Understanding the post-interview follow-up stage could solidify a teaching job offer. Put your persistence plan in action, and don’t let up.
The job interview isn’t over when your meeting ends – there is still work to do to secure the education position. Following up after the interview is critical to success.
Improve your chances of receiving a job offer or for improving your interviewing performance in future interviews. Proper post-interview follow-up will help you fine-tune your interviewing skills.
The first thing to do after your interview is complete is to evaluate your performance. Analyze your interviewing performance after it is over to understand your interviewing strengths and identify areas for improvement. It would be best to do this within a few hours of your interview while the experience is still fresh in your mind.
Post-interview Follow-up Evaluation Checklist
Write down as many details as you can remember about the interview.
- Note the date the interviewer said they would contact you.
- Were you punctual for the interview?
- Analyze what you did well and what you can improve. Be objective by assessing yourself from the employer’s perspective.
- Did you perform research beforehand on the school and the school district?
- Were any of the interview questions you were asked make you uncomfortable?
- How would you rate your posture, body language, mannerisms, and non-verbal communication?
- Did you stick to the main facts of each question, or did you go off on tangents and ramble?
- Were you able to cover all relevant information to sell your value as an educator?
- Did you have a chance to showcase your teaching portfolio?
- How did the interview panel react when you communicated your philosophy of education?
- Did you adequately display and efficiently communicate your significant achievements?
- How do you feel about the organization or school after the interview – do you view the position more positively or negatively?
After Evaluating the Interview Send a Thank You Letter to the Interviewer
Time is of the essence when sending a thank you letter, a vital job search marketing document. Send the message within 48 hours after the interview.
This post-interview follow-up step is courteous and will give another opportunity to reiterate the value you can bring to the position. The letter will remind the interviewers of your candidacy and continued interest in the teaching position.
If you do not receive a job offer, it is important to remain professional. If you are offered feedback on your performance, take it – and if the interviewer didn’t offer feedback, you should ask for it.
Understanding the reason you weren’t selected is essential to prepare for future interviews. For instance, if something out of your control, like the teacher selected, was already substitute teaching in the classroom, you can feel better about your job interview performance.
If the interviewer provides constructive feedback regarding your interview, you can improve your interview performance.
Congratulations if you receive a job offer.
When you receive a phone call from the decision-maker with a job offer, it could be the right time to discuss certain aspects of the job. Usually, it is best to wait for the contract or formal job offer to talk about the compensation package. If it was a teaching position, you should ask for information regarding the induction program, syllabus, curriculum, policies and procedures, and work schemes. Gathering these important details will enable you to take the necessary steps to prepare for your first day of class.
