Top 22 tips for teacher job interview

Top 22 tips for teacher job interview

1. Prepare a comprehensive teacher interview portfolio

View this guide on putting together your teacher portfolio. Don’t wait for an interviewer to ask to see your portfolio, rather be ready to pull out examples of your work whenever something in your portfolio relates to what is being asked. Interviewers will be impressed by your planning and preparation.

2. Make it personal.

Take the time to personalize your responses to interview questions. Include highlights from your background, skills and professional experience that are relevant to the job that you’re applying for. Focus on skills most relevant to the field. Here is a list of the teaching skills interviewers are most interested in. Of course, communication, organization, and critical thinking are high on the list of desired qualities.

3. Make a match

Take a careful look at the job listing for each position you are applying to. In addition to emphasizing your skills that are relevant to teaching in general, you should hone in on the specific requirements that the employer has included in the listing. Take the time to match your qualifications to the job description. Make a list of the job requirements and a list of your experiences that match them.
Use your list as a guideline for responding to questions about your background.

4. Provide examples

The interviewer will likely ask you behavioral interview questions, which require you to provide an example of a time when you did something. For example, an interviewer might say, “Tell me about a time you handled a behavioral issue with a student.” These kinds of questions require you to think of examples from past teaching experienced.

To answer these questions, describe the specific example you are thinking of. Explain the situation and what you did to either solve a problem or achieve success. Then, describe the result.

Even if the question is not a behavioral interview question, it is often helpful to provide a specific example. For instance, situational interview questions ask you to consider a possible future situation at work. An interviewer might ask, “How would you handle a parent who thinks you graded his child unfairly?” Although these are about future situations, you can still answer with an example from a past experience. It helps to create a list of anecdotes you can draw on, focusing on situations where your action has a clear, positive outcome.

5. Research the school.

Research the school district and the school where you will be working if you get hired. You’ll be able to find plenty of this information on the school district’s website. Also, if you have a connection to any teachers who work in the school, the district, or any parents whose attend the school, ask them for their insight into the job. The more familiar you are with the academics, extra-curricular activities, sports, student profiles, and the curriculum, the better equipped you’ll be to ask meaningful questions and provide nuanced answers to interview questions.

6. Be prepared for a panel interview.

When you interview for a teaching job, you may be expected to interview with a variety of different constituents.

You may be required to interview with a panel, which could include the school principal, administrative staff, other teachers, and parents. In some cases, you may need to an interview with a search committee that is charged with screening applicants before moving on to a formal interview for the job.

7. Do your homework.

You’ll likely be asked difficult questions during the interview. Preparing the list of likely questions in advance will help you easily transition from question to question. Spend time researching the company. Look at its site to understand its mission statement, product offerings, and management team. A few hours spent researching before your interview can impress the hiring manager greatly. Read the company’s annual report (often posted on the site), review the employee’s LinkedIn profiles, and search the company on Google News, to see if they’ve been mentioned in the media lately. The more you know about a company, the more you’ll know how you’ll fit in to it.

8. Develop a Connection with the Interviewer

In addition to indicating what you know about the company, you should also try to develop a connection to your interviewer.

Know the interviewer's name, and use it during the job interview. (If you're not sure of the name, call and ask prior to the interview. And, listen very carefully during introductions. If you’re prone to forgetting names, jot it down somewhere discreet, like in small letters at the bottom of your notepad.)

Ultimately, building rapport and making a personal connection with your interviewercan up your chances of getting hired. People tend to hire candidates they like, and who seem to be a good fit for the company culture.

9. Research the Company, and Show What You Know

Do your homework about the employer and the industry, so you are ready for the interview question "What do you know about this company?" If this question is not asked, you should try to demonstrate what you know about the company on your own.

You can do this by tying what you’ve learned about the company into your responses. For example, you might say, “I noticed that when you implemented a new software system last year, your customer satisfaction ratings improved dramatically. I am well versed in the latest technologies from my experience with developing software at ABC, and appreciate a company who strives to be a leader in its industry.”

 You should be able to find out a lot of information about the company’s history, mission and values, staff, culture and recent successes on its website. If the company has a blog, this can be a useful place to look, too.

10. Leverage your network

Ask people in your network if they know the management of the company and the person you are interviewing with. Ask for opinions on the leadership, values, market potential of the organization.
This is essential in assessing whether the company is a good fit for you - whether you are interviewing for a position as a mid-level manager, an executive, or member of the board of directors.

11. Don’t be afraid to admit when you don’t know how to answer.

You can laugh good-naturedly and say, “Wow, that’s a tough one.  Let me think about that for a moment…”.  If you still feel unable to come up with a satisfactory answer, say something to the effect of, “I think my actions would depend on the specific situation and child involved.  I might ___, or maybe even ____”.  If you’re really stumped, you could explain, “I would really try to utilize the experience of my co-workers on this one.  I would confide in an experienced and trusted team member and ask for his or her advice and support.  I’m not afraid to admit that I don’t have all the answers, and if asking for help would bring the most benefit to the students, I wouldn’t hesitate to do so.”  Or, you could say, “I would need to give this situation a lot of time and thought so I could make the best decision for my students.  I would research the issue a little more by talking to the parents/ my co-workers/ principal/ going on the internet before deciding on any actions.”

12. Display professionalism

Here’s an elusive word, “professionalism.” What does it really mean? We spend this chapter helping you get a grip on this concept, from what not to wear, to developing a mindset, to seeing professionalism as a standard of living. If a world-class career is what you’re after, it’s critical to dress, think, and live as a professional, 24/7.

13. Exuding self-confidence

If you’re naturally shy or insecure, this one might seem the most challenging of our tips. But the winning candidate is the one who knows she knows what she knows, and can confidently communicate that image. In this chapter, I tell the story of my son Alan, who did NOT want to hear Dad talk to him about leadership. Then came the day I picked him up from school and he excitedly told me he’d been selected captain of his basketball team. “Well guess what that makes you, Alan?” I said. He thought a moment and squeaked, “A leader?” Turned out to be one of the best things that could have happened in his life. It’s all about believing in yourself. So if you have any doubts, I’m telling you right now that I believe in you! You should too, for that is the person most likely to win the job interview.

14. Exhibiting communication skills

Harvard Business School Professor John Kotter tells us, “Without credible communication and a lot of it, the hearts and minds of others are never captured.” It may not seem to you that this is your mission in the job interview, but it is! Your goal is to convince the hiring manager that you are the person they’ve been looking for all their lives. That means you’ve got to sound like the right candidate when you speak and that anything you’ve written—from your resume to an email—to that individual reflects a polished, confident, professional demeanor. If you need to, join a group like Toastmasters to improve your speaking skills or take a business writing class.

15. Revealing your creativity

No matter what the position is you’re interviewing for, every company appreciates creativity. Don’t think that’s you? You might surprise yourself if you just try. It begins with realizing that you are a uniquely created individual, made in the image of a creative God. We imitate him every day, whether we know it or not. So look for creative ways to express yourself in the interview. It might be through a portfolio, or you might be like the guy who sent the Magic office pizza with his resume printed inside the box! The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

16. Positive Attitude

Never say anything negative about present or past employers or coworkers! You could come across as difficult or complaining. Don’t let the interviewer think you are someone who does not take responsibility for himself, but looks for someone else to pin blame for his problems.
If the real reason you left your last job was because you had an evil supervisor, or you were harassed at work, or you were passed over for a promotion you earned, don’t say so. Just say you are looking for a better opportunity to grow or to better provide for your family. Don’t try to explain anything else. It might seem like you’re making excuses.

17. Appropriate dress

Women, never dress sexy at an interview! No low cut tops, no too-short hem lengths! Keep it conservative, and keep it covered! Makeup should be kept conservative also.
All interviews are not created equal. Some companies are more conservative than others, and some jobs are more conservative than others. If your target job is artistic, creative, or tech-y, your coworkers may go to work in shorts and flip-flops. Even if that is the case, if you want to stand out at your interview, always kick it up a notch and dress better than is expected.

18. First impressions

When meeting someone for the first time, we instantaneously make our minds about various aspects of their personality. Prepare and plan that first impression long before you walk in the door. Continue that excellent impression in the days following, and that job could be yours.

Therefore:

• Never arrive late.
• Use positive body language and turn on your charm right from the start.
• Switch off your mobile before you step into the room.
• Look fabulous; dress sharp and make sure you look your best.
• Start the interview with a handshake; give a nice firm press and then some up and down movement.
• Determine to establish a rapport with the interviewer right from the start.
• Always let the interviewer finish speaking before giving your response.
• Express yourself fluently with clarity and precision.

19. Tell Your Story

You must sell your product, which is yourself, to land the job. Be prepared to tell the interviewer why he should hire you. Some interviewers might not ask you directly to explain why you are the best candidate for the job. Whether you are asked, be sure to fit in a response during the conversation. Be confident and concise in explaining why you believe you should be hired and what you will do the best job possible. Include your qualifications in your sales pitch.

20. Be willing to learn

As alluded to above, you should always be ready to learn during an interview. Jeannie Kahwajy, an expert on organizational behavior, performed research that demonstrates that candidates who are willing to learn can turn negative interviews around. Jeannie ran experiments involving mock interviews. A recruiter was primed to have a negative bias toward a candidate. Of the three groups of candidates, one was instructed to prove they should get the job; one was told to learn from the interaction; and the final group, the control, was given no specific instructions. She found that the recruiter’s negative bias was reinforced for the control group and the group that tried to prove they should get the job. However, ALL of the candidates who set out to learn from the interaction reversed the recruiter’s negative bias and were offered a job.

21. Ask questions

Do not leave the interview without ensuring that you know all that you want to know about the position. Once the interview is over, your chance to have important questions answered has ended. Asking questions also can show that you are interested in the job. Be specific with your questions. Ask about the company and the industry. Avoid asking personal questions of the interviewer and avoid asking questions pertaining to politics, religion and the like.

22. Follow up and send a thank-you note.

Following up after an interview can help you make a lasting impression and set you apart from the crowd. Philip Farina, CPP, a security career expert at Manta Security Management Recruiters, says: “Send both an email as well as a hard-copy thank-you note, expressing excitement, qualifications and further interest in the position. Invite the hiring manager to contact you for additional information. This is also an excellent time to send a strategic follow-up letter of interest.”