ITS questions

Why are you interested in a career in education? *
A career in education is something I have successful previous experience in, allowing me to be confident I will make an effective and positive contribution to the academic development of my students. It is a career that also allows me to utilize my knowledge and personal interests in the field of science, and so will provide an opportunity not only to work in a discipline of personal interest but to share that curiosity and engagement with my students.
What are your long and short-term career goals?
My short term goal is to establish myself as a resident of Hong Kong as soon as can be managed, through which the development of my career in education is a critical priority. My previous experiences in this industry have provided me with skills that will be highly useful in this area, allowing me an excellent opportunity to establish myself in a new environment. My longer term goal is achieve a permanent legal residency in Hong Kong that will allow me more options to progress.
What two accomplishments in your life, personal or job-related, have given you the most satisfaction? Why? *
The first accomplishment is the recent successful completion of my first anthology of fiction for professional publication. This task was developed and implemented over an intense 8 month period, requiring outstanding personal discipline and developed vital skills in self-management and productivity. My second accomplishment is my 7 month backpacking expedition through India at age 18, which taught me rigorous independence and resilience, as well as personal confidence in difficult situations.
Why do you believe you should be hired for this job? *
I believe my skills in education relating to physics and general science form the major reason I should be hired for this job, as demonstrated by my diverse experience in previous positions and my work history. I have successfully taught both classroom teaching and more private tuition environments, and have experienced situations with both extensive or tightly limited resources. This has made me a teacher capable of tackling almost any scenario to produce effective outcomes for my students.
Who has been the most difficult person you have ever dealt with, and how did you respond? *
During my time classroom teaching in a relatively impoverished city such as Glasgow, I encountered many students of a difficult nature and who were considered a challenge for even experienced teachers to deal with. I have found that a variety of approaches are needed for such situations, of which consistent expectations of discipline is the most major. A large degree of patience and personal detachment are also necessary, as well as the ability to reason with a student to appeal to them.
Personally and professionally, what are your major strengths and weaknesses?
Professionally, one of my major strengths is my determination and sense perseverance that I have developed. Having worked in extremely difficult environments, both in teaching and other professional contexts, I feel capable of adapting and excelling in the face of the various challenges tutoring will produce. My major weakness is a tendency to be harsh on myself when I feel I have failed to meet personal standards, and to judge myself negatively when faced with frustrations.
Give an example of a problem you solved and the process you used to solve it. 
When backpacking extensively through the developing world as I have often spent my summers, it is a necessary skill to be exceptionally adept at negotiating problems. When resolving problems relating to disagreements with other people, the most important skill in my experience is to show empathy in order to understand the other individual’s concerns and what they are seeking out of a situation. Combining this with flexibility and a willingness to adapt is usually vital to resolving problems.
How would your friends describe you?
My friends would describe me as a funny and outgoing person, someone easy to talk to and always entertaining. I can also be described as someone who builds relationships easily and good at working with people I haven’t met previously. I am very focused on tasks, and friends will describe me as someone who enjoys taking a philosophical and considered approach. Other possible descriptions are adventurous, well-read and witty.
9. Can you tell us what you most enjoyed about your previous job? What did you least enjoy?
One thing I enjoyed most about my previous position was the sense of community between teachers, and the way teaching is a cooperative act between the whole department. Education is an activity where everyone’s performance is improved through the exchange of ideas, and this is definitely an enjoyable aspect of the position. One less positive aspect is when dealing with children from difficult social backgrounds, it can often be distressing to consider difficulties in their personal situations.