17 School Crossing Guard Interview Questions and Answers

Every day, children and parents cross the street to get to school. That’s why it’s important to have someone who is responsible for ensuring their safety. That’s where school crossing guards come in. They are responsible for helping children cross the street safely.

Before you can become a school crossing guard, you will need to go through an interview process. During your interview, you will be asked a variety of questions. This guide will help you prepare for some of the most common questions.

Are you comfortable working in public?

School crossing guards often work in public, so employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable with that. They want someone who can interact with the community and keep students safe while they cross the street. In your answer, explain why you are or aren’t comfortable working in public. If you have experience working in public, share a story about how you handled a situation where you were uncomfortable.

Example: “I am very comfortable working in public. I’ve worked as a school crossing guard for five years now, and I love interacting with the kids and parents. It’s always fun when I get to see familiar faces each day. However, I do understand that some people aren’t comfortable working in public. When I was first starting out as a crossing guard, I had a student throw up on me. That was definitely an uncomfortable situation, but I learned from it and developed strategies to help myself feel more confident.”

What are some of the most important skills for a school crossing guard?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to perform your job duties. Use your answer to highlight any specific skills that you possess and how they benefit you in this role.

Example: “The most important skill for a school crossing guard is communication. I find it’s essential to be able to speak clearly so everyone understands what you’re saying, especially when there are children present. Another important skill is patience because sometimes kids don’t listen or follow directions right away. Patience helps me remain calm and not get frustrated with students who may take longer to understand something.”

How would you handle a situation where a driver was being disrespectful or aggressive?

School crossing guards often interact with drivers, and employers want to make sure you can handle these interactions in a professional manner. In your answer, explain how you would respond to an aggressive driver and what steps you would take to ensure the safety of students while also maintaining professionalism.

Example: “I have had this situation happen before, and I always try my best to remain calm and polite when interacting with drivers. If they are being disrespectful or aggressive, I will ask them to pull over so we can talk about their behavior. I find that if I am calm and respectful, it diffuses the situation and helps me get my point across without escalating the conflict.”

What is your experience with working with children?

School crossing guards often work with children, so employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with kids. If you don’t have direct experience, you can talk about how you enjoy working with children and what skills you have that would help you in the role.

Example: “I’ve worked as a camp counselor for the past five years, so I’m very comfortable around children. I love seeing their excitement when they learn something new or accomplish a goal. I also understand how important it is to be patient with them because sometimes they get distracted or upset. I think my patience and ability to remain calm under pressure will help me succeed in this role.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation.

School crossing guards often have to diffuse potentially dangerous situations. Employers ask this question to make sure you know how to handle a situation like this if it arises on the job. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to defuse the situation and keep everyone safe.

Example: “I once had a parent who was upset with me because I wouldn’t let their child cross the street without holding their hand. The child was old enough to hold their parent’s hand but not old enough to cross the street alone. I explained to the parent that letting go of their hand could lead to them wandering into traffic. They understood my reasoning after I spoke with them about it. If a similar situation arose at work, I would try to calmly explain why I can’t allow the child to do something.”

If a child was to disobey your instructions, how would you handle it?

School crossing guards are responsible for ensuring the safety of students as they cross the street. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience handling difficult situations and can keep students safe at all times. In your answer, share a specific example of how you would handle such a situation. Explain that you would use your communication skills to help the child understand why their actions were dangerous.

Example: “If a student disobeyed my instructions, I would first try to calmly explain why what they’re doing is unsafe. If they continued to ignore me, I would call over a supervisor or principal to assist me in getting the child to listen. I know it’s important to remain calm when working with children so that I don’t escalate the situation.”

What would you do if you were feeling ill and needed to take a break, but there were no substitutes available?

Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of your role as a school crossing guard and how it affects the safety of students. They want to know that you would take care of yourself so you can be at work when you’re needed, but also that you would prioritize student safety over taking a break if there were no other options.

Example: “If I was feeling ill and couldn’t continue my duties as a school crossing guard, I would find someone else to fill in for me until a substitute could arrive. If there were no substitutes available, I would try to stay on my post as long as possible before leaving to get some rest. I would call ahead to let them know what happened and that I would need to leave early.”

How well do you know the local area and its traffic patterns?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your knowledge of the area and how you plan to keep students safe. Use examples from previous experience to show that you can adapt to new areas quickly.

Example: “I have worked as a school crossing guard for five years, so I am very familiar with the local traffic patterns. However, I always make sure to check my surroundings before allowing children to cross the street. In my first year on the job, I learned which streets had the most traffic and when they were busiest. Now, I use these observations to help me stay alert at all times.”

Do you have a valid driver’s license?

Employers ask this question to make sure you have the ability to drive a school bus or other vehicles used by the crossing guard. They also want to know if you have any driving violations on your record, so they can determine whether you are eligible for employment. In your answer, be honest about your driving history and explain why you may be a good candidate despite any infractions.

Example: “I do have a valid driver’s license, however I have had one speeding ticket in my lifetime. I was rushing to get to work and got caught going 10 miles over the speed limit. It was an honest mistake, but it taught me to always obey traffic laws when behind the wheel. Since then, I have never been pulled over again.”

When working in teams, do you prefer to be assigned a specific role or do you prefer to switch off?

School crossing guards often work in teams, so employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable with that. If you’ve worked in a team before, explain what your role was and how it benefited the group. If you haven’t worked in a team before, talk about how you would approach working in one.

Example: “I prefer to be assigned a specific role when I’m working in a team because I like to get really good at doing one thing. However, if my team needs me to switch off, I am happy to do so as long as everyone else is willing to do the same.”

We want to improve our traffic safety statistics. What would you do to improve compliance among students and drivers?

School crossing guards are responsible for ensuring the safety of students as they cross the street to get to school. Employers ask this question to make sure you have a plan in place to improve compliance among both drivers and students. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to ensure everyone follows traffic laws.

Example: “I would start by making sure all students know that it’s their responsibility to follow the rules when crossing the street. I would also talk with parents about how important it is to remind their children to wait until the guard gives them the go-ahead before crossing the street. For drivers, I would make sure they understand that stopping for pedestrians is required by law. If someone doesn’t stop for me, I will write down their license plate number and report them to the police.”

Describe your experience with using traffic control devices.

School crossing guards need to be able to use traffic control devices, such as stop signs and crosswalk signals. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience using these tools. In your answer, explain which traffic control devices you’ve used in the past and what situations you’ve encountered while using them.

Example: “I’ve worked as a school crossing guard for five years now. During that time, I’ve had plenty of experience with using traffic control devices. For example, I know how to properly use crosswalk signals and when it’s appropriate to use stop signs. When children are present at the intersection, I always use the crosswalk signal. However, if there aren’t any pedestrians or vehicles nearby, I’ll turn off the crosswalk signal and use the stop sign instead.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this job?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the role. They want to know what makes you a good fit for their school crossing guard position. Before your interview, make a list of reasons why you are qualified for this job. Think about your previous experience and any skills that may be relevant to this role.

Example: “I am an ideal candidate for this job because I have extensive experience working with children. For the past five years, I’ve worked as a camp counselor at a local summer camp. During my time there, I learned how to keep kids entertained while also keeping them safe. I feel confident that I can use these skills to help me succeed in this role.”

Which age group do you find the most challenging to work with?

School crossing guards often work with students of all ages. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with children and teenagers. Use your answer to show that you can handle a variety of age groups. Explain which age group is the most challenging for you, but also explain how you’ve learned to overcome these challenges.

Example: “I find that middle school students are the most challenging age group to work with. They’re at an age where they want more independence, but they still need guidance from adults. I try to be as friendly as possible when talking to them. This helps me build rapport with them so they feel comfortable coming to me if they ever need help or advice. I also give them plenty of space so they don’t feel like I’m hovering over them.”

What do you think are the most important qualities for a school crossing guard to have?

Employers ask this question to make sure you have the right skills and qualifications for the job. They want someone who is responsible, caring and organized. When answering this question, think about what qualities helped you succeed in your previous roles.

Example: “I believe that patience and kindness are two of the most important qualities a school crossing guard can have. Patience helps me remain calm when children or parents get distracted or upset. Kindness makes it easier to build relationships with students and their families. I also think organization is important because it allows me to keep track of my assignments and stay on schedule.”

How often would you update your knowledge of traffic laws and safety procedures?

Employers ask this question to make sure you’re committed to keeping up with the latest information about your job. They want crossing guards who are willing to take classes and read articles that help them do their jobs more effectively. Your answer should show that you have a passion for learning and improving yourself as a professional.

Example: “I am always looking for ways to improve my knowledge of traffic laws and safety procedures. I would regularly attend training sessions at work, and I would also look into taking some online courses on my own time. I find it important to stay informed so I can keep students safe while they cross the street.”

There is a child that doesn’t want to cross the street. How would you handle this situation?

School crossing guards are responsible for ensuring the safety of students. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience handling difficult situations and can keep children safe. In your answer, explain how you would use your communication skills to convince a child to cross the street.

Example: “I once had a student who refused to cross the street. I asked him if he was scared or nervous about something. He told me that he didn’t like the cars driving by because they were too loud. I explained to him that I would help him get across the street safely. Then, I walked with him until he felt comfortable enough to walk on his own. After that day, he never had any more problems getting across the street.”