Teaching Jobs

Interviews

While your paperwork speaks for you before an interview, what you say during the interview will win the job.

Telephone Interviews

A telephone interview is also a screening interview, narrowing the candidates down to the 3 or 4 who will interview on site. Phone interviews are conducted to make sure you are still interested, and to start the selection process. Sample questions include:
1. If you are still interested in this position, can you tell us why?
2. Tell about your teaching experience.
3. Describe a lesson that you taught that went well.
4. Describe the room arrangements and organization of a classroom where you have taught.
5. Tell about your approach to classroom management.
6. Are you available to interview on _________?

Job Fair

To prepare for a job fair, be ready to answer the same questions listed under telephone interviews. Also, be dressed appropriately and be very well groomed. Career clothes are a must. Suits are appropriate, and all clothing must be conservative in nature. Here is a reminder list of what to take to the job fair:
1. Resumes
2. Your portfolio
3. A small notebook and a pen for taking notes
4. Don't take a backpack - limit yourself to a small attaché bag or simply your purse and portfolio.

At a job fair, you have the opportunity to ask questions. Ask the recruiters about the growth in their districts and how many new teachers are being hired. Ask recruiters about the cost of living in their district and availability of housing. Is there a college or university nearby for pursuing advanced coursework? Ask about average class size and professional development opportunities for you as a teacher. Ask if there is an induction program for new teachers and what constitutes that program.

On-Site

Before you go to an on-site interview, do your homework about the district and school. Make sure that you know the answers to the questions listed under job fair, since you should know about the demographics, cost of living, class size, and demographics of a district before you go to an on-site interview. Much of this information is available online, by going to the school and district websites. Asking your college professors is another way to get inside information.

Keys for a successful on-site interview include:
1. Arrive about 10 to 15 minutes before the interview to ensure that you are there on time.
2. Be dressed in your best career cloths.
3. Take all of the same items listed under job fair (portfolio, paper and pen, etc.)
4. If invited to tour the school or watch a class - accept! Never be too busy to interview.
5. Never, NEVER leave your cell phone on. Do not be too busy to interview.
6. Be nice to everyone. Secretaries and support staff often influence hiring decisions informally.
7. Be prepared for an interview of at least an hour.
8. Send a written thank you to the interviewer(s). Emails are acceptable for this, too.
9. Find out when decisions will be finalized. Do not pester the school personnel with unnecessary calls.
10. See sample questions on this website and be prepared to answer them.
11. Be prepared to ask appropriate questions about the school, but don't ask questions that are answered on their website. Asking about professional development and induction programs is appropriate. Verify if you will have your own classroom.

Behavior-Based Interviewing

One style of interview is the behavior-based interview, which is built on the premise that your past behavior is the best predictor of your future performance. A skilled interviewer will ask you to describe past lessons and actual teaching if this style of interview is used. Interviewers who start questions with "tell me about a time when," "describe your experiences with," and "how have you ..." are using behavior-based interviewing (BBI) Even if an interviewer doesn't start his/her questions in this manner, you should answer questions with examples from your past teaching experiences, as this indicates that you know what to do when hired by their district.

Sample questions
1. Describe two important curricular topics that you have taught in this grade/subject area. (curriculum/ content knowledge)
2. How have the state standards for this subject guided your teaching? (curriculum / content knowledge)
3. Tell me about a lesson you taught and why it went well. (lesson planning)
4. Name a specific method or strategy you have used to teach in the past and why it is one you will continue to use. (methods of teaching)
5. Describe a classroom management plan that you have used and why it worked. (classroom management)
6. What have you done to start and end a class successfully? (management / planning)
7. Describe an approach you have used to remediate underachieving students. (diversity / motivation)
8. While a lesson is ongoing, how can you tell if students are "getting" the material? (assessment)
9. Describe positive communications with students' families that you have used in the past. (communication)
10. How have you evaluated your own teaching to improve? (professionalism)

For questions in ALL subject areas, see The Definitive Guide to Getting a Teaching Job, by Mary C. Clement.