20 HCT Interview Questions and Answers

The Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) is a school that offers programs in a variety of fields, including engineering, business, and information technology. If you’re looking to get hired by HCT, you’ll need to be prepared to answer some specific interview questions.

In this article, we’ll give you a rundown of some of the most common HCT interview questions, so you can go into your interview with confidence.

HCT Interview Process

The interview process at HCT can be long, difficult, and overall frustrating. It often takes several months to hear back from the school after applying, and when interviews are finally scheduled, they are often changed or rescheduled multiple times. The actual interviews themselves can be hit or miss; some applicants report feeling like they went well while others felt that the questions were irrelevant or that the interviewer was uninterested. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for candidates to be offered a position only to have it rescinded later due to “budgetary reasons” or other vague explanations.

1. What do you think is the biggest challenge facing students today?

This question can help an interviewer get to know you and your views on education. It also helps them understand how you might approach a challenge that students may face in the classroom. When answering this question, it can be helpful to think about what challenges you faced as a student and how you overcame them.

Example: “I believe one of the biggest challenges facing students today is finding ways to balance their schoolwork with extracurricular activities. I was able to overcome this challenge by using my time management skills to plan out my days so I could complete all of my assignments while still having enough time for other things. This helped me maintain good grades while still being involved in many different activities.”

2. Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a challenging student, how did you handle it?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you handle conflict. They want to know that you can remain calm and professional when working with students who are challenging or disruptive. In your answer, try to show the interviewer that you have experience dealing with difficult situations and will be able to continue doing so if hired.

Example: “I once had a student who was very disruptive in class. He would often talk over me while I was speaking and make jokes during exams. At first, I tried to ignore his behavior, but it became clear that he wasn’t going to change on his own. So, I called him into my office and explained that his behavior was distracting other students and preventing them from learning. After that, he stopped disrupting others and focused more on his work.”

3. How would you go about teaching a lesson that was not interesting to you personally?

This question is designed to test your ability to be a team player and work with others. It also shows the interviewer how you might handle challenges in the classroom. Your answer should show that you are willing to put aside personal feelings for the benefit of the students.

Example: “I would first try to find ways to make the lesson more interesting, such as by finding additional resources or making it hands-on. If I could not find a way to make the lesson more interesting, I would ask my colleagues if they had any ideas on how to improve the lesson. If we still could not come up with an idea, I would talk to the student about what was going on and explain why the lesson was important.”

4. Why are you interested in working at HCT?

This question can help the interviewer learn more about your interest in working at HCT and how you might fit into their organization. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention specific aspects of the school that appeal to you or why you think it’s a good place to work.

Example: “I’m interested in working for HCT because I’ve heard great things about the quality of education here. I also like the idea of working for an institution that focuses on technology and innovation. I feel like my background in computer science would make me a good fit for this role.”

5. Describe your experience with higher education.

Higher education is a major part of the HCT curriculum, so interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your experience with higher education. If you have never attended college, explain why and what steps you are taking to pursue higher education in the future. If you have attended college before, describe your previous educational experiences and how they prepared you for working at HCT.

Example: “I am currently pursuing my associate’s degree through an online program. I chose this program because it allows me to work full-time while earning my degree. My previous educational experiences were all positive, but I found that online programs allow students to complete coursework on their own time, which can be especially helpful when balancing school and work.”

6. Do you have any experience mentoring or tutoring students?

This question can help the interviewer determine your ability to work with students and other professionals. If you have experience tutoring or mentoring, explain what motivated you to do so and how it helped others.

Example: “I’ve always enjoyed helping my peers understand concepts in class. In high school, I volunteered as a tutor for younger students who were struggling with math. This allowed me to practice my own math skills while helping others learn. As a result, I was able to get an A in calculus.”

7. If a student isn’t doing well in class and they come to you seeking help, what would you do?

This question is an opportunity to show your interpersonal skills and ability to help students succeed. When answering this question, it can be helpful to describe a specific situation in which you helped a student overcome challenges or improve their grades.

Example: “If a student came to me for help, I would first ask them what they’re struggling with the most. Then, I would try to find resources that could help them learn the material more effectively. For example, if a student was having trouble understanding a math concept, I might recommend they use a tutor or take extra help sessions.”

8. What kind of things do you consider when planning a lesson?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you approach your work and the steps you take to complete it. Use examples from your experience that show how you plan lessons, organize materials and communicate with students.

Example: “I consider my students’ learning styles when planning a lesson. I also think about what they already know so I can build on their existing knowledge. For example, in my last position as a math teacher, I had a student who was struggling with fractions. When I planned his lesson, I started by reviewing basic multiplication and division of whole numbers. Then, we moved on to dividing fractions. By starting with the basics, he was able to better understand more complex concepts.”

9. What is your favorite subject to teach?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of your teaching style. They may also use this information to determine which subjects you would teach at their school. When answering, try to choose a subject that is relevant to the position and one that you enjoy teaching.

Example: “My favorite subject to teach is math because I love seeing students learn new concepts and develop problem-solving skills. In my last role, I noticed many students struggled with basic math skills like fractions and decimals. So, I developed a unit on these topics and taught it to all grade levels. The feedback from parents was positive, and most students improved in these areas.”

10. In your opinion, what makes a good teacher?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your teaching philosophy. They want to know what you value in a teacher and how you would apply those values to your own classroom. In your answer, try to describe the qualities that make you an effective educator.

Example: “A good teacher is someone who can inspire their students to learn. I think it’s important for teachers to be passionate about their subject matter so they can share that passion with their class. A great teacher also knows when to challenge their students and when to provide support. For example, if I notice one of my students is struggling with a concept, I will find ways to help them understand it better.”

11. Have you ever worked as a part of a team to plan curriculum for an entire school year?

This question can help an interviewer understand your experience working with a team and planning curriculum. Use examples from past experiences to highlight your teamwork skills, communication abilities and organizational skills.

Example: “In my last position as a high school English teacher, I worked alongside two other teachers to plan the entire curriculum for the year. We met once a week during the summer to discuss what we wanted to teach in each class and how we would implement it. This helped us create a schedule that was easy for students to follow and gave us time to prepare lessons before the start of the school year.”

12. How do you motivate yourself on days where you don’t feel like going into work?

Interviewers may ask this question to see how you handle challenges in your work. They want to know that you can stay motivated and productive even when you’re having a bad day. In your answer, explain what strategies you use to keep yourself going on days where you don’t feel like working. Try to focus on positive methods of motivation rather than negative ones.

Example: “I find that the best way for me to motivate myself is by setting small goals throughout the day. For example, I might set a goal to finish one assignment before lunch or to make it through two hours without checking my phone. These little goals help me get through the rest of the day because they give me something to look forward to.”

13. What do you think are some of the responsibilities of a college professor?

This question can help an interviewer get to know you as a potential employee and how you might fit in with the HCT community. When answering, it can be helpful to mention some of your own responsibilities as a professor and how they relate to those of a HCT professor.

Example: “I think one of the most important responsibilities of a college professor is to make sure students understand the material being taught. I always made sure my students understood the concepts we were learning by giving them plenty of examples and practice problems so that when they took their exams, they would feel confident about what they knew and didn’t know.”

14. Some professors choose to assign group projects to their classes. Would you be willing to do this?

This question is a great way to determine if you’re willing to work with others in the workplace. It’s also an opportunity for you to show your communication skills and teamwork abilities. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention that you’ve worked on group projects before and how they helped you develop these skills.

Example: “I have had experience working on group projects in my previous classes. I find that collaborating with other students helps me learn more about their perspectives and opinions. This has helped me become more open-minded and empathetic toward others. I would definitely be willing to do group projects at work.”

15. Are there any subjects you feel uncomfortable teaching?

This question can help an interviewer determine if you are a good fit for the position. If you have experience teaching, they may want to know what subjects were challenging and how you overcame them. If you don’t have any experience teaching, they may be looking for insight into your ability to learn new things.

Example: “I feel most uncomfortable teaching math because I am not very confident in my own math skills. However, I understand that it is important for students to learn math concepts from someone who knows how to teach them. So, I make sure to study up on each lesson plan before class so I can answer questions and explain concepts clearly.”

16. How does technology fit into your lessons?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you incorporate technology into your teaching methods. Use examples from past experiences to explain how you use technology in your lessons and what benefits it provides for students.

Example: “I believe that technology is an important tool for learning, especially when it comes to math and science. In my last position, I used a variety of online tools to teach my students about different topics in math and science. For example, I would have them create their own websites using HTML coding so they could learn more about web design. This helped me engage my students while also helping them learn valuable skills.”

17. Tell us about a project you were particularly proud of executing.

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you are proud of the work you do and how it impacts others. When answering this question, try to pick a project that was challenging but rewarding in the end.

Example: “I am particularly proud of my most recent project at my current job where I worked with a team to create an online database for our company’s sales department. This project required me to learn new coding languages and integrate them into our existing system. It took us several months to complete, but once we did, it streamlined our sales process and allowed us to increase revenue by 10%.”

18. What is your philosophy towards grading?

Grading is an important part of being a teacher. Interviewers want to know how you grade and what your philosophy is towards grading. You can answer this question by explaining the process you use when grading assignments or exams, or you can talk about your overall philosophy on grading.

Example: “I believe that grades should be used as a way for students to measure their progress in class. I don’t think they should be used as a motivator or a punishment. Instead, I try to focus on giving constructive feedback so my students understand where they need to improve. I also encourage them to ask questions if they’re confused about something.”

19. You will likely be asked to give presentations periodically throughout the year. Tell us about a presentation you gave recently.

This question is an opportunity to show your communication skills and how you can work with a team. When answering this question, it’s important to highlight the importance of teamwork in your field.

Example: “In my last position as a marketing manager, I was responsible for creating presentations that would be given by our sales department. The purpose of these presentations was to educate potential clients about our products and services. I worked closely with the sales team to create a presentation that they could use during their meetings with clients. This helped us increase revenue by 10%.”

20. What do you think are some of the benefits of attending college?

This question is a great way to show the interviewer that you are motivated and passionate about your education. When answering this question, it can be helpful to mention some of the specific things you’ve learned in college or how attending college has helped you achieve your goals.

Example: “I think one of the best benefits of attending college is being able to learn from professors who have years of experience in their field. I also enjoy having access to so many resources on campus, like libraries and computer labs. Attending college has allowed me to meet new people and make lifelong friends.”