15/10/2013
My tough interview questions
After chairing an interview panel to recruit a Kiswahili teacher this week, I may be on my way to becoming the most – sought – after interviewer
On Monday the head master of ATLAS SCHOOLS called asking for professional consultancy services. I went straight to him in his office.
ATLAS MARK GROUP was lucky to have been allocated a Kiswahili teacher recently. But the rules require a teacher of the level of head of department to attend interviews.
Most of the teachers in ATLAS SCHOOLS are Form Six graduates – and I was the only person with the academic wherewithal to perform such a role.
“I need someone intelligent so that we hire good teachers,” Said the HM. He could not have consulted a better person. “I will assist you to get a conscientious and assiduous teachers,” I assured him. We sat with him to shortlist the candidates. I helped him define the minimum requirements.
“If a teacher has no email address, has not typed his CV and application letter, and is not on Facebook, they will not be shortlisted,” I suggested. “We need modern teachers who can make ATLAS SCHOOLS a global village,” the HM agreed.
While the other panelists would ask general questions, as an expert in the panel, I would ask the hard ones.
So the night before the interview, I spent long hours reading my notes from University to find the tough questions to ask. I was not going to ask two candidates the same questions. We sat in one of the classrooms and started the interview. The first candidate, Millicent, arrived at 09:30 am.
“Good morning, Millicent,” I greeted her as I selected a question from the many I had on my laptop. “Using relevant examples between Spartan and Athenian pedagogical approaches, which one do you think will be more relevant to ATLAS SCHOOLS?”
“Pardon me?”
I asked another question:
“When and where was Noam Chomsky born?” She had no answer.
The next candidate, Anthony, came in. “Antony?” I started, looking at him straight in the eyes. If the headmaster left you in charge of the school for a week, will you use Max Weber’s Theory Y or Theory X to run this school?” His face was blank, and sweat rolled down his forehead as he asked me to clarify the question. He did not know.
I asked the next question.
“In Summary, what Salient educational issues does Paul Ferreira raise in his acclaimed book, the Pedagogy of the Press?” Antony sweated some more, before saying, “I have not read that novel.” “And you want to be a teacher?” I wondered out loud as I gave him 0 marks.
The next candidates could not handle any of my questions, and other panelists were impressed my unparalleled mastery of educational matters.
Raphael, a diploma holder from Kaguma Teachers’ college who is a regular at a local bar, came in after lunch. When it come to my turn, I decided to ask current affairs questions.
“Who is the deputy minister for Cooperatives Development?” “I know the minister,” he said as he scratched his head. “But I am not sure who the deputy minister is.”
“What is the head line in The Citizen today?” I asked him. He sweated as he tried to answer. “I am not sure but I think it’s about…...” he said.
In the end Raphael, our comrade from the local bar, got the job because he showed passion by attempting to answer my questions, even though he was always wrong.
Besides getting an envelope from the headmaster, word quickly spread that I was a very intelligent and mean interviewer. I am sure many schools will be looking for me to assist them in interviewing staff.
