Possible Interview Questions for Volunteer Tutors

POSSIBLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS FOR VOLUNTEER TUTORS

(Excerpted from Growing A Volunteer Tutor Program: Engaging Communities to Support Schools, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory, 2000, p.15. Used with permission.)

Experience

• What experience do you have working with children or teachers?
  
• Do you have any direct experience as a tutor or mentor?
  
• What positive or negative school experiences have you had?
  
• What are some of your favorite children's books?

Job Description

• What ideas do you have for reaching the goals of this program?
  
• How does the job description fit in with your personal goals?
  
• What is the ideal working environment for you?
  
• What skills or personal qualities do you have for this position?
  
• What is your experience working with cultures different from your own?
  
• What are the most difficult aspects of jobs you have held?

About Children

• What do you feel are the main reasons that children don't learn?
  
• What do you think a tutoring relationship will be like?
  
• Are there certain types of children you feel you can't work with?
  
• What are the best things about working with children?  What are the hardest?

Tough Questions

• What would you do if a fight breaks out?
  
• Suppose that you observe an adult in the school (parent or school staff) doing something you think is wrong or bad for a child.  What would you do?
  
• What if a student says, "I won't work with you"?  How would you reply?
  
• What conditions might cause you to quit volunteering before the year's end?