Teach for America Interview Questions & Reviews
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Updated Feb 12, 2012 – Interview questions and reviews posted anonymously by interview candidates.
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Difficulty Rating [?] Based on 170 ratings 
“Difficult” Interview
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Interview Experience [?] Based on 170 ratings
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| 31–40 of 170 Teach for America Interviews | Sort by |
Teacher at Teach for America
Posted Aug 3, 2011
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5.0
Very Difficult Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2011 (took 4 months)
Long process. The interviews were fun and exciting, but definitely require stamina to remain engaged.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Presentation, a Skills Test and a Personality Test.
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Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Administrative Support Role at Teach for America
Posted Jul 31, 2011
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1.0
Very Easy Interview
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Overall Negative Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Jul 2011 (took a day)
Probably one of the most awkward, disenchanting interviews I have ever been a part of. I have never had an employer de-motivate me in regards to a company, ever! The human assists individual calls me up at the exact time we agreed upon through e-mail. He asks the usual questions. i.e. Why do you want to be a part of this team, what can you offer, etc etc etc. The interview went roughly 45 minutes and I thought it went extremely well. Of course we got to the end of the interview and he asked me if I had any questions and I said yes, what is the promotion potential with this organization? He goes on to tell me that he could only think of one person he knew of that promoted from an administrative support position. Whether or not he intended to, he made the job seem like it was a dead end position. He also promoted the administrative support role as being something that was more like a personal assistant to the executives than anything else and doing secretarial work would be my main day to day mission. This was definitely not something someone with a college degree wants to hear. Of course my final question was, "Where do we go from here?" He then proceeded to tell me something that blew me away with disappointment, he said that his interview notes, along with my application and resume will go in to a hiring pool and when the different regions look to hire they will refer to this pool. This was surprising because it leaves you flapping in the wind in regards to a yes or no answer. I told him I appreciated the honesty because I didn't want to turn down other offers while waiting. All and all the organization's interview process leaves a lot to be desired and had they offered I probably would have declined based solely on the lack of promotion potential.
Interview Questions
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Corps Member at Teach for America
Posted Jul 22, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Oct 2010 (took 2 months)
I first applied online to Teach for America, then a few weeks later I had a phone interview with a recruiter. This interview was somewhat easy, and I made it to the final on-site interview. TFA's hiring process seems a little random from the outside--for example, some people who are highly qualified teachers are not accepted into the program, but people who have never taught before are. YMMV.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Presentation, a Skills Test and a Background Check.
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Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Teacher at Teach for America
Posted Jul 11, 2011
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Declined Offer
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Interviewed Dec 2010 in Berkeley, CA (took a day)
5 minute mock teaching presentation- accomplish self- stated objective
Group discussions on pre- assigned reading (x2)
30 min 1:1 interview
Interview Questions
Reason for Declining
Placed in a region I was not interested in relocating to
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Presentation.
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Helpful Interview?
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Program Director at Teach for America
Posted Jun 22, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Neutral Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2010 in Jacksonville, FL (took 6 weeks)
There was an online exercise, then there was a phone interview, finally they emailed me to a super interview day where I interviewed with six separate regions.
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
No
Other Details
The interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Skills Test.
Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Teacher at Teach for America
Posted Jun 11, 2011
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2.0
Easy Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2011 (took 4 weeks)
Was always interested in TFA throughout college, and was actually emailed by a recruiter at my university. Basically she wanted to meet with me to talk about TFA and I wanted to talk to her about how to get into TFA. Completed the initial letter of intent and all the other logistics, and a couple of weeks later was told I was accepted into the final interviews (no phone interview). From what I've heard from others, if you do have a phone interview and make it to the final interview, your final interview (1-1) will be easier.
The final interview had multiple components; it began with the 5 minute lesson planning in front of all the interviewers and interviewees. Just make sure it is a simple concept, it fits within the 5 minute frame, and you practice, practice, practice in front of at least one other person! They also give you one minute of prep time before the lesson to prepare. More specifically, mine had a beginning, middle, and end; always engaged with the students, e.g., made sure they understand each concept I covered throughout and at the end of the lesson.
From there, I wasn't stressed any more and it was a lot easier for me to express my passion. We had group discussions, took a quiz/test on inference questions usually based on info provided, and of course the one-on-one. Just be yourself. If you are applying for the right reasons and understand and BELIEVE in TFA's mission then it will be easy. Good luck!
Interview Questions
Negotiation Details
Other Details
I got the interview through a Recruiter and the interview consisted of a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Presentation.
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Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Teacher at Teach for America
Posted Jun 10, 2011
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Nov 2010 (took 3 months)
I originally submitted an online application to the TFA website. After their first deadline, I was offered a phone interview which consisted of situational questions. I then was invited to a day-long in-person interview which consisted of a group discussion, a five minute lesson plan, a skills test, and a one-on-one interview at the end of the day. I was not offered a job.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Presentation and a Skills Test.
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Helpful Interview?
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No
Inappropriate?
Corps Member at Teach for America
Posted May 16, 2011
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5.0
Very Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Dec 2010 (took 4 weeks)
The initial interview is a phone interview with a TFA alum that's generally behavioral. It's basically a screening interview to make sure you have an idea of what you're getting into and also that you're passionate about the problems that TFA is trying to address.
The final interview is hard. It consists of a five-minute lesson plan that you must prepare ahead of time and "teach" it to the particular group you're assigned to for this interview round. Next, you'll take part of a group discussion centered around the readings that they ask you to read in preparation beforehand. Then, you'll take a written test that's really easy if you're good with numbers and data. Finally, you'll do a one-on-one interview with one of your interviewers from the previous group interview. They tell you right away that there are no quotas (this is true) so you're not competing against each other for a limited number of spots, but some people still act like they need to take you out in order to do well, especially during the group discussion. Just keep your cool and be assertive but don't stoop to their level.
I think, in the end, while I was really passionate about the issues around education inequality in our country, the experience just wasn't for me. And they saw that. You really need to look before you leap on this one. Do your research, make sure this is something you'd really want, and get lots of second opinions before deciding to go ahead with this.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview, a Presentation and a Skills Test.
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Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Development at Teach for America
Posted May 3, 2011
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3.0
Average Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Received and Accepted Offer
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Interviewed Mar 2011 (took 4 weeks)
1) Applied Online
2) Screen Interview with Human Assests
3) Various round of interview with regional human assests then finally boss
4) Final round of interviews, perhaps in person
5) Negotiation
Interview Questions
Other Details
I Applied Online and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview and a Skills Test.
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Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
Teacher at Teach for America
Posted Apr 20, 2011
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4.0
Difficult Interview
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Overall Positive Experience
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Interviewed and No Offer
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Interviewed Jan 2011 (took a day)
First have to fill out a detailed application, in which your personal statement is very important. Then some have a phone interview, but I was able to skip it. Next is the group interview, where you have to teach and are judged on your interactions with other candidates. Looking for a very specific personality type, so much so that they rate on a scale of 1-3 on 6 different personality traits and then put the results into a computer program and see if you fit what they are looking for. Very professional and structured.
Interview Questions
Other Details
I got the interview through a College or University and the interview consisted of a Phone Interview, a 1:1 Interview, a Group/Panel Interview and a Presentation.
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Helpful Interview?
Yes |
No
Inappropriate?
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