Prospect Schools Interview Questions
& Process

The in-person interview was about 45 minutes long and involved 4 interviewers. Some questions were repeated, which is typical in the nonprofit sector. However, they had a one-hour timed test in Google Sheets on a Mac, which was not disclosed beforehand. The dataset had over 1300 rows. When I raised concerns about my limited experience with Macs and Google Sheets, the CFO was dismissive.

This was the most ridiculous interview process ever. You start with a phone screen, then an assessment. If you pass that, you get to interview for the job. During the interview, they type up almost everything you say. Expect some awkward silences and a really awkward role-play. Also, check the reviews about work-life balance. It's clear from the interview that they expect you to go way over your hours without extra pay. The interview panel also wasn't diverse. The whole thing felt toxic. Seriously, save yourself and stay away.

I put in my application online and felt pretty good about it since I knew the school through the charter school network and my current job is basically the same. The first interview went okay, though the interviewer was a bit late and did apologize. She said she could move me forward fast, which was great. We had to go back and forth a bit to schedule because I was finishing up my last week at my old school, but she was really flexible and understanding. The in-person interview, though, was a different story. I got there early but ended up waiting way past the scheduled time. It did give me a chance to check out the school and how the staff acted. But when one of the HR managers greeted me coldly, I had a feeling it wouldn't be good. I met with a group of all women, and it felt like no one was interested in what I had to say, except the first interviewer who was professional. One manager even laughed at my question at the end! I was so passionate about this school, but it quickly seemed like a toxic, catty place. After that, I had to do a skills test with Excel and an email simulation for a logistics issue. After finishing, I waited a bit, but no one came to walk me out. That was the worst part. In such a big building, someone could have at least walked me out and told me what happens next. The whole thing felt unprofessional and poorly handled, not a good reflection of the school. I put in effort, and I expected the same back, even if I wasn't a fit (which is weird since my job is the same) and I really wanted to work there. So, I wasn't surprised when I didn't get selected a few days later. Based on that, I wouldn't want to work there now. They really need to fix their HR process; it's a mess. Candidates deserve better.

The interview was pretty straightforward. First, I had a phone chat with HR where we discussed typical teaching topics, focusing on diversity and how personal identity influences teaching. After that, I gave a demo lesson to the principal.