Common lecturer interview questions concern candidates' reasons for applying to teach at a certain institution, their approaches to running a higher education class, and their future plans for research. Many potential university lecturers are also questioned about how they will contribute to the school outside of their regular teaching duties. Hiring managers at colleges and universities usually prefer lecturer candidates who are dedicated to their fields of study and who have clear ideas for how they will teach their subject matter to students. Questions are often designed to measure both teaching qualifications and how well a given candidate may fit in as part of the faculty.
One of the first lecturer interview questions that many candidates hear is about why they selected the college in question to apply for an open lecturer position. An interviewer will often ask this question to gauge how familiar prospective lecturers are with the school's background, philosophies, past achievements, and future plans for improvement. Candidates who are able to give compelling and detailed answers are those who have researched the institution and who believe they have similar approaches and ideas concerning higher education. These kinds of interview answers indicate genuine interest in a particular school rather than a willingness to accept a position just anywhere.
Course loads and classroom management styles are additional topics of discussion. An interviewer may ask candidates if they would be willing to teach courses that are outside their specific discipline but still in the same general academic category. This kind of question gauges whether candidates are flexible and willing to take on new challenges. It also measures willingness to work as part of a team with the rest of the faculty. Many candidates are also asked about their curriculum plans, including the kinds of exams and projects they would assign to their students. Other related questions concern methods of accommodating different learning styles and of dealing with possibly difficult students.
Research and publishing are important components of an academic career, and good candidates for further education lecturer positions have consistent dedication to this area. Common interview questions may concern the details of past research publications. Candidates may be asked why they chose a certain topic and how they overcame any challenges in completing their research. Prospective college lecturers with future research project plans are often given priority, and those who plan to include students as research assistants are also good lecturer candidates.
