19 Great Minds Interview Questions and Answers

Asking the right questions during a job interview is key to landing the position you want. But what if you don’t know what the right questions are?

If you’re interviewing for a position at Great Minds, you’re in luck. We’ve compiled a list of the most common Great Minds interview questions, along with sample answers to help you prepare for your interview.

Whether you’re interviewing for a position in education, research, or administration, these questions will give you a better idea of what to expect during your interview.

Great Minds Interview Process

The interview process at Great Minds can vary depending on the position you are applying for. However, most positions will require you to complete a vetting task, which can take several hours to complete. You may also be asked to do a writing test or project. The interview process can be lengthy, but it is important to be patient and follow instructions carefully.

1. How do you think your background fits with the role of Education Specialist?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you have done some research on the company and its values. It also gives them an idea of how your background might fit with their organization’s culture. When answering this question, try to highlight any similarities between yourself and the company.

Example: “I think my background fits perfectly with the role of Education Specialist at Great Minds because I am passionate about education reform and innovation in the classroom. My experience working as a teacher for over ten years has given me valuable insight into what works and doesn’t work when it comes to teaching methods. I believe that my passion for education and commitment to student success make me the right person for this position.”

2. What is something that has stood out to you about this company?

This question is a great way to show your interest in the company and its values. It also gives you an opportunity to highlight something that may not be obvious from their website or social media accounts.

Example: “I was really impressed by how much this organization focuses on supporting teachers. I think it’s important for education organizations to support educators, as they are the ones who have the most impact on students’ learning experiences. I’m excited to join Great Minds because of its commitment to providing resources and opportunities for teachers.”

3. Why are you interested in a career in education?

This question is a great way to show your passion for education and the impact you want to have on students. When answering this question, it can be helpful to talk about what inspired you to become an educator or how you’ve seen your own teachers positively influence your life.

Example: “I’m passionate about education because I know firsthand how much of an impact a teacher can make in a student’s life. My high school English teacher was one of my biggest inspirations, and she encouraged me to pursue writing as a career. She always made class fun and interesting, and her enthusiasm helped me develop a love for learning that has stayed with me throughout my life.”

4. Tell me about a time when you had an unhappy customer, how did you handle it?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you handle conflict and criticism. This is a great opportunity to show your problem-solving skills, communication abilities and empathy for others.

Example: “I once had a parent who was unhappy with their child’s progress in my class. They were concerned that I wasn’t challenging the students enough. I met with them after school hours so they could have all of my attention. We talked about their concerns and what we can do to help their child succeed. In the end, they felt much better about their child’s education.”

6. How have you dealt with difficult coworkers and/or clients in the past?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your interpersonal skills and how you’ve handled conflict in the past. When answering, it can be helpful to provide specific examples of how you resolved conflicts with coworkers or clients and what steps you took to improve relationships.

Example: “In my previous role as a teacher’s aide, I had a coworker who was constantly late for work. This made it difficult for me to complete my tasks on time because I would have to cover for them when they were absent. After talking to them about their tardiness, they agreed to set an alarm so that they could arrive at work on time. They also started working later in the day so that I didn’t have to stay late to finish all of my tasks.”

7. Do you have any experience working with K-12 students as well as teachers and administrators?

This question is a great way to show your experience working with different types of people and how you can collaborate with them. If you have worked in education before, describe the roles you had and what you learned from each one.

Example: “I’ve worked as an elementary school teacher for five years now, and I also served as my school’s PTA president for two years. In both positions, I learned that it’s important to work together with teachers and parents to ensure students are getting the best education possible. As a result, I developed strong communication skills and became more comfortable speaking in front of large groups.”

8. Do you have any experience with sales?

This question can help an interviewer determine if you have any experience with marketing or advertising. If you do, they may ask you to describe a time when you used your sales skills to promote a product or service.

Example: “I worked as a part-time sales associate at a local department store while I was in college. My manager asked me to work the cosmetics counter because of my passion for makeup and skin care products. She knew that I would be able to connect with customers and make them feel comfortable asking questions about our products. I enjoyed working there so much that I became one of the top sellers on the floor.”

9. If hired what would be one thing that you could bring to Great Minds?

This question is a great way to show your enthusiasm for the position and how you can contribute to the organization. When answering this question, it’s important to be specific about what you would do if hired and why that would benefit Great Minds.

Example: “I think I could bring my experience as an educator who has worked with students of all ages and abilities. I’ve seen firsthand how effective Great Minds’ curriculum is at teaching children in both traditional and non-traditional settings. If hired, I would use my knowledge of the curriculum to help other educators implement it into their classrooms.”

10. What kind of work environment are you most comfortable in?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’ll be happy in their workplace. They want employees who will fit into the culture and work well with others. When answering, think about what kind of environment you’ve worked in before that was most comfortable for you. Explain why it’s a good fit for you.

Example: “I’m most comfortable in an open-concept office space where I can collaborate with my colleagues. In my last job, we had large tables where everyone could sit together and discuss projects. It made me feel like we were all on the same team working toward the same goal. I also really enjoy being able to see my manager when I need help or have questions.”

11. Have you ever helped develop curriculum before?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your experience with curriculum development. If you have, explain what the process was like and how it helped students. If you haven’t, talk about your interest in developing curriculum and how you would approach the task if given the opportunity.

Example: “I’ve never had the opportunity to develop curriculum before, but I am very interested in doing so. I think that curriculum development is a great way for teachers to collaborate on their lesson plans and ensure they’re teaching the most relevant information to their students. I would love to help create curriculum that’s both engaging and informative.”

12. We want our employees to be able to work independently, are you comfortable with that?

This question is a great way to determine how well you can work independently and if you are comfortable with that. When answering this question, it’s important to show the interviewer that you understand what working independently means and that you have experience doing so.

Example: “I am very comfortable working independently because I’ve done it for most of my career. In fact, when I was in college, I worked as an independent contractor for a marketing firm where I had to create content on a regular basis without any guidance from anyone else. It was challenging at first but I got used to it quickly.”

13. Give us an example of how you built trust or credibility with someone at work.

When answering this question, it can be helpful to think of a time when you had to build trust with someone at work. This is an important skill for any leader or manager because they must often convince their team members that they are making the right decisions and have their best interests in mind.

Example: “When I first started my current role as a school principal, there was some tension between teachers and administrators. The previous principal had been very strict about dress code and other policies, so I wanted to make sure everyone knew that I would be more approachable. I scheduled coffee hours every morning before school started where anyone could come talk to me about anything.”

14. Tell us why you want to work here.

Employers ask this question to learn more about your interest in their organization. They want to know that you’ve done some research on the company and have a good idea of what it offers its employees. When preparing for this interview, read through the job description and highlight any aspects that appeal to you. Think about why those things are important to you and how they relate to your own career goals.

Example: “I’m very interested in working at Great Minds because I believe strongly in the importance of early education. As someone who has worked with children for many years, I understand the challenges teachers face when trying to engage young minds. I think my experience as an educator would be beneficial to your team. I’d love to help develop new programs that support students’ learning.”

15. What type of management style works best for you?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you might fit into their organization. If they’re looking for a leader, they may want someone who prefers to be in charge of the classroom and makes decisions on behalf of students. If they’re looking for someone to support a teacher’s leadership style, they may prefer someone who is more hands-off.

Example: “I believe that every student learns differently, so I try to adapt my management style based on each individual student. For example, if one student needs more structure than another, I’ll provide them with clear expectations and consequences for not meeting those expectations. However, if another student seems to need more freedom to explore ideas, I’ll give them space to do so.”

16. What experience do you have leading others?

This question can help an interviewer understand your leadership style and how you’ve developed it. When answering, consider what skills you use to lead others and the results of those skills.

Example: “In my last position as a high school English teacher, I led a team of five other teachers who taught different subjects but collaborated on projects with students. We met weekly to discuss our progress and challenges, and we used that time to brainstorm solutions and delegate tasks. This experience helped me learn how to communicate effectively with others and develop strategies for leading a group.”

17. What is the difference between teaching and instructing?

Instructing is a teaching method that focuses on the process of giving students direct instruction. Instructing involves explaining concepts and procedures to students in an easy-to instruct format. Teaching, however, is more than just instructing. It’s about inspiring students to learn for themselves and helping them develop critical thinking skills.

Example: “Instructing is when you give your students information directly. For example, if I were to teach my class how to solve a quadratic equation, I would instruct them by telling them exactly what steps they need to take to solve it. However, teaching is much more than just instructing. In order to be a good teacher, you have to inspire your students to want to learn. You also have to help them develop their own critical thinking skills so they can apply what they’ve learned to other situations.”

18. Describe a time where you had to make a decision on behalf of a client.

This question is a great way to assess your problem-solving skills and ability to make decisions. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe the steps you took to reach a decision that benefited your client.

Example: “When I was working as an event planner, one of my clients asked me if they could have their wedding ceremony at midnight. At first, I thought this request was strange, but after talking with them about why they wanted to get married at night, I realized that they were both avid astronomers who wanted to see the stars during their special day. We ended up having the ceremony at sunset, which allowed us to capture beautiful photos of the couple while the sun was still out.”

19. What was the last book you read (preferably related to education)?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you are a lifelong learner. They want to know that you’re committed to improving your skills and knowledge, which can help them understand how you might contribute to the organization’s goals.

Example: “I just finished reading ‘The Element’ by Ken Robinson. It was an interesting read about creativity in education and how we can foster it in our students. I think it would be beneficial for all of us to learn more about ways to encourage creative thinking.”

20. Tell us about a time when you had to overcome adversity in the workplace.

When answering this question, it can be helpful to provide specific examples of how you overcame the adversity and what you learned from the experience.

Example: “In my first teaching position, I was assigned to a class with students who had behavioral issues. At first, I struggled to find ways to manage the classroom effectively while also maintaining control over the students. After speaking with other teachers about their strategies for managing challenging classrooms, I implemented some of those techniques into my own classroom management plan. The result was an improvement in student behavior and overall learning.”