It’s interview season… that time of year when teaching jobs are starting to post! Maybe you are a recent or soon-to-be grad looking for your first job. Or, perhaps you are a seasoned teacher looking to change schools. In any case, applying for jobs and interviewing can feel like a full time job in and of itself! Take some of the stress out of the hiring process and make yourself stand out from the crowd with these tips!
Preparing for Your Interview
You’ve applied for a job and you have an interview! Now what? Being well prepared for your interview is key! Practicing mock interviews is a great way to help yourself get ready! This Interview Prep resource is an invaluable tool. With over 100 sample questions, reviewing and practicing with this tool allows you to prepare for any question that comes your way!
Additionally, it helps to do some research about the district you are applying to. That way, you can tailor some of your answers to fit the school. For example, you may find out that a district has a high proportion of free-and-reduced lunch recipients. You can then talk about experience you have had with supporting students who have food insecurity. Or if a school uses a certain curriculum that you are familiar with, you can talk up the ways you have used it!
During and After Your Interview
Before the interview starts — relax! It is natural to be nervous, but taking some time to relax will help your confidence. Listening to some calming music or saying some affirmations can help you walk in the door feeling ready to go!
I always brought my teaching portfolio with me to interviews. Now that I am a teacher and have served on interview panels, it seems that it’s a 50/50 chance whether candidates bring them or not. And interviews are so tightly scheduled so there’s no guarantee that there will be time for it to be looked at. But for me, having my portfolio with me helped me feel more prepared! For example, if I was asked a question about data sheets I could refer to the sample data sheets I had in my binder to show an example.
After your interview, it is a good idea to send a thank you note or email to the members of the interview For example, I remember going to an interview where they asked me about my experience working with students who are English-language learners. This was something I knew about, my mind completely blanked! When I sent my thank you email to the director of special ed who had interviewed me, I stated that I wanted to follow up on my answer, and I described how I have worked with ESL students in the past. I ended up getting a call back! So following up definitely helps you stand out!
Second Interviews and Beyond
You got a call back for a second interview! Go you! Usually, this means teaching a demo lesson. When you get the info about the demo lesson, make sure you understand:
- what grade level/age group you are preparing for
- how many students are in the group
- what subject area and/or standard they want you to prepare for
- how long the lesson will be
One of my first demo lessons was for a preschool ABA classroom. I had to prep a 30 minute lesson about community helpers. One way I prepared was by reaching out to one of the teachers on the panel to ask for some background about the class I would be demo-ing with. I was able to get some helpful insight into the abilities of the students so I could tailor my lesson to them!
Another tip that makes candidates stand out in a demo lesson is to use the children’s names! I always start my demo lesson by having the kids introduce themselves. Admin have complimented me for doing that in demo lessons, and when I serve on panels it always stands out to me when teachers use names. I have even seen candidates bring nametags for the kids to wear.
After the second interview, you may have to play the waiting game while you find out what your next steps are. Remember to follow up as appropriate, and keep up the search in the meantime. You got this!
Veteran teachers, do you have any tips for interviews? Share your wisdom with us so we can help our new special ed colleagues succeed!
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