| Are you nervous about your next interview for a | | | | 7. Be sure your educator vocabulary is up-to-date. |
| teaching job? Don't be! Just remember these 10 | | | | Be sure you're familiar with educational jargon and |
| secrets to a perfect interview! | | | | teaching acronyms. All of those big vocabulary |
| 1. Have a teaching portfolio that is filled with | | | | words you learned in college may come back to |
| lesson plans and student work samples. | | | | haunt you at the interview. If you're asked about |
| I know it takes a great deal of time to assemble | | | | differentiated instruction, IEPs, Everyday Math, |
| a teaching portfolio, but your hard work will pay | | | | NCLB, or ELL students, you don't want to be the |
| off. Instead of just telling them you're a great | | | | candidate that responds with, "Huh?" |
| teacher, you can use your portfolio to show | | | | 8. Use lots of specific examples when you discuss |
| interviewers the exciting lessons you've used to | | | | your teaching experiences. |
| teach children in the past. | | | | Want to seem like an experienced professional? |
| 2. Practice sample interview questions before you | | | | Whenever an interviewer asks you how you |
| go to the interview. | | | | would do something, tell them how you have |
| Interview questions aren't usually unique. In fact, | | | | already been doing it. If you use words like, "I |
| the same questions will be asked at almost every | | | | would like to..." or "I might try to..." or "I could...", |
| interview. Do a google search to find common | | | | then you will seem inexperienced. Instead, say |
| teacher interview questions and practice your | | | | things like, "When I was student teaching, I..." or |
| responses beforehand. | | | | "When I taught __, I would..." or "One thing I |
| 3. Be sure you dress professionally. | | | | always do is..." This will help to emphasize and |
| You'd be surprised at how much your clothing | | | | highlight your experience. |
| matters. If you dress to casually, the interviewers | | | | 9. Prepare a good question to ask at the end of |
| may not believe that you're taking the interview | | | | the interview.our questions should be |
| seriously enough. | | | | complimentary to the school and open-ended. Try |
| 4. Make eye contact with all of the interviewers | | | | to prepare a question that will require the |
| at the table, not just the principal. | | | | interviewer to think, rather than just provide you |
| I've sat in on many interview committees and | | | | with a one-word answer. Thoughtful questions will |
| have noticed that many candidates look directly | | | | leave a lasting impression. |
| at the principal and seem to ignore the rest of | | | | 10. Don't forget to mail your thank you letter right |
| the panel. Be sure you make eye contact with | | | | away! |
| everyone at the table. | | | | Whether you send a greeting card or a formal |
| 5. Project a friendly, bubbly, positive, and outgoing | | | | business letter, be sure you thank the |
| personality. | | | | interviewers for meeting with you. You letter |
| Interview committees are looking for friendly | | | | should express your appreciation, compliment the |
| people to be on their staff. While your teaching | | | | school environment, and invite the interviewers to |
| credentials are important, you need to remember | | | | contact you again. |
| that the interview committee is also looking for | | | | There's a good eBook about teaching jobs that |
| someone with a positive person that is easy to | | | | may be able to help you. |
| get along with. If they can see your glowing | | | | "Guide to Getting the Teaching Job of Your |
| personality shine through, they are more likely to | | | | Dreams" features: |
| want you at their school. | | | | - Best ways to find job openings... even the ones |
| 6. Research the school district beforehand. | | | | that aren't advertised |
| Visit the district's website to find out their | | | | - Tips for writing cover letters and resumes |
| philosophy of education. Also, research information | | | | - More helpful tips for mastering the art of |
| about the types of students that you will be | | | | teacher interviews |
| teaching, the community, and the subjects being | | | | - 50 common interview questions.... |
| taught there. | | | | |