Preparing for your Zoom interview with a UK school - Bounce Teachers

Preparing for your Zoom interview with a UK school

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You’ve made the exciting decision to relocate to the UK and start your teaching adventure abroad. The next step is preparing for Zoom interviews with a UK principal. Your dedicated consultant will provide you with any support you may need to ensure that you succeed, including 1:1 interview training.

How is a Zoom interview different?

Many people prefer Zoom over in-person interviews, since you are able to complete the interview from the comfort of your own home. It also allows our schools to reach out to our overseas teachers and get to know them before they relocate.

However, there are many different factors that you need to consider when preparing for a Zoom interview, especially if you have not completed one before, such as:

  1. Make sure you have a strong internet connection. A stable connection is essential for a smooth interview experience.
  2. Test your audio and video settings beforehand. Make sure your microphone and camera are working properly, and adjust any necessary settings.
  3. Choose a quiet, well-lit location for the interview. It should be a place where you feel comfortable and can focus without any distractions.
  4. Dress appropriately, even though the interview is virtual. You should still dress as you would for an in-person interview.
  5. Make sure you have the relevant information to join the Zoom on time.
  6. Use body language to your advantage. Since the interviewer can’t see you in person, it is important to use body language to communicate your interest and enthusiasm for the role.
  7. Remember to smile. This can help you come across as friendly and approachable, even through a screen.

Watch the Wall Street Journal’s short guide for more tips on how to ace your Zoom interview.

Common Interview Questions

We recommend preparing for the following questions:

  • What are your key strengths in the classroom? What can you bring to the school?
  • What aspects of your teaching could you improve? What support would be helpful to aid you with this?
  • How would you go about planning a lesson?
  • Explain how you would differentiate for ability ranges.
  • How would you manage a student who is refusing to follow instructions? Behaviour management in general – key strategies that you use to manage this.
  • How would you approach safeguarding e.g. reporting to designated safeguarding lead, spotting signs of abuse or mistreatment in one of your students?


Remember to always link your answers back to real life experience in the classroom. Also try to do a good deal of research into the school itself. Make sure you also have a few questions to ask, as this will show that you have done your research and are genuinely interested in the school. If you would like further advice, your dedicated consultant is here to offer you 1:1 support and answer any questions that you may have.

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