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Being Prepared is Key
The Interview Process
• Interviewing is a two-way street.
• You are interviewing the
school/district as much as the
interview committee is interviewing
you.
• It’s a learning experience. They
learn about you and your
qualifications for the position, and
you learn about the school and its
people.
Before the Interview
RESEARCH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT:
LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE, AND RESEARCH:
• The Community
• Mission and Vision Statements
• Schools
• Staff Development Offerings
• Salary/Benefits
• Demographics
Learn as much about the district/school as you can!!!
Know the KIND of Interview
(ask beforehand):
§ One-on-One
§ Phone
§ Group
§ Lunch/Dinner
§ Panel
§ Skype
Day of the Interview
§ Arrive early (15 minutes)
§ Eat breakfast/lunch
§ Leave your phone/purse behind
§ Don’t bring it if you don’t need it
§ Be prepared (portfolio, questions)
§ Bring resume, notepad, and pen
§ Be friendly
§ Show enthusiasm
§ Be yourself! (authentic)
Interview Mistakes
§ Not doing your research
§ Arriving late
§ Dressing inappropriately
§ Not making eye contact
§ Talking in clichés
§ Trash talking your previous employer
§ Not asking questions when they
prompt you
§ Texting or looking at other social media
§ Lying or stretching the truth
Common Interview
Questions
PRACTICE TIME!!!
Be Prepared To:
• Complete a performance assessment, so think about what you
will need to take with you…
• Create a lesson plan
• Teach a lesson
• Give a presentation
Tell Me About Yourself
RIGHT WRONG
• Describe your education, training, • Talk about your family, friends and
experience and skills related to the personal interests.
job.
• Communicate your passion for • Admit that you’re a pretty boring
teaching and how you found person and there’s not much to say.
yourself pursuing that career.
• Conclude with a statement about • Explain why you’re desperate for
how this position relates to your this job.
career goals. (Tip: do a Google
search for “teacher elevator pitch.”)
Tell Me About Yourself
It should be interesting, memorable, and succinct.
Who you are
My name is Katie and I am a senior majoring in elementary education.
Specific interest
I am very interested in the 3rd grade teacher position.
Why you are qualified
• I was a student teacher at Appleton Elementary teaching third grade. I also have been a project
manager for the education club at CMU where I’ve learned to lead the club, as well as how to
multi-task and stay organized. I also have been on the soccer team, which has given me an
opportunity to practice leadership skills and work as a team.
Closing
• I want to make a difference by becoming a teacher.
Tell Me About Your
Strengths/Weaknesses
RIGHT WRONG
• Ask your supervisors, advisors, • Being dishonest. (You should be able
family/friends what your best qualities to provide examples of how you’ve
are. demonstrated your strengths.)
• Match your response to the skills and • Giving generic responses.
qualifications outlined on the job
description.
• Be honest about your weakness, but • Describing a flaw in your character
be prepared to explain how your are (e.g., “I typically run about 5 minutes
improving on it. late everywhere I go…”)
What Motivates You to do a
Good Job?
RIGHT WRONG
• Opportunities that challenge me. • Money/bonuses.
• The chance to take on a new project. • Having the summers off helps…
• Knowing that my work makes a • A supervisor breathing down my neck
difference/helping others. and watching every move I make.
What Do You Expect To Be
Doing In Five Years?
RIGHT WRONG
• Keep your response general. • Being too specific.
Communicate that you want to have
gained competencies and be
considered a valued team member.
• Stress that you are seeking long- • Being ambivalent/flakey/hesitant.
term opportunities.
• Convey your enthusiasm for the job. • Raising red flags.
Behavioral Questions
Describe the situation you were
Situation or Task in or task you needed to
accomplish. Use a specific
example. Give enough detail for
others to understand.
Describe the action you took
Action you took (be sure to keep a positive focus
on you). Describe what you did
on the project.
What happened? How did event
Results you achieved end? What did you accomplish?
What did you learn?
Common Behavioral Questions
• You are in a parent-teacher conference and the parent starts getting
irate-personally attacking you because you are a first-year teacher. How
would you diffuse the situation?
• Your classroom becomes unruly. What do you do?
• It is the beginning of the morning and your students are in the room,
seated and ready to go. As you close the door, an upset parent rushes
up and wants to talk to you about a grade he feels his child received
unfairly. What do you do?
• Give a work/student teaching example of how you are a team player.
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
• What special training or staff development is available for new
employees?
• Of what event or accomplishment are you most proud as a school (or
district)?
• What goal(s) does the building or district have for the upcoming year?
• What are some special events the district/building sponsors?
• What qualities are you looking for in an ideal candidate for this
position?
• Are there opportunities to be involved in extracurricular activities?
• When do you expect to make a hiring decision? What are the next
steps in the process?
Overall Tips to Remember
• Greet everyone with a smile and handshake.
• Look at the interviewer as you answer questions.
• Be friendly and act enthusiastic!
• Think about each question thoughtfully, and answer in a calm,
organized manner.
• At the end of the interview, ask the questions you have
practiced, unless they have already been addressed during the
interview.
• Thank the interviewer(s) for their time.
• Tell them you look forward to hearing from them.
After the Interview
Within 12-48 Hours
§ Send a Thank You note or email!
§ Send a Thank You note or email!
§ Send a Thank You note or email!
Following-Up After the
Interview
§ Phone call or email is
appropriate one business week
after your interview.
§ You’re are inquiring about the
status of the position.