Going to a teacher job interview can be a highly stressful situation for many people. The best way to help relieve this stress is to maintain a positive attitude and be prepared. Preparation cannot be stressed enough.
Think of it as if your interview officially starts from the moment you receive a phone call. Use the time leading up to your interview to become as prepared as possible to ace your interview. Prepare for your teacher job interview and alleviate much of your stress.
You will need to spend more time than the interview itself will take in preparing for it. This preparation will include learning about the job and the school and preparing yourself to answer interview questions and effectively explain your assets as they apply to the teaching position.
On average, interviews for teaching jobs last 30 – 40 minutes. During the interview, you could be asked numerous questions.
Interview Questions Could Include:
Explain the methods you use to increase student retention.
What techniques do you incorporate to ensure effective behavior management?
How will you prepare for the first day of school?
Describe a challenging teaching experience.
What steps will you take to enhance student leadership in the classroom?
You can find more interview questions here and here.
You will impress your interviewer if you have done your homework and taken the time to learn about the school district and the position. It also shows that you are interested in working within their environment.
It is also important to spend time on your appearance. The way you look can be just as important as what you say. You want to give the best first impression possible, and there is no better way to accomplish this than by what you wear.
Don’t go to an interview empty-handed, but don’t go with your hands full of things on the flip side. It’s a good idea to bring a copy of your resume, cover letter, and philosophy of education statement, as well as a portfolio.
They may or may not want to review your teaching portfolio. Bring yours just in case.
Performing these preparations will not only improve your overall interview performance but will also alleviate much of the stress.
Here are Ten things to make your teaching job interview as stress-free as possible. #teaching #teachers #education Click To Tweet:
10 Steps to Make an Interview Less Stressful
1. Be yourself, be positive and smile.
2. Prepare for the interview questions you will likely be asked. Rehearse the answers you would like to provide out loud in front of the mirror or on a video.
3. Know why you want to work for a particular school or district. Do your best to obtain information about the school ahead of time.
4. Know the details of the teaching position, if possible. What unique duties and responsibilities will go with the position?
5. Know what you have to offer…what training you have had, and what you have done that makes you ideal for this position.
6. Be prepared to give names, job titles, email addresses, and phone numbers of your employment references.
7. Bring copies of your current resume and a teaching portfolio to the interview.
8. Make sure you can get there on time. Know where you are going and how long it will take you to get there. Go there once beforehand if possible, so you are sure of the route.
9. Allow at least one hour for the interview. Don’t make any appointments or plans for right after the interview.
10. Get enough sleep the night before. Of course, be clean and neat. Prepare your clothes the night before.
If you follow these interviewing tips, you will likely be less stressed and prepared to face the interview panel.
