Lecturer Interview

Hi Brian,

I am a Business Lecturer in an FE college. Questions you may be asked at interview could include what you know about the different business courses they offer and the topics & levels you feel able to deliver on; your knowledge of safeguarding & PREVENT; techniques you might use to deliver content to learners & how you might use your professional experience in your lessons; examples of your planning & organising skills e.g. to meet deadlines for exams/coursework & manage a syllabus. You could also be asked about your customer handling experience & how your might deal with difficult learners, and how you could motivate learners and help them manage their time & meet deadlines, etc.

You could be asked to deliver a short lesson on a particular topic (but you would be advised about this before the interview). You would be required to complete a teaching qualification within a specified timeframe.

Also agree with Keith, that aside from teaching experience they will generally be looking for someone looking with real enthusiasm for their subject, and the credibility to stand up in front of adults and lecture and someone who would fit into the department.

Good luck with the interview.

Hi Adrienne, thank you for the interview questions tips. Knowledge of safeguarding & preventing is something I need to do research on. As this post is based in Northern Ireland I will have to look specific procedures in NI rather than the whole UK.

So I didn't get the job but I wanted to share my experience. I arrived 20 mins before the interview and reported at the reception. Surprisingly, the receptionist didn't even know that interview is taking place. But eventually I was directed where the interview is taking place. When I reached there I see students were sitting outside the interview room on the seating area and therefore I had to stand and wait.
Upon careful observation I noticed that the college library was on my right so perhaps students were waiting for it to be open. So I didn't mind but felt its very unprofessional with the interview process.

So finally the HR came out of the room and took me inside, introduced to me with all the panel members. I stood there probably for about 30 seconds before I was offered a seat.

So the interview process began with the HR (probably chairing) explaining how many questions will be asked however, no housekeeping information was given i.e. availability of water, approx how long the interview will last, if the room was warm I could take my coat off etc etc.

But anyways the following questions were asked :

1. How my qualification prepared me to be a lecturer ?
2. (a) Can you explain advantage and disadvantage of e-learning? (b)Your experience in delivering classroom lecturer via e-learning.
3. In your opinion what businesses needs to be aware of in forecasting and making decision to meet their goal and objectives.
4. In your opinion what business needs to concentrate on and why to be successful?
5. Can you give us an example an improvement that you suggested in delivering classroom lecturers.

I am not to sure how some of the questions are related to a lecturer but I did my best to answer every question based on my experience and the work that I have done.

Bit disappointed but reflecting on it one of the gentlemen who was interviewing was not even making notes and kept on looking @ me. But hey everything is not lost. I am continuing my search in HR and have another interview for an administrator and I would like to thank everyone who have given me the tips for the lecturer interview.

Thanks
Brian

Brian

A bit of friendly advice - you may need to toughen up a bit. Whilst not perfect the situation in your first few (4) paragraphs is certainly not unique in interviews particularly in public spaces. I wouldn't see anything odd in most of that.

Not sure I would take note of someone looking at me in an interview either :-)

As to some of the questions I can see where some of them are going and whilst they are clumsy they again are unlikely to be unique in terms of the types of questions you get asked. They do give you a great opportunity to control the interview given their style and vagueness. You can take that opportunity !

Keith