback to students on their assignments.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and how you provide feedback to students. When answering, it can be helpful to describe a specific example of when you gave feedback on an assignment or project and the impact that had on student learning.

Example: “I find that providing regular feedback is one of the most important parts of helping students understand their mistakes and improve their work. In my last role as a CTE teacher, I would give feedback on assignments at least once per week. This helped me ensure that students understood what they needed to do to earn a higher grade on their assignments. It also allowed them to ask questions about their work before submitting it for grading.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for a CTE teacher position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the position. They want to know what makes you a good fit for their school and how you can contribute to its success. When preparing your answer, think about what skills or experiences make you qualified for this role. Consider mentioning any certifications you have or previous teaching experience.

Example: “I am passionate about helping students find their passions and develop their talents. I believe that CTE programs are an excellent way to do this because they allow students to explore different career options while still in high school. In my last job, I helped create a new CTE program at my school. We started with just one class but eventually grew it into a full department. I would love to help your school achieve similar results.”

Which teaching methods do you prefer, and which do you tend to avoid?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching style and preferences. They want to know if you would be a good fit for their school’s culture, which is often based on the teacher’s methods. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention one or two of your favorite teaching methods and explain why they are effective. It can also be helpful to mention one or two methods that you don’t prefer so interviewers know what to avoid in the future.

Example: “I find that my students learn best when I am actively engaged with them. I like to use group discussions and hands-on activities to help students understand concepts. I tend to avoid lecturing because I feel like it doesn’t always provide enough opportunity for student engagement.”

What do you think is the most important thing that CTE teachers can do to help their students succeed after graduation?

This question can help interviewers understand your philosophy on teaching and how you plan to support students in their future endeavors. When answering this question, it can be helpful to discuss a specific skill or quality that you think is important for students to develop while they’re still in school.

Example: “I believe the most important thing CTE teachers can do to prepare students for life after graduation is to teach them skills that will help them succeed in the workplace. For example, I always make sure my students know how to write clearly and concisely because I feel like that’s an essential skill for any job. I also encourage my students to take as many math and science classes as possible so that they have more options when looking for a career.”

How often do you update your lesson plans?

The interviewer may ask this question to understand how often you update your lesson plans and the frequency of updates. This can help them determine if you are able to keep up with current trends in education, which is important for a CTE teacher. You should answer honestly about how often you update your lesson plans and what factors influence that process.

Example: “I try to update my lesson plans every month or two. I find that it’s helpful to do so when I have new resources or ideas for lessons. However, sometimes I don’t get around to updating them as frequently because I’m busy teaching classes. If I notice something missing from my lesson plan during class, I’ll take a few minutes to write down notes on an index card or piece of paper.”

There is a new industry standard that conflicts with what you’ve already taught your students this year. How do you handle this situation?

An interviewer may ask this question to understand how you handle change and whether or not you’re willing to adapt your teaching style. When answering, be honest about the steps you would take to ensure that students are prepared for industry standards when they graduate.

Example: “I believe it is important to prepare my students for what they will encounter in the real world. If there was a conflict between what I taught them and an industry standard, I would first research the new standard to see if it was something that could be applied to their current curriculum. If so, I would make sure to explain why we were changing our lesson plan and provide additional resources to help them learn the new material. If the standard conflicted with what I had already taught them, I would find a way to incorporate both into their learning experience.”