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How to Correctly Introduce Yourself at an Education Interview

How to Correctly Introduce Yourself at an Education Interview

How you introduce yourself at the job interview could make or break your performance. The first five minutes of your teacher job interview often sets the stage for the entire education interview process. If you can make a good first impression, you’ll find that the rest of your interview will go more smoothly, be much more enjoyable, and you will be much more confident and relaxed.

Introduce Yourself  Using These Interview Tips

Dress to Impress

What you wear to a job interview can be as important as what you say. Like it or not, we are a very visual society, and first impressions are made primarily based on our appearance. What you wear says a lot about who you are, what kind of employee you will be, and how well you will fit into the school culture.

With your appearance, making a mistake is much more noticeable than when you dress appropriately. For instance, principals will notice if a candidate enters the room while chewing gum, showing piercings or tattoos, or showing up wearing a tracksuit, jeans, or spike heels.

Always dress professionally, conservatively, and attire should align with the position you want. This will ensure a positive first impression.

Greeting the Interviewer or Interview Panel

Even though this sounds simple and straightforward, greeting the interviewer is something that many overly-nervous people forget to do, and it can go a long way.

If you notice there are multiple interviewers when you enter the room, greet each of them individually. When you meet the interviewers, don’t forget to introduce yourself unless they speak to you by name.

Some interviewers will interview so many people that they may not know who you are, so introduce yourself. You should also firmly shake their hands when you greet them as well. Building chemistry with the interviewer or entire interview panel will be necessary; an upbeat and friendly attitude helps gain rapport.

Beginning the Interview

Remain standing until the interviewer asks you to take a seat. And when you sit down, relax but be careful not to slump or lean on the interviewer’s desk. Keep in mind the interviewer will be reviewing your body language.

At the beginning of your job interview, prepare yourself to make small talk and talk about yourself, as most conversations will begin with questions centered on you as an educator.

Smiling and Positivity Count

Don’t forget to smile, but don’t go overboard. A smile can go a long way and set both you and your interviewers at ease. Body language goes a long way, either positively or negatively, to help the interviewer(s) form an impression of you.

Everyone is nervous during an interview, but try to consciously remember not to fidget, slump in your chair, look down, or frown. If you show this type of body language, it can be viewed as negative in your interviewers’ eyes. Attitude and mindset during the interview are vital to success.

Eye Contact and Confident Matter

When speaking to your interviewer, make eye contact in a way you would with a friend during a casual conversation. When talking, speak in a firm, clear, and confident tone. It won’t matter how great your answers are to the interviewers’ questions if they can’t hear or understand them.

Before you enter the interview room, practice speaking your responses out loud. Listen to determine how you sound when answering some of the tough and common education interview questions.