Job Discussion Forums

[Seattle Lee]

Hello All,

I just got a call from my recruiter that IAT is having interviews in Chicago that will entail a written test and interview. I’m going for an English Instructor position. From perusing previous posts I understand that interviewers will most likely be expats, and questions will entail strengths/weaknesses, how to handle disciplinary issues in class and how you can contribute to the organization. Is there anything else?

What I have not heard of was the written test component. Any ideas about it? Is there any way to prepare?

Lastly, do you walk out of the interview with a job offer? I read another post where they gave you a list of 3 cities and you tell them your preference right then and there. Is this true? If so, does anyone recall which cities were listed?

Thanks in advance for your responses. For other UAE candidates, good luck and I hope we all end up there this Aug/Sept!

[Seattle Lee]

So there were over 300 views but no answers.

I completed the interview and will give info so that people will have the info in the future. Hope it helps.

First off, a few days before the interview the recruiter emailed me an Interview Tips & Techniques document that was very helpful. Most of if interview questions were covered in this document.

When you get to the interview a recruiter will greet you, take your documents and get you situated and hand you a test in your specialty area. Mine was English, so I was given a short reading passage followed by questions on the reading. It was fairly straight forward.

The you're escorted into an interview room and this is where your experience will vary. I had one interviewer from the UAE, but others had two and some had British recruiters. I think its just the luck of the draw.

The actual interview was straight forward, they will have your resume and may ask you (if your jobs don't exactly match) how your teaching experience can be translated into their classroom environment. So if you teach very young children or adults only I would prep for this.

Otherwise, it was questions mentioned previously on this site: questions on classroom management, teaching styles, how you'd handle disruptive students and that was about it. It's short and to the point.

Well that's all I have. Good luck to all fellow UAE hopefuls.

[veiledsentiments]

Thanks for coming back and passing on the information. IAT isn't a huge employer and this sounded like a new interview system. I had never heard of giving a written test, but perhaps they are hiring many non-native speakers.

Good Luck getting a job!

VS

[Seattle Lee]

You're correct that they aren't a big employer but I think that will soon change as they are opening 3 schools in 2014. They'll start out with one grade then increase.

So hopefully that bodes well for future UAE-bound teachers.

Thanks for the good luck wishes! I should find out within the next two weeks.