Top 5 Reasons for Failing a Teacher Interview
Top 5 Reasons for Failing a Teacher Interview
In the spirit of "if you don't do it wrong you'll do it right," here are the top 5 reasons for bombing a teacher interview. Learn from the mistakes of others as you ace every teacher interview question.
#1: You Didn't Research the School
While schools share a lot in common, each school has its own culture and the people who make the hiring decisions care about different things. If you walked in thinking that your charm would carry you, you made a mistake. You have to know what they most value and translate your experience to speak to those values.
Next time, do your research. Talk to people at the school. Scour the internet for clues about how they think, what they value, and what they care most about. Study the position posting for the values they are looking for. And translate your experience as the answer to the values they seek in a new teacher.
#2: You Didn't View the Interview as a Selling Opportunity
I know, you are a teacher, not a salesperson. But in an interview, you are there to sell how you will solve their problems. What you've done in school is interesting only to the extent they see how it helps them get what they want.
Next time, view the interview as your chance to sell how you solve their problems, are not a risk, and are clearly better than the competition.
#3: Poor Body Language
The way we hold our body says a lot about who we are. If you communicated a lack of confidence, aggression, irritation, arrogance, lacking enthusiasm or a host of other things that red flagged you, you didn't get the job. Practice the little things like posture, eye contact and how you use your body in responding to questions. Otherwise you may be sending the wrong signals.
#4: Poor Practice
When I ask teachers and others how they prepare for an interview, I hear everything from "I don't" to focusing on questions that aren't likely to be asked.
Start by focusing on the risks that jump out from your background and resume. No one wants to hire a problem but they hire to solve problems. If you lack experience, be ready to speak to it. If you change schools often, be ready to speak to it. Practice speaking out loud great responses to the risks that others might see on your resume.
Find a good interview guide tailored to teachers and focus on the questions they will likely ask. Identify the likely questions by analyzing the position posting. What words do they use? What values are they communicating? More than likely, you will see questions that relate to these values.
#5: They Asked Poor Questions
As a hiring manager, I'm stunned when I open the interview up and ask if the candidate has any questions and hear, "no, I'm good." If that's your response, you're not good. In fact, you lost out on the opportunity.
Have two or three thoughtful questions ready. I like to ask about the attributes of people who thrive at their school. I also ask personal questions of the hiring manager such as why they enjoy working there or the path that led them there. But have a few good questions ready or you will bomb the interview.
In summary, do your homework, know what they're looking for, sell yourself by being clear how you solve the problems they face and are not a risk to them. Practice the questions you're likely to get and also have good questions for them. And if you do, your chances of getting the teaching job you want just got better.
Tips on How to Decide on the Best Massage Therapy School Corona The 5 Best Why You Should Sign Up For Dental Assistant School Extreme Peanut Allergy School Problem International Happy School Loans for Graduate School: Sigh of Relief for Students A review of the Education as well as Career in India M M Public School a Good School for Kids Education of SC and ST in India Guru Nanak Public School a Good School for Kids Education V's Training Education Loans in India for Bright Career Education In Greece Identified problem: Poor Public Schools Public Schools