Happy Teacher
Interview Season! {Party hats, cake, and wine are definitely in order here,
right???}
I’ve read a lot
of awesome interview posts out there.
One of my friends, Kristen, from Easy Teaching Tools, has an amazing
post you can and SHOULD read here.
I’m going to
write about something I don’t see very often. I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the best at
interviews. You know those people
who are really smart, but are terrible test-takers? That’s exactly how I am with interviews. I know I’m a great teacher who has a
lot to offer {just like you!}, but interviews are not my best
moments. Some people rock every
single interview and get multiple job offers at once. I envy them! So
if you’re anything like me, I hope this post will give you some tips that may
help.
Be prepared. This is often the
hardest part! You never know what
to expect during an interview. Even
if you are months ahead of looking for a new job, you can never start too
early. Start researching common
questions online. What helped me
more than ANYTHING else was to find the most common questions and then type my
answers out in paragraph form. I feel like I am much more articulate on paper than in person, and it really helped to have something to practice and memorize. Write
out bullet points to study the day of your interview to condense everything. That also really helped me to keep track of the most important things I wanted to say.
Do some trial interviews. If you have a trusted friend or family member, ask them to do
a mock interview with you. I even
know some people who have “over applied” to many districts, even some they
didn’t particularly have an interest in, just to get more interview experience.
Study current
education buzzwords. Even though
I’ve been out of a university setting for a while, I always try to stay current
and on top of my own professional development. Believe it or not, even Instagram has been so helpful! I never would have known about Lucy
Calkins had it not been for IG, because people were singing her praises all
over the place. Principals who
knew that I received my credential years ago have been impressed with my
knowledge about what is current in the teaching world.
Talk to your friends
in the district, or your teacher friends online. Teachers are friendly and helpful!
Ask anyone who may have interviewed recently to find out what kind of
questions districts are asking out there.
I always check with people who are interviewing so that I can figure out
what districts find relevant, and to learn any new buzzwords. Even when I’m not interviewing! Check out my “The
Questions” section below for tons of sample questions and ideas of what else
you might expect to do during your interview.
Start strong and end strong. First impressions
really matter! If you start off
strong with the first question, it will set the tone for the entire
interview. They will almost always
ask you to talk about your education and experience first. Make sure you have your facts memorized, and also feel confident with talking about your background.
One thing I like to do when I answer this question is to quickly make sure I mention one thing that I learned or gained from
working at that particular school/district before moving on to the next thing on my resumé. For example, I might say, “I taught first grade for five
years at XYZ School, where I received training in __________ and really learned
how to utilize __________ in my classroom.” This way, I was able to let them know about training or
skills ahead of time, in case the opportunity didn’t come up for me to mention
some important points.
At the end of the
interview, they will also almost always ask you if there is anything else you
want to mention. I haven’t always
been asked this, which is why I like to get it over with at the beginning of
the interview. Have your answer
for this memorized, as well. They
may also ask you if you have any questions for them, so know what you’re going
to ask ahead of time. Ask
something specific to their school, and show them that you’ve already done
research, but you want to know more about a particular curriculum, technology
component, school event, professional development opportunity, etc.
Be impressed...not just impressive! Study the school/district beforehand. Choose a few things that
impress you, maybe something about the school itself, and mention it during
your interview! They’ll be
impressed that you did your homework.
Say something like, “I know you use _________, which I have experience
with.” Or, “On your website, I
noticed that you had an event for __________, and I was really impressed by the
amount of parent involvement.”
Maybe you love technology {like I do, that’s always my angle!}, or maybe
they use a particular curriculum you are excited to try. I always research the district website
and do some sleuthing on schools in the district. I may or may not have perused my current school’s Twitter
feed {and I have to say, they were super impressed that I knew how much they
rocked Read Across America week that year}. The Great Schools website is also a resource {it
usually gives API test scores and parent reviews}. You can also research schools even deeper by finding their SARC
– School Accountability Report Card - reports from prior years {usually found
on the district website. I’m not
sure if this is only a California thing, though!}. Read about the school and district news and events, new curriculum
adoptions, use of technology, school clubs, character education, school and
district awards, ANYTHING that can show you’ve researched them. Find something to be excited about and
connect with, and then let them know just how excited you are!
It's show time! On the day of your
interview, it’s so important to focus on yourself and take the time to
breathe. Get up early and take time getting ready. Some say you should
meditate before a big event {for example, lay on your bed for 10 minutes and imagine
yourself succeeding at your interview and then the feeling you will have once you’ve
gotten the job}. Others say you
should do a Superman stance {thanks Grey’s Anatomy!} to get yourself pumped.
What should you wear? They always say
“dress for the job you want”, but thank goodness teachers nowadays don’t wear
the um…interesting clothes my own teachers used to wear when I was a kid! {Insert oversized cat sweater here.} My best advice: dress professionally, but comfortably! This isn’t a day
to try something new. If you don’t
normally wear heels, don’t wear them!
If you don’t normally rock a red lipstick, don’t wear it! If you’ve never worn a particular
hairstyle, don’t do it! You definitely don’t want to be worried about any of
those things while you’re there.
Stay in your comfort zone, but dress professionally. I say even more professionally than you
normally would wear in the classroom.
Most of the people I've seen during interviews wear some sort of blazer with
dress pants or a skirt. That’s
perfect. I’m not someone who
usually wears heels or skirts, so I definitely wouldn’t wear them to an
interview. My go-to outfit is
black dress pants, a black blazer, a colorful shirt {to give me something to
stand out}, and nice, comfortable flats.
I try to always keep it simple and professional.
The jury is still
out on the “right” time to interview.
I’ve read that being the first one to interview is best, and I’ve also
read that being the last one is best.
Either way, accept any time they offer you, and know that usually they
only have a certain time frame in which to interview {often just one day}, so
they can’t always be flexible. If
you’re unable to make the time they offer, ask if there is another time
available. If you can’t make it at
all, decline gracefully, and let them know that you’d like them to hold on to
your resumé for the future.
Show up to their office
about 10 minutes early. It’s never
a good idea to show up late {obis.} or more than 15 minutes early. I usually arrive to the parking lot
about 20 minutes early, but I spend a good 10 minutes in my car looking over my
notes, listening to my favorite song, or calling a friend to distract me!
Be friendly to
the office staff and anyone else who may be waiting with you. I almost always start up a conversation
with the people who are interviewing alongside me. We talk about what grade we teach, where we teach, the
weather, anything. It helps to
appear friendly to whoever may be walking by. And who knows, maybe you both will be hired and you’ll make
a new friend! Stay positive, say
hello, and smile at anyone who walks by!
Bring a small
notebook and pen. This is handy
for several reasons. They may not
mind if you take some time to jot down notes for your answers. They will let you know if you aren't allowed to write anything down. I’ve even been given time beforehand to
look at the questions and write down what I want to say. That was amazing! I always jot down the names of the staff
members on my interview panels.
They will almost always do a very quick introduction at the start of the
interview, or they will have nameplates with their names on them. If I’m interviewing at a district with
a large panel of principals, I’ll write down their last names and look up their
school site as soon as I can. If
I’m at a school site with principals and teachers, I’ll just write down the
name of the principal and vice principal.
See my “After Party” section below for why this is important.
You might be
interviewing by yourself, or you may share the time with other
interviewees. If you’re interviewing
alongside other teachers, usually they will have a specific spot for you to
sit, and they will let you know who can answer first. You may or may not be the first one to answer, and the order could change for every question. This can be both great, and not so
great! Sometimes, not answering
first is awesome and it will give you time to formulate an answer or jot some
notes down. Sometimes, another
person will say what you wanted to say.
If someone gives your answer, just say “I agree with what ________
said,” and either mention something you would do differently or something you
would add to their already great idea.
Smile at the other interviewees while you’re in there, let the panel
know that you get along well with others, even in stressful situations.
Be respectful of
their time. Most of the time,
you’ll have no more than a couple of minutes to answer each question. They may even have a timekeeper who
will give you a signal that time is almost up. This is stressful, but it’s also a big reason why it is so
helpful to practice ahead of time.
When they ask you
if you have any questions {most of them will save this for the end}, be sure to
ask when you should hear from them.
If I don’t have anything specific to ask, I let them know that I don’t
have any questions because I have already researched everything I was
interested in learning. This is
also a good time to show them your portfolio, or to leave a copy of your mini
portfolio with them, if you have one.
I can honestly say that I’ve never once been asked to show my portfolio,
but other people have. Even if you
just have a business card with a link to an online portfolio, it’s always good
to have something just in case.
Speaking of portfolios, there are a TON of websites out there with info
on creating them and what should be included. I would suggest not leaving a copy of just your resumé since most likely they already have their own copies in front of them. However, if you have something relevant
with letters of recommendation, student work samples, and/or photographs, that can often set you apart. {Photos can
be of classroom setup, student work samples, photos of you teaching a lesson,
etc. Side note: steer clear of showing
student names and faces!}.
Fake it 'till you make it. This is a saying
that I always find easier said than done, but I do feel like when I try to
project a positive attitude and appearance, I feel more positive. So…smile, smile, smile! They know you’re nervous! They’re probably nervous, too! Stay positive and upbeat, even if you
make a mistake.
If you don’t know
how to answer a question, just be honest about it. They’ll appreciate your honesty. If you don’t have experience in a certain area or are
unfamiliar with a buzzword, let them know. Don’t be scared to ask for some time to think {but again, be
mindful of their time}. They will
totally understand if you are a brand new teacher and you don’t have a lot of experience. In this case, talk
about your “ideal” situation and what you would like to do in the classroom, plus any experience you do have from student teaching or volunteering in the
classroom.
So what questions should you expect? There are a TON
of websites out there that give you interview tips and sample questions. If you Google “Teacher Interview
Questions”, you’ll find so many questions, it’s overwhelming. They are super helpful, but the reality
is that every interview is different.
Every school and district is looking for something different. You may experience something completely different than any of the examples I give, as well!
It is impossible to know what they will
ask you, but there are some standard questions that are almost always asked:
* Tell us about your background
and experience.
* Describe what your classroom
would look like if I walked in during a _____ {reading, math, balanced
literacy, guided reading, etc.} lesson.
* Why do you want to work in
our school/district?
* What classroom management
strategies do you use?
* What qualities do have that
make you an asset to our school/district?
* Do you have any questions for
us?
Some other
questions I’ve been asked are:
* Do you have experience with
English Language Learners and/or Title 1 schools?
* How do you use assessments in
the classroom?
* What kind of technology have
you used? Are there any specific
programs you’ve used?
* How would you help a
struggling student?
* How would you help a student
who is off task?
* How would you help a student
with an IEP?
* How do you know your students
have met their goals?
* How do you set goals and
expectations in your classroom?
* What training have you
had? {They’ve also asked if I’m
familiar with certain programs/curriculum.}
* How do you collaborate with
your team?
* How do you communicate with
parents?
* How do you differentiate
instruction?
During your
interview, you may be asked to do more than just answer questions. They might want you to perform some type of task, create a lesson, or even do a demo lesson. Demo
lessons might be to the interview panel or in a classroom full of
children. You might have the
freedom to come up with a lesson, or they may even give you a lesson that has
already been planned.
I was once asked
to create a lesson plan on the spot after I was given a list of standards and grades
to choose from. I was given
standards from K-5 in both ELA and Math, and I spent a lot of the time debating
whether or not I should go with something more comfortable {like a guided reading
lesson}, or something that I thought would be more fun and engaging {a shapes
and geometry lesson}. In that
situation, I actually thought of an awesome TpT activity from Easy Teaching Tools, so I incorporated
some of the fun things from that unit to add in to my lesson. I’m not sure if they were wowed by it, but I was definitely
confident in how I approached it and it was an activity I had done with my
students already. Choose something
comfortable to you. If they ask
you questions about it, then you’ll be able to explain it easily. Remember to have a “hook” or an opening {including a reminder of “yesterday, we learned…”} and an engaging lesson. It’s ok
to talk about your ideal situation, so you can include the use of technology, how you
would assess, and if you have time, how you would extend or differentiate the
lesson.
Occasionally,
you’ll be stumped by a question that will really throw you for a loop. Like, really. One question I was asked had to do with difficulties
teachers may face with implementing Common Core standards. Mind you, this was a few years ago when
the CCSS were fairly new. I had no
idea how to answer, because I hadn’t used them at the time. My answer was very vague, and I’m sure
I used the words “Ummmm…I’m flexible” somewhere in my answer.
I recently asked around on Instagram
and Facebook for some examples of tricky questions and got
some great responses!
* Where do you see yourself in
10 years?
* If I walked into your
classroom, what would I see?
* What are three adjectives to
describe your weaknesses?
* Outside of teaching, what
hobbies or attributes do you have that would contribute to our school?
* How strong-willed are you?
* If you got the call tomorrow
that you got this job, what would be the first thing you would do?
* How do you add rigor to your
lessons?
* What would you do if a parent
told you you were the worst teacher their child ever had?
* What would you have changed
about your old school/district?
* Tell me about a time when
(insert something negative here) happened and how did you handle it?
* When have you done something
that was against district policy for the betterment of students?
* If most of your students
showed no growth on a standardized test, who do you think the district should
blame?
* Someone was even
asked a problem-solving task that involved a piece of paper and a tape
dispenser, and she had to raise the dispenser 8 inches off the table without
having to hold either one when it was done!
YIKES!!! Trust
me, these are not common questions!!! {If you’ve gotten any crazy questions, leave them in the
comments below!} And remember, you may have an interview that is completely different than any of these!
The After Party. Congratulations! You made it through your interview! To me, that is a celebration in
itself. But you’re not done
yet! As soon as possible, send a thank
you note or email. Believe it or
not, these can often set you apart or help them to keep you in their mind for
future positions. While a handwritten
note is the most personal, many principals only have just a few days {or even a
few hours!} to make their final decision.
An email will be equally appreciated and much faster. I sometimes kept thank you cards in my
car when I was interviewing, so that I was able to write them quickly and drop
them off at the post office ASAP.
I always made sure that I had the names of everyone on my panel. Sometimes, that wasn’t always possible,
and I had to do some research of the school sites to make sure I had their
names correct. I felt like
having the names of everyone was most important when I interviewed with a panel
of principals, because I didn’t want anyone to feel left out if they mentioned
me later on. I didn’t worry about
it as much when I interviewed at a school site, because I could send one note
to the principal and made sure to thank him/her “and the panel”. Always send their letters to their
personal school sites, not the district office.
If I didn’t have
time to show my mini portfolio during the interview itself, I’ve even mailed {or
emailed} one copy to each person on the panel. I didn’t do this for every interview, but only for the ones
I wanted the most. I have no idea if they looked at it, but I think it helped me
to stand out and it showed that I was serious about being hired.
Also, to
prepare myself for any future interviews, I always take the time afterward to
write down any of the questions I was asked.
Treat yo' self. Seriously. You deserve
something special the day of your interview! Distract yourself afterwards by hanging out with friends,
going to a nice dinner, or going to see a movie. Exercise, get a manicure, do something that makes you happy,
even if it’s only for a little while.
Try to plan this ahead of time, so that you have something happy to look
forward to all day.
Just breathe. The timeline for
hearing from the school or district can range from one day to a couple of
weeks. In my experience, it’s
usually Human Resources that has the responsibility of offering you the
position, and it takes them some time to process paperwork, call references,
etc. If you aren’t the lucky one
to be chosen, you’ll probably only receive an email if you weren’t invited to a
second interview or offered a job.
Sometimes, it may take longer than two weeks to hear back from them. Some people feel that it is appropriate
after a couple of weeks to call or email just to check where they are in the interview
process, but try to avoid being too persistent or pushy if you do this.
What’s next? Some schools/districts ask you to only
go through one interview. Those
are the easiest, but they also only give the principals a super quick snapshot
of who you are. Others have you do
second, or even third, interviews.
If you’re asked for another interview, that's awesome! That’s always a great sign, and I
always feel much more confident going into the next round.
They may ask you to answer another series of questions, create a lesson
plan, or even do a demo lesson in front of a panel or in a classroom full of
students. If they ask you to go
through another round of questions, sometimes it’s a new set of interviewers
who may ask some of the same questions.
The rest of the questions tend to be more specific to the school or
district needs.
It's not you, it's them. Really. If you aren’t
offered the job, please don’t take it personally. I’ve been told by principals before that they already had
someone in mind, and sometimes they just go through the interview process
because they have to go through the motions. Sometimes it’s a VERY close race and it all comes down to who
has the most experience in the grade they want to fill. Sometimes, they have too many people on
a team with similar personalities, and they want to balance it out. Sometimes, they are looking for someone
with specific training or skills that will benefit the team. Sometimes, they want people who are
brand new to teaching, and sometimes they want people who have years of
experience. I was told once that
I was in the top three choices after the first interview round, but I still
didn’t end up getting the job after the second one. I
totally understand how discouraging it is, but I know enough by now to know
that there are often so many other things involved and it had nothing to do
with me.
It took me some
courage to start doing this, but I started sending emails to the principals asking for
advice on what they think might help me with my future interviews. I didn’t receive replies very often,
but the ones I did were very positive and nothing but kind and constructive
criticism, if they even felt there was anything to criticize. Most said it was because I didn’t have
experience in that grade or that they were looking for a particular training
that I didn't have. It
never hurts to ask! They
understand how difficult it is, and those who are kind enough to reply want to
see you succeed.
Just keep swimming! Keep trying. If you aren’t able to find a job just
yet, try to do something related to teaching. Become a substitute, work in an after-school program or
summer camp, or just volunteer at a neighborhood school. Principals may really appreciate someone who
is willing to work an after-school event, or help with copies or translating
for the parents. Do something to
get your foot in the door if you are brand new. Making yourself visible and known to some people who can
recommend you is really helpful later on. Sometimes, it's all in who you know.
The one thing I
always take away from interviews is the experience it gives me. Good or bad, I had the chance to
practice doing something that terrified me. It has only made me stronger, more confident, and
infinitely more prepared. Whenever
things didn’t work out, I stayed positive and kept applying and putting my resumé out there. Amazing things
will happen if you just keep going!
I really hope
that you’ve found some tips and tricks that will help you during your next
interview. I'm wishing you the best of luck right now, and I know
you are an amazingly talented teacher who will find something awesome! You’re gonna rock this!!!
Happy Teaching!
