Preparing for an upcoming interview at Educational Testing Service (ETS)? As an organization administering over 50 million tests annually in 180 countries, competition for jobs can be stiff. Understanding the types of questions you’ll likely encounter along with strong sample answers, is key to showing interviewers you have what it takes to join the ETS team.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll overview what to expect in an ETS interview and provide tactical tips to help you excel. Read on to learn more about
- Background on ETS
- 7 Frequently Asked Questions
- Detailed Sample Responses
- Tips to Prepare for Your ETS Interview
Let’s get started exploring how you can have a successful Educational Testing Service interview
Overview of Educational Testing Service
First, a quick introduction to Educational Testing Service. ETS is a private, non-profit organization providing research-based assessments and instructional services for education, government, and business customers. Headquartered in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, ETS was founded in 1947 by a consortium of colleges as an effort to coordinate admissions testing for higher education institutions.
Today, ETS develops and administers a wide array of standardized tests. These include the SAT, GRE, TOEFL and Praxis Series assessments. Other services include conducting education research, analyzing student skills gaps, and providing test development and scoring capabilities. ETS employs over 3,500 full-time staff across 9 U.S. and international offices.
When interviewing for a job at ETS, you can expect a process focused on both your qualifications and assessing if you’re a good culture fit for the organization. We’ll now look at common interview questions to help prepare you to ace this important step.
7 Frequently Asked ETS Interview Questions
Here are 7 of the most frequently asked ETS interview questions along with suggested responses and tips for crafting your own winning answers:
Question: Tell me about yourself and your interest in ETS.
Sample Answer: As a recent college graduate with a psychology degree, I’m very excited to build my career at ETS. I’ve always been fascinated by educational assessments and how they measure student readiness, aptitudes and skills. ETS aligns perfectly with my interests given the breadth of tests you develop and administer. I’m passionate about education and want to apply my critical thinking skills in a role analyzing test results or helping improve assessments. I’m a quick learner who works well both independently and collaboratively. My analytical capabilities and passion for education make me confident I can contribute to ETS’s mission if given the opportunity.
Tips: Tailor your answer to the specific position. Show genuine passion for ETS’s work and mission. Demonstrate you have researched the company and role.
Question: Why do you want to work at ETS?
Sample Answer: I’m looking to join ETS because I deeply admire the organization’s mission to advance quality and equity in education. Ever since learning about ETS in college through taking the GRE, I’ve respected your pioneering work in standardized assessments. The breadth of critical tests ETS has developed and your global reach is truly impressive. I’m passionate about leveraging my analytical skills in a role that helps expand access to educational opportunities. Having researched ETS’s culture, I believe I would thrive at an organization so committed to diversity, community and intellectual curiosity. This opportunity aligns perfectly with both my professional skills and personal values.
Tips: Show you understand ETS’s mission and culture. Outline why those align with your own interests and values. Demonstrate you’ve researched the company.
Question: What do you know about ETS’s mission and history?
Sample Answer: From my research, I understand ETS was founded in 1947 by leading colleges and universities and other education organizations as a way to create efficiencies in college admissions testing. That work developing the first SATs was the starting point for ETS’s decades-long mission to advance quality and equity in education globally through assessment, research and service innovations. Today, ETS plays an integral role providing fair, valid assessments that measure knowledge and competencies critical for education and career success. You deliver on your mission through your gold-standard tests like the GRE, TOEFL, and Praxis exams, as well as new innovations like the ETS Digital Credentials Initiative. It’s inspiring to see the progression of ETS upholding its mission for over 70 years and counting.
Tips: Demonstrate you’ve researched ETS’s background. Spotlight mission and history facts you find particularly interesting or inspiring. Share your thoughts on the mission.
Question: What skills could you contribute to our work analyzing large volumes of assessment data?
Sample Answer: In my previous analyst roles, I regularly worked with large, complex data sets, so I am confident I have the skills to contribute to effectively analyzing ETS assessment data. My strengths include utilizing databases and queries to segment and filter big data for deeper analysis. I have sharp attention to detail to identify patterns and anomalies in data. Excel is one of my strongest skills, including using PivotTables and formulas for modeling and visualization. I also have experience with statistical analysis software like SPSS to manipulate data and generate insights. Having created reports and presentations to summarize findings for executives, I can translate complex data analysis into clear, actionable takeaways. I’m eager to leverage these skills as part of the ETS analytics team.
Tips: Outline your technical skills applicable to the job responsibilities. Provide specific examples of past data analysis experience. Emphasize your strengths in communication and collaboration.
Question: What do you know about our current ETS research initiatives?
Sample Answer: I’ve read with great interest some of the research initiatives ETS is focusing on presently. One that stood out to me is the Advancing Assessment Initiative since continuous improvement of tests and measurements is so vital to the ETS mission. I also found the ETS Digital Credential Initiative fascinating in looking at how digital badges can assist with talent recruitment and capture broader skills. On the learning side, the EdTech Genome Project to evaluate education technology products through instructional design analysis is incredibly interesting. I really appreciate how ETS is applying research and insights across so many critical education areas. I would be very excited to potentially contribute to projects like these that aim to improve educational equity and opportunity through rigorous research.
Tips: Spotlight 2-3 current ETS research programs and share what interests you about them specifically. Discuss how you could contribute your skills.
Question: Are you open to occasional travel for your role?
Sample Answer: Absolutely. I understand that with ETS’s national and global footprint, occasional travel to other offices and test administration sites could be required. I welcome any opportunities to travel as part of my role and responsibilities at ETS. In past jobs, I’ve had to travel to help with corporate training seminars and found I really enjoyed both the change of pace and chance to collaborate with colleagues face-to-face. If travel was needed related to proctoring exams, helping develop assessments or other projects, I would make myself available. I’m fully flexible for any travel requirements that might come up.
Tips: Emphasize you are willing and eager to travel when needed. Outline any past experience traveling for work. Highlight that you enjoy travel and collaboration opportunities.
Question: Where do you see your career in the next 3-5 years?
Sample Answer: Looking 3-5 years out, my goal is to take on greater responsibility and have a larger impact within ETS’s assessment design, psychometrics or research divisions. I hope to become an expert in my initial role who colleagues rely on and use my knowledge to train others. With experience, I’d love to manage a small team of analysts or coordinate major research projects. I also have aspirations to keep developing my skills and experience working internationally. Long-term, I aim to become a respected leader shaping the future of educational assessments and measurements through ETS’s work. This opportunity and continued development is what I’m most excited about.
Tips: Show you see ETS as a long-term career home. Outline a growth trajectory that moves towards greater expertise, responsibility, and leadership.
5 Tips to Ace Your ETS Interview
In addition to preparations using the common questions above, here are 5 tips to nail your ETS interview:
1. Research the Company – Study their website, mission, assessments, history and culture. Know key facts.
2. Practice Responding – Rehearse your answers out loud to boost confidence. Do a mock interview with a friend.
3. Review Your Resume – Refresh yourself on all details so you can discuss comfortably.
4. Ask Smart Questions – Prepare 2-3 thoughtful questions that show your engagement.
5. Dress Professionally – Wear formal business attire to convey you take the process seriously.
Conclusion
Preparing for your ETS interview takes dedication. Using this guide’s frequently asked questions, sample responses, and tips can help you put your best foot forward. Be sure to research ETS, practice responding clearly and confidently, and convey your passion for their mission. With rigorous preparation using the advice here, you will demonstrate you have
Common Teacher Interview Questions (And Tips for Answering Them)
Knowing the types of questions you’ll be asked can take a huge weight off your shoulders. In our experience, these are some of the most common questions asked during teacher interviews. We gave you general tips and talking points instead of specific answers to use so you don’t sound too robotic. Remember, you want to sound genuine and prepared, but not too rehearsed.
Should someone ask you a question you aren’t ready for, it’s fine to ask for a moment to think before you answer. It’s better to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts than give an incomplete or half-hearted answer.
If you’re new to teaching, some of the questions about past teaching experiences won’t directly apply to you. Most likely, your interviewer will understand this and let you know it’s okay to talk about what you would do or say something from your student teaching. In that case, start your answers with something like, “I haven’t done that directly yet, but I plan to do X, Y, and Z.” ”.
Plus 15 Teacher Interview Questions (and How to Answer Them)
You’ve sent out resumes, filled out applications, and now you have your first teaching interview scheduled. You did great! Getting an interview is one of the hardest parts of looking for a job, so give yourself a pat on the back.
But when you think about how to prepare for your interview, your excitement can quickly turn into stress. We can help you figure out what the interview will be like, what kinds of questions they will ask, and how you should answer each one.
Our team at 240 Tutoring is here to help you become a teacher at every stage, from passing your test to setting up your first classroom. We’ve worked in education for more than 60 years between us and have been on both sides of the interview process. In this article we’ll be sharing our tips for a successful teacher interview from start to finish. It’s also important to know what questions to expect and how to answer them. You should also think of questions to ask the teacher.
Before the Interview
Start your interview preparation by researching the school and district. Take note of mission statements, programs offered to students, student demographics and any specific curriculum used. We can find most of this information on the school or district website. But a social media page for the school is another place where people can find information. This can help you understand what the school has been up to lately, how it encourages family involvement, and the school’s general culture.
You should start getting ready for the interview questions once you know more about the school. Reading through examples of questions (see list below) and coming up with different ways to answer them is the best way to do this. Think about any teaching, tutoring, or student teaching you’ve done in the past and write down specific examples and situations you can use in your interview.
Don’t get caught up in planning word-for-word answers to specific questions. It’s better to have a mental list of examples and ideas that you can use for different kinds of questions. You will definitely be asked, “What can you do to help our school?” Make sure you know how to answer it!
You want your responses to sound thoughtful and prepared, but not overly rehearsed. If you have a list of examples and ideas ready to go, you won’t sound too robotic and won’t be shocked when someone asks you a question you weren’t expecting.
The Day of the Interview
Gather everything you need and give yourself plenty of time to get ready. It doesn’t hurt to bring extra copies of your resume, even if the school already has one on file. You should also bring a pen and notebook, as well as notes to look over while you wait for the interview to begin.
Sure, you know you should be early for an interview, but how early should you be? You should give yourself plenty of extra time in case there is traffic, but you don’t need to go into the building until about 10 to 15 minutes before your interview time. If you get to school earlier, use that time to calm down in your car and gather your thoughts.
During the Interview
Even though you may not feel like it, try to convey confidence throughout your interview. Remember that being asked to come in for an interview is a big deal, so they’ve already seen things in your application that they like. Your job at the interview is to close the deal by talking more about your skills and showing who you are.
Don’t be surprised if there’s more than one person interviewing you. A lot of the time, the principal or assistant principal leads interviews with teachers, and other staff members sit in as a panel. The school counselor, grade level or subject team leaders, or other teachers in the grade level or subject for which you’re interviewing could be among these. If there are more than one person in the interview, make sure you address each person as you answer each question. Look at everyone as you talk, but mostly at the person who asked the question as you answer.
After the Interview
After your interview, be sure to send an email thanking the interviewer for their time. If there was more than one person in the interview, include them in the email as well. (Tip: You can find teachers’ emails on the school website. ).
In your email you should:
- Thank the interviewer(s) for their time.
- Bring up one or two things that interested you about the school or job. “I loved learning about the positive behavior support system at your school.” ”).
- One or two of your specific qualifications for the job should be said again. (“I’m sure I can help the students at this school make progress by…” “My student teaching at (school) taught me how important it is to…”
- At the end, thank them again and say that you look forward to hearing from them soon.
As you walk back to your car, you don’t have to send your email right away, but you should try to do so within 24 hours of your interview.
