Over my many years of working in the profession of education, I have set through countless interviews. This has led to all kinds of interesting candidates both good and bad. As college graduates are finishing up their final semester and looking for jobs, I thought I would share a few helpful hints when heading into the interview.
1. Invest in Your Career
First impressions can be incredible. Bad ones are hard to overcome. Take the time and money to purchase an outfit specifically for interviews. If you need help picking something out, take someone with you. Then make sure you keep it cleaned and ironed even if you need to take it to the dry cleaners. I can’t tell you how many times interviewees have walked in with inappropriate business attire or attire that looked like they just pulled it out of the bottom of a pile of clothes. I am not saying we have never hired any of these people, but when there are many applicants, it can come down to the little things. (By the way, leave the water bottle in the car when you go into an interview.)
2. Be Nice
Being nice starts from the phone call you receive for setting up an interview all the way to the final call about whether you got the job. My secretaries will often give me commentary about potential candidates when they spoke with them on the phone to set up the interview and how the candidate acted when they entered the office and were waiting for the interview. During the interview, speak kindly about everyone including past employees. No one wants to hire a complainer. Finally, you should receive some communication from the interview committee as to whether you received the job. Continue the kindness as you communicate with the school even if you do not get the job. Something may not work out with their original candidate, or they may have another opening. They will remember that kindness.
3. Confident but not Cocky
Confidence comes from humility and preparedness. You gain confidence by practicing your answers for potential interview questions. Almost every interview for a teaching job will focus on classroom management, instruction, and working with others. As you think about how you will answer the questions, you should try to answer with specific examples. It is more impressive to hear a candidate say “this is how I handled the situation” as opposed to “this is how I would handle the situation.” The first example shows you have experience. If you are just entering the profession, it may be difficult to share examples of personal experiences so you might reflect on how you have seen someone else handle a similar situation.
Know the school and district in which you are being interviewed. In today’s age, there is no excuse for not knowing the school. With a simple swipe of the finger or click of the mouse, you can find school improvement plans, school mascots, school colors, school data, administrative and teaching staff, etc. When you have a chance, you can reference these things. Don’t make it awkward, but find an appropriate time to use that information when answering a question.
Part of humility is demonstrating you are willing to learn. Share how you are trying to continue to grow professionally. Most interviews end with a question asking you whether you have any questions. Come prepared to ask questions. Some interviewers are even impressed when you are taking notes. It demonstrates you are listening and genuinely seeking answers.
4. Be Yourself
Remember you are in an interview and seeking a career in the teaching profession, but do not be afraid to talk about your passions and interests. Be brief but talk about what is unique about you and what you believe you can bring to the school/district. Also, do not try to answer the questions the way you think they want to hear. It never ends well. If you stay focused on students and stick with your educational and instructional philosophies, it will work out.
In the end, trust your training. Have confidence. Have fun. Give God the glory no matter what!
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