Whether you’re looking for your first teaching job or a veteran teacher looking for a new job, here are some tips to help you succeed in your interview.
Interview tip number one: Remember that your interview begins when someone calls you to schedule it. Answer all phone calls with a professional tone. Make sure the cell phone number on your resume works. Answer your cell phone no matter how important the text you’re working on is. Check and empty your mailbox in a timely manner. Check your email daily.
Interview tip number two: Prepare for your interview in advance by writing sample questions and writing down your answers.
Write sample questions. Answer them in writing and then orally. Be succinct. You will likely have 5-10 questions to answer in 15-20 minutes. Plan accordingly.
The most important question is the first one, which is probably something like “Tell us about yourself and why you want this job.” The interview team will decide whether to listen to the rest of the interview in those first two minutes, so make it count. When preparing your interview questions, keep in mind that administrators want teachers who can do three things:
- Manage the classroom, which means very few disciplinary referrals
- Teach children using best practice teaching strategies
- Work as a team player, bringing good work habits, collaboration, and knowledge to the table.
Here are some sample questions you might be asked:
- Tell us a little about yourself and why you are interested in this position.
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
- What is your experience in working with children?
- How does the instruction differ? (this is important)
- How do you plan the lessons? What are the components of a great lesson plan?
- Tell us about your parent involvement strategies.
- Scenario: You have a child in your classroom who has learning difficulties and/or serious behavior problems. He contacted the father but there is no answer. What would you do?
- When we enter your classroom, what will we see?
- How do you use technology (computers, smart boards, elmo projectors, Ipods/podcasting, etc.) to enhance instruction?
- What is your classroom management strategy/plan? How do you ensure that all students participate in the learning process?
- Have you worked with children who have special needs?
- autism spectrum disorder
- ADHD
- Learning difficulties
- What are the components of an IEP and how do you work with special education teachers to implement IEPs in the classroom?
- How is the curriculum adapted for children with disabilities?
- Are you familiar with the No Child Left Behind testing requirements? How will you prepare your students for these tests?
- How do you ensure that students from diverse backgrounds (race, socioeconomic, religious, special needs, ESL) feel welcome and valued in your classroom? How do you teach to meet their diverse learning needs?
- Since, as an elementary teacher, you are responsible for all subjects, how do you ensure that they are all taught within the deadlines assigned to you?
- Tell us about your ability to work in a team.
- What would your former administrator and colleagues say about you as a teacher?
- In our school/district, students are expected to be monitored regularly. How is this achieved?
- Do you have any questions for us?
Interview tip number three: Practice interview skills.
Read them out loud. Practice them out loud. Sit at your laptop and reply on your webcam. Play them over and over again. Read them to an audio file and listen to them in your car, on the go, wherever you can. I cannot stress enough the importance of the interview.
Interview Tip Four: Practice Interview Etiquette
Bring the following to the interview: A black laptop bag containing the following: your cell phone turned off, 3-5 copies of a mini-portfolio for the interview team (see below), a 3 x 5 index card with a bulleted reminder list of the most important things you want to tell the interview team, a pad of paper and pen, and a small bottle of water.
Be extremely courteous to everyone you meet at the interview location, from the concierge who lets you in to the secretary who greets you at the office. Along with the principal, some have said that these are the two most important people in a school building. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard stories about a candidate who had a successful interview and then the secretary told the manager something damaging, like listening to an inappropriate phone conversation, asking the secretary an inappropriate question, or being rude. interaction with a father while he waits for the interview.
Shake hands at the interview(s)
Carry a mini-portfolio: It’s unlikely that the interview team will have time to review a large binder-type portfolio. Instead, condense it into a five to ten page document with color images that you can leave with the interview team. Highlight activities that make you stand out as a teacher above other candidates.
Interview tip number five: Send a handwritten thank you note after the interview, preferably the same day.