Applicants with a Ph.D. degree are fit for college lecturing jobs. In every faculty, there are appointments, which are classified into ranks and titles. Each Institute or College should have clear statements of the hiring process of new lecturers. All applicants for faculty appointments should have pursued significant scholarly work and research to enable them to reach the stage of academic interview. In this article, we will introduce the lecturer's interview questions and answers, with tips related to the professional requirement for standard academic ranks.

How to Become a Lecturer in Pakistan?

Lecturing is part of advanced teaching. This job is not only about college teaching, but it is also about the academic dedication that culminates in the promotion of new graduates. Lecturing is a prestigious job that requires a long process of studies and research. The condition to become a lecturer in Pakistan is to have accomplished 18 years of education from the primary level to the Ph.D. level. For HEC (Higher Education Commission), potential lecturers are required to pass an exam conducted by NTS ( National Testing Service) or Provincial board. Sometimes this procedure includes more competency tests. The final step of hiring lecturers is an interview. Let's check the different interview questions and answers for this job.

Typical Interview Questions and Answers

In every job application, there are regular or common interview questions that are used to get more information about the candidate. For more teaching-related interview questions; check this link:

Let's Explore 17 Common and Advanced Teacher Interview Questions

1. Tell me a little about yourself.

This question is always present in every interview. It gives the candidate the occasion for self-introduction. Your answer to this question must be confident and brief. It must follow a chronological order, especially when you are going to talk about your academic journey from high school to college. The life events that you should focus on while talking about yourself are the way you obtained your bachelor's degree, the way you pursued your college studies, then, your final graduation.

2. What are your biggest strengths?

This is also a question focusing on the applicant's qualities. Try to be more confident while listing the strengths. Choose the qualities that are related to the field of studies and research. For example, my muscles are having a good memory. I can memorize a whole book material in less than a week. I speak English very fluently. I master other languages etc. You can get more ideas from this article: 

How to Answer: What Is Your Greatest Strength?

3. What are your most significant weaknesses?

This question is opposite to the previous one. Asking any candidate about weaknesses is a test to see if the candidate can reveal his own defaults or not. To answer this question, you should not list random adjectives about the things that bother you or the things that you cannot handle. You should instead list professional obstacles rather than personal qualities. Example: "I think my weaknesses are related to a specific work environment. I cannot tolerate a college student to be excluded from studies just for not paying the fees. I think one of my weaknesses is caring too much for students and giving them immense chances to improve. I would feel distressed by hearing that one of my students has quit college or is banned from college. I want families to raise their children to pursue college studies no matter the circumstances.

4. Why do you want this job?

This question occurs in many interviews to get an important reason for the candidate's application. You can answer by describing your own ambitions and purposes for choosing this job. "I want this job because teaching is one of my passions. I always wanted to be a teacher. Now, my vision of education is more comprehensive than before. That's why I am applying as a lecturer. I completed my master's degree to reach this level. Since I am looking for the next level in my career growth, I put more effort and got my Ph.D. Similar topics are here, check them;

How to Answer: Why Would you Like to Work Here?

 How to Answer Job Interview Question: Why Do You Want This Job

5. What motivates you in lecturing?

This question is technically similar to why you want this job. However, it happens that interviewers want to dive deep into the applicant's world and learn about his expectations of the situation. When you talk about motivation, list impressive lecturing qualities that make part of your favorite activities or interest. Don't link your motivations with things related to payment. Example answer: "What motivates me in lecturing are the ample opportunities associated with the job. I am interested in lecturing because it opens access to national libraries. It is dealing with foreign partners. Therefore, it's an occasion to be competitive with international teaching curriculums. Lecturing provides a vast audience. I am so excited to teach in a vast amphitheater.

Situational Interview Questions and Answers for Lecturers

In the previous section, we listed common interview questions and answers for applicant academics that sounded very general. Now, like many other interviews, applicants can expect situational interview questions. Let's list a few of them.

1. What would you do if you were not invited to a seminar or a committee of research?

  This question is to see how the applicant's reaction to such situations. Would he feel underestimated or disqualified for seminars and research? Your answer should be very diplomatic and showing confidence.

Answer: I am very qualified for seminars and research committees. (here you can list achievements). If I am not invited, I will investigate the reason. I am a very comprehensive person, and I have a very playful spirit.

2. What would you do if a colleague criticizes your lecturing method?

This question is to test the applicant's attitude towards criticism. Your answer should show confidence, as well. Answer: each lecturer has his teaching method. If this colleague makes part of my academic field, I will be ready to be all ears for the criticism, especially when it is constructive criticism. However, I would not accept any of the colleagues to interfere with my teaching method.

3. What would you do if students boycott your sessions?

This question is to see the applicant's reaction in case of being rejected by students. Your answer should highlight your ability to assess negative situations. For example, you can answer as it follows:

I would like to know why they would boycott my sessions? I was already a student. I know when and why students would break the rules. First, I will investigate this problem and see the primary reasons for this decision.

4. What would you do if you receive another lecturing offer from another university?

This question is used to see the applicant's responses to get more than a single offer. Your answer depends on your ability to handle more than a single task. For example, your answer can be conditional. That is you accept additional lecturing offers provided that it has a flexible schedule that enables you teaching in both institutions, or provided that the localization of the second university is not very distant.

These were the possible interview questions and answers for lecturers. I hope they are sufficient for your application.