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