Bringing Schools & Teachers Together

The interview is the most important aspect of any job hunt. The impression you make on an employer will likely be the reason you do or do not get a job offer. Preparing in advance can help lower your stress level and help you perform better during the process. So, before the Interview:

• Prepare your material. Collect together all the information you may need to take to the interview:

• A copy of your CV.
• Original copies of your qualifications.
• Your Teacher registration.
• Written testimonials from past jobs.

• Research the school to learn as much as you can. Use the information to demonstrate your knowledge and interest during the interview. Research helps you to ask "intelligent questions". Be ready for the question "What do you know about our school?" Check their web site, read any publications you can locate on them. Make sure you understand their core philosophy as much as possible. Check out there ERO report.

• Rehearse. Review likely interview questions and practice answering them. Don’t forget to think about your body language. Spend some time reviewing the job description and think about what questions you would ask if you were the interviewer. If possible, practice the interview situation with a friend or family member.

• List your skills. Make sure you're ready to tell the interviewer what you have done, and what you can do for her/him. List the requirements of the job point by point, then match your experience to the appropriate requirements. Learn them. But make sure that, when the opportunity arises, they come out naturally and spontaneously — don't regurgitate them in an obviously rehearsed way. Counter any negative impact by pointing out a previous situation where you were 'thrown in at the deep end' and you demonstrated a rapid learning curve. Will you be able to address the typical skills sought in a teacher?

• Dedication and commitment
• Excellent communication skills
• Classroom management and supervisory skills
• Ability to evaluate performance and progress of your pupils
• Energy
• Creativity and clear thinking
• Planning and preparation

• List your achievements. Interviewers often seek practical examples of past behaviour, which help demonstrate your competencies. You should be prepared to share examples of achievements or past behaviours. Ensure you describe the situation, the action you took and the results or outcomes of your action. Write down 5 - 6 best examples of your achievements that relate to the job. Practise answering likely questions on your past history that show the following.

• A logical progression from one position to the next.
• Positive reasons for moving rather than negative ones or fickle rationales.
• How your experience has been built by each successive move and is now available to the new school.

Prepare for the difficult questions such as

• Tell me about yourself
• Why did you choose teaching as a career?
• Why do you want to teach at our school?
• Why should we employ you?
• Of your previous jobs which did you enjoy most and why? Which did you enjoy least and why?
• Describe what you have done in your career that shows your inititive
• Tell me about your most significant achievements
• What are your strengths? Your weaknesses?
• What does team work mean to you?

• Dress carefully. Organise your clothes for the interview in advance. Remember to dress conservatively — suitable to the culture of the school and the image you wish to project. Go easy on the trendy; avoid displaying anything that may take attention away from your skills and qualifications.

• Allow at least two hours for the interview. It's a mistake to feel rushed, or to leave the impression you have more important things to do than participate in the interview.

• Arrive a few minutes early. Always make sure you allow extra time if you are unfamiliar with the location. Plan your route carefully.

• Allow for delays and traffic jams.
• Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview so that you're relaxed.
• Arrive at the interview venue no more than five minutes early. Use the time to soak up the atmosphere of the school and mentally go over what you want to say.

• Process. Make sure you know who to ask for when you arrive, who will be interviewing you and any information on the interview format