Job Discussion Forums

[Kornan DeKobb]

I am scheduled for it next month in Wanchai. How serious is it? Or is it a matter of as long as your paperwork is in order, the interview is just to make sure you are not a complete freak?

[ozman]

No one has bothered so far replying Kornan and I'm sorry about that.
The interview is far more than making sure you're not a freak.
You will be asked some gruelling questions about teaching English so you really need to go in there prepared. You will also be asked to do a written test.
You should search this forum for more information about the interview process.

[Ikki]

ozman is right. Not only will you be grilled, but don't expect to leave the interview site with the "warm & fuzzies" in your stomach. I honestly left the interview wondering if it was deliberate on their part to belittle the applicant. That was for SNET, mind you.

Maybe they did me a favour by turning me down. Good pay or not, I'm not sure if I'd really want to work for people like that.

[Kornan DeKobb]

Yes, it was a real interview with some not exactly softball questions.

[Ikki]

Ah, one of Marx's great lines. Groucho, not Karl.

No, I just mused that if the powers that be at my school and the EDB were to be like my inquisitors at the interview, I would have to wonder if I really wanted to spend two years of my life kowtowing to them. That's all.

If my paperwork wasn't in order, I was led to believe that I wouldn't be invited to an interview anyway.

As ozman suggested, there's much more to the interview than "not totally screwing up the interview." This isn't like applying for a PS job in Korea or a dispatch co. gig in Japan. For the record, I thought I handled the interview rather well, all things considered. In any event, HK EDB won't have to worry about me darkening the halls of anyplace they hold an interview ever again.

[turbodiesel]

well, i had mine recently... i was expecting some sorta "grilling" anyway; heck, i had a Commerce background and "realism" works. What i mean is, treat the interview as if you are applying for bank jobs, investment jobs, HR, accounting... etc.

classroom activities: i almost bombed it becuz i have to recall my practicum activities and bring 'em all up. there were so many i don't know where to start! but this may integrate the idea of "teaching philosophy", i.e. student-centered? dynamics in the class?

you will be asked for familiarity of English curriculum! (somehow) so do a quick research. mention it when you are asked directly or indirectly. (i did that when i was asked about the difference between teaching PNET and College students.)

the rest of it is quite straightforward. let's say if you can integrate your home culture (Canadian, British, American, Australian... etc.) into the lesson. easy.

resolve conflict with local English teacher? this is the basic questions asked by most HR out there!

At the end of it, like most interviewees out there, I am a bit nervous and wondering will I make it. well, take it easy and all fingers crossed.

But I must emphasize: in my opinion, the interview was alright. Basically, I treated it as sharing both places' education information in a bit grand way.