Teacher job interview tips – how to prepare for a teacher job interview
Going into a teacher job interview can be daunting (especially if it’s your first!), but with the right preparation you can show the school why you’re the best candidate for the job. Below you’ll find a number of handy teacher job interview tips to help you prepare for the big day. Just don’t forget to be yourself throughout the process!
How to prepare for a teacher job interview
1. Get your ducks in a row
The first thing to do when preparing for a teacher job interview is to double check the date, time and location of the interview. If you can’t make it, give yourself plenty of time to rearrange and give the school multiple alternatives.
Additionally, confirm with the school what will be expected of you in the interview – will they require you to give a presentation, demonstrate teaching ability or simply answer questions in a standard interview format?
2. Find out what the school is looking for
The next step when preparing for a teacher job interview is to make sure that you understand what the school is looking for. Find out more about the school, their values and what their goals are. With this information, you can tailor your responses to suit what they need.
3. Showcase your teaching philosophy
Whilst tailoring your interview responses to what the school is looking for is always a good idea, it’s equally important to show them who you are, what your teaching style/philosophy is and your passion for teaching. Ideally, consider what this means in practical terms and prepare examples of how your philosophy is applied in the classroom.
4. Demonstrate your classroom management skills
If you are asked to give an example lesson during your interview it can be beneficial to also demonstrate classroom and behaviour management skills. A successful teaching career is more than your ability to teach – you also need to be able to manage a classroom and handle any behaviour issues. Demonstrating this during your interview shows schools that you have a well-rounded skill set.
5. Showcase any skills or added value outside of the classroom
It can be highly beneficial to showcase any additional skills or experience that you have outside of the classroom – activities that highlight knowledge, talents or leadership that you can draw on and leverage in your interview.
For example:
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Directing student clubs
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Coaching sports teams
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Leading music or language programmes
Explain how these activities both broaden learning opportunities for students and allow you to form deeper and more meaningful connections with students.
6. Prepare for the standard interview questions
It can be hard to know how to properly prepare for interviews when you don’t know what questions you might be asked. However, with a little planning and the right techniques, you can be prepared for any question.
Know that there are certain types of questions that will always be asked. Spend time reflecting on these questions and have some examples ready to back up your answers. The STAR technique is great for this:
Situation – briefly describe the context of the situation. Who, what, why, where, when is useful here.
Task – Explain your role or responsibility in that situation. Also explain what the goal/desired outcome was.
Action – Detail the specific action(s) you took to address the situation.
Result – Describe the outcome of your actions and what you learned from the experience.
7. Ask the right questions
The questions that you ask at the end of an interview can be a great way to stand out, especially if you delve into something deeper than what can be found freely on the school website.
This, of course, can make a positive impression on the school, but it’s also essential for assessing whether or not the school is the right fit for you.
We recommend asking questions around progression and professional development, school culture and where the school sees you in five years’ time.
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