There are some essential items you will want to take with you to your following teacher job interview. Confidence is one of the most influential characteristics you can bring to an interview.
Preparing for your job interview includes what to bring along with you physically, in addition to being composed mentally. Even though you don’t want to come with too much stuff loading you down, there are certain things you don’t want to leave home without.
No interviewer will want to wait for you to rummage through your bag to find the materials you are looking for, so organize well and only bring pertinent items. To avoid rummaging through your purse, put your items in a small folder that is easily accessible.
What to Bring With You to the Job Interview
1. Directions: Arrive at your job interview on time or, better yet, a little early. Make sure you know the directions where you are going. There are specific details you can confirm before the interview, and the directions are one of them.
If you haven’t been to the school before, use GPS or detailed directions to help you get there successfully. And remember to leave yourself plenty of time. You don’t want the added stress of running against the clock. Or could make the terrible mistake of showing up late. If it’s not too far away, doing a dry run the day before may be a proactive idea so you know what type of traffic to expect.
2. Extra copies of your resume: You should bring one extra copy to give to your interviewer and one to use as your reference. If you aren’t sure how many interviewers will be in the room with you, bring extras, just in case.
3. Copies of letters of recommendation and reference sheet: Bring printed copies of your recommendation letters from relevant sources. Also, you should print off and bring your reference sheet to hand to your interviewers. Ensure the references you select can speak to your teaching skills, and they will provide you with a positive reference.
4. Work portfolio: Your teaching portfolio should contain important artifacts of your teaching experience. It’s always recommended to come to an interview with samples of your past student work and lesson examples that can speak to your abilities as a talented educator. A portfolio is a great way to organize all the items you need to bring in a neat and stylized package. Include copies of your licenses, courses, certifications, and education.
5. Pen and paper: It’s essential to come prepared with your materials to fill out any necessary paperwork and note your interviewer’s name, times for future interviews, and other pertinent information. If it helps, you can take notes during the interview, which may enable you to remain entirely focused on the interviewer.
6. Notebook with a list of questions to ask your interviewer(s): At the end of the interview, you will be allowed to ask the interview panel some questions. It may take you off guard without preparing some possible questions ahead of time. This way, you’ll know what you want to ask ahead of time…and you can add any additional questions that may arise during the job interview itself.
7. Any other materials your interviewer may have specified.
What You Should Not Bring to Your Job Interview
Here are some items you will never want to be caught with at your following interview:
1. Friends, family members, or anyone else: Don’t bring someone else to a job interview- not even the waiting room. This never makes a good impression in an interview, but surprisingly, this does happen. You will win the teaching position on your own merits, not with a friend or family member’s help.
2. Gum, candy, or food: Eat before or after your interview. Never go into your interview with food in hand. Chewing gum looks unprofessional and makes it harder to understand when speaking.
3. Coffee, pop, or another type of beverage: The same rule also holds for drinks. Leave everything until after your interview is over.
4. Visible tattoos or piercings: If you have piercings or tattoos, the general rule is to cover them up for your interview. You don’t want to distract the interviewer from your skills and capabilities. You may think this is old-school thinking, but it makes a difference for many hiring managers.
5. Baseball hat: Men must do their hair properly and leave the hats at home. You should be wearing professional attire for the job interview.
Are you worried about the big interview? Schedule a mock interview with Candace today and arrive prepared!
