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 there 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
This 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 type of
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 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 those questions, 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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