Whether you are looking for your first job as a teacher or you are a veteran teacher who is seeking a new job, here are some tips which will help you ace your interview.
Interview Tip Number One: Remember your interview begins when someone calls you to set it up. Answer every phone call with a professional tone. Make sure the cell phone number listed on your resume is working. Answer your cell phone no matter how important the text is you are working on. Check and empty your mailbox in a timely manner. Check your email daily.
Interview Tip Number Two: Prepare for your interview ahead of time by writing down sample questions and writing out your answers
Write down 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, which is probably something like “Tell us something 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 know how to do three things:
- 1. Manage the classroom, meaning very few discipline referrals
- 2. Teach the children using best practice teaching strategies
- 3. 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 background in working with children?
- How do you differentiate instruction? (this is important)
- How do you plan 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 is exhibiting learning difficulties and/or severe behavior problems. You have contacted the parent but there is no response. What would you do?
- When we walk into your classroom, what will we see?
- How do you use technology (computers, smartboard, elmo projectors, Ipods/podcasting, etc) to enhance instruction?
- What is your classroom management strategy/plan? How do you ensure that all of the students are engaged in the learning process?
- Have you worked with children who have special needs?
- o Autism Spectrum Disorder
- o ADHD
- o Learning Disabilities
- What are the components of an IEP and how do you work with Special Education teachers to implement IEPs in the classroom?
- How do you adapt the curriculum for children with disabilities?
- Are you familiar with the testing requirements of No Child Left Behind? 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 welcomed and valued in your classroom? How do you teach to meet their diverse learning needs?
- Given that as an elementary teacher, you are responsible for all subjects, how do you ensure that all of them are taught within the time frames you are given?
- Tell us about your ability to work as a team player.
- What would your former administrator and colleagues say about you as a teacher?
- In our school/district, students are expected to be progress monitored on a regular basis. How do you accomplish this?
- 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 answer them into your webcam. Play them over and over again. Read them into an audio file and listen to them in your car, on walks, wherever you can. I can’t stress enough the importance of the interview.
Interview Tip Number Four: Practice Interview Etiquette
Take the following to the interview: A black laptop-type bag with the following in it: your cell phone turned off, 3 to 5 copies of a mini-portfolio handout 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 polite to everyone you meet at the interview site, from the custodian who lets you in the door to the secretary who greets you in the office. Next to the principal, some have said 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 having a successful interview and then the secretary told the principal something damaging such as overhearing an inappropriate cell phone conversation, asking an inappropriate question of the secretary or having a rude interaction with a parent while waiting for the interview.
Shake hands with the interview(ers)
Take a mini-portfolio: It is unlikely the interview team will have the time to look through a large, binder-type portfolio. Instead, condense it into a five to ten page document with colored pictures that you can leave with the interview team. Highlight activities that make you stand out as a teacher above the other candidates.
Interview Tip Number Five: Send a hand-written thank-you note after the interview, preferably the same day.
For more tips on getting a teaching job, here are some more articles I have written on the topic:
Interview Questions for Teachers to Ask Interviewers
Tips for Teachers Seeking Jobs
Creating a Mini-portfolio
What are Principals Looking for in New Teacher Hires?
Ten Tips to Land Your First Job as a Teacher
Or go to my website My Special Needs Classroom.
Good luck!
