12 Amazing tips: How to prepare for teacher interview

Teaching interviews are so stressful. And, if you’ve landed one, you’ve likely googled “how to prepare for teacher interview.” Well, I may not be Google, but I am here to offer 12 steps for success in your interview!

While I can’t totally ease the stress of your first interview in your new career, I can help by sharing the tips that helped me land my first job. So, here are my top ten tips for nailing your first interview! By the end of this post, I just know you’ll be ready to ace your interview.

Preparing for interviews: Remember that everyone starts somewhere

As a prospective teacher, there is no better feeling than being invited to an interview for a teaching job. An invitation to an interview is an exciting opportunity, as it means that you have impressed a school or district enough to be considered for a teaching position.

But, with the excitement of being invited to an interview, comes the challenge of actually preparing for it… Nevermind the stress of going into an interview as a new professional in the field!

Advice #1: We all have to start somewhere, so hype yourself up by focussing on the positives

The thing that caused me the most stress is feeling like I was underprepared and under-qualified for the role. While you’ll likely feel way more confident after 10 or 20 years of practicing my profession, remember that you have unique (and crucial) skills as a new educator!

Off the top of my head, here are 5 things that make new teachers great:

1. You are immersed in current pedagogy and practice
2. Everything is fresh in your mind – The tips, tricks, and games are still fresh!
3. You know how to use the latest technology
4. You bring a fresh energy to the profession (Ok, I know we’re all super tired out of grad school, but this is still true!)
5. You get to work alongside and learn from a ton of other professionals. Your network will grow so much bigger than you could have imagined

Advice #2: Know what to expect

Every school, school board, and province (or state if you’re in the US) will have their own hiring processes. It is not abnormal to have multiple interviews! Remember that you will be entrusted with the care of around 20 littles every year, so it’s important that you’re a good fit for the class and school and that they’re a good fit for you.

If you’re nearing the end of your program, keep your eyes out for university-organized preparation days. Ours was called a “Professional Preparation Conference,” and it was an invaluable experience. There I learned the processes for the local boards, hear advice straight from principals in the area, and got to watch a mock interview with one of our peers.

If you don’t have something available, reach out to teachers in your area (or speak with your professors) to learn how the process is in the school board you’re applying to.

Overview of the process: How to prepare for a teacher interview

Teacher interviews are a critical step in the job search process for teachers. A good teacher interview can help a school or district decide if a candidate is the right fit for their program, and can help a candidate decide if the school or district is the right fit for them (both are important, BTW).

Teacher interviews are typically conducted in the same way as other job interviews, with a combination of general questions about a candidate’s background, skills, and experiences, as well as more specific questions about their teaching style and philosophy.

A successful teacher interview should be a two-way conversation, as both the interviewer and the candidate should be able to ask questions and learn more about each other. Preparing for a teacher interview can be a daunting task, but with the right tips and strategies, you can be confident and ready to ace your teacher interview.

Let me be explicit and say that I was extremely fortunate to get a job offer early in my job-hunting experience. So, I can’t speak to what every interview process will be like. But, here’s what to expect (based on my experiences).

• You will first have a more general interview (like with the head of the school in international schools or a board of principals to be accepted to the board)
  • They will ask general questions where they want to learn about your teaching philosophy, basic experience, and if your goals and experience align with their needs
• Then, you will have an interview with the principal of the school you’re applying to
  • In this one, be prepared to dive into more detail. I was asked to explain what the principal would see and hear if they walked into my classroom, some questions about classroom management, and how I would build community, for example
• A few days after the interview, you should follow up with the principal or HR professional managing the process (I’ll go into more detail below)
• If it was a success, you’ll get an offer! From here it’s going to look pretty different depending on where you applied

Advice #3: Prepare, prepare, prepare! Know your resume

Preparing for a teaching interview is essential in order to show that you are an ideal candidate for the position. When you prepare for a teaching interview, you can practice your answers to common questions and practice your personal sales pitch.

The first part of this is knowing your resume. It’s your past, and you should know it, after all… But make sure to give it a read over so you’re ready to answer questions about the experience you listed.

Speaking of resumes, be sure that yours stands out from the others! I’ll dive more into resumes in another post, but if you’re still putting yours together, read this post for 10 amazing resume tips for new teachers (from experienced teachers), by My Perfect Resume.

Advice #4: Know the school

One of the first questions I was asked in the process was what I knew about the school. In another interview, I was asked why I thought I might be a good fit for the school.

There’s two reasons why this answer is super important:

1. It shows you’ve done the research (and that you’re not just mass-applying to every school possible)
2. It gives you a chance to help your interviewer envision you teaching in their school. Use phrases like, “my personal values align well with your school principals of…” or, “when I was considering applying, I was excited to see that… is a key component to your school’s teaching philosophy.”

Be sure to search the school and its mission, values, and initiatives to make sure you are aligned with the school’s values and that you’re ready to answer that question. This also helps with advice #10!

Advice #5: Know the teaching team

This was something the principals told us during the professional preparation days and I’m super glad I took the advice, because it helped reduce stress and helped me connect with the interviewers.

Once you know who the principal of the school is, give them an internet search to learn the basics about them. They will likely ask a question about the area they specialize in (like math, literacy, or outdoor learning, for example), so it helps to be a little extra prepared for questions in that field.

On that note…

Advice #6: Run over some practice interview questions

Even if you can’t attend a mock interview like we did, you can watch videos or read articles online to see which types of questions you should prepare for.

Again, there will be a post with this coming later, but here is a video to watch for now. It’s a little irritating that there is no audio (just background music), but I thought the questions and answers were pretty good.

Advice #7: Prepare your own answers to those questions

Do not, I repeat, do not, use those pre-rehearsed answers from the video above as your own. First of all, it will probably be obvious that you’ve just memorized a bunch of answers online. Secondly, they won’t have personal experiences peppered in, which is a big chance for you to show what you know.

A few tips for preparing answers:

• Answer every question thoroughly and provide an example of your experience.
  • Be sure to listen to the entire question. And, if you feel like you’re getting off track, check in to be sure you answered every part of. it before moving on
  • It’s also okay to say “I haven’t had the opportunity to try this yet, but I would…” or, “My practicum teacher did…., and I would love to include that in my own classroom because…”
• And, while you want to personalize your answers, you also want to show that you checked into the school! Tailor your answers to their philosophies, values, and mission statement
• Know your strengths and how to frame your weaknesses as strengths
• Know the answer to the question “why do you want to teach?”
• Let your passion shine through.
  • You are unique and so is your “Why.” Don’t be afraid to let your passion show through. In fact, it will be more personal than if you don’t! Let the principals see what makes you shine.
  • I really love children’s rights, outdoor learning, social-emotional learning, and inquiry-based projects, for example. So, I make sure to reference cool lessons I’ve done or explain why I love these specific things (with experiences to back it up!)
• If you have done research in a specific field or have specific experience, think about how you could bring this to the team and school community
  • They will probably ask about your research or ask what you bring to the teaching team and school community. This is a great chance to showcase your interests and get a feel for what the school already offers and may consider offering!
• Remember that differentiation is embedded in every part of teaching, not just assessment
  • Read more about differentiated instruction here

Advice #8: Do a practice interview with a friend

I doubt you’re alone in the first-time-interview jitters. Reach out to your cohort or other teachers in your social circle and ask if they would do a mock interview with you. This helps ease the nerves immensely!

Don’t stress if you don’t have teachers you can ask. Honestly, I asked my husband, and he was great (shoutout to hubs for always signing up for mock interviews, BTW…). While they can’t help you with lingo and pedagogy, they can help you boost confidence.

If you’re not into practicing with someone else, you could also record yourself as practice. Whatever helps calm those nerves.

It’s important that you are succinct in your answers, as you will likely have a very small interview window. So practice answering direct, to the point, but with enough detail that you hit the buzzwords they are looking for.

Advice #9: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have

My late Grandma Crosson always said this to me, and she was totally right. I mean, you definitely don’t want to show up for an interview looking like a university student. You should show up looking polished, professional, and dressed modestly.

When it comes to dressing for a teaching interview, it is also important to consider the school’s dress code and the type of school you are interviewing for. For example, an elementary school interview may require more professional attire than an interview at a high school, and a private school may be more strict than a public school.

Basically, wear what you would wear to your first day of practicum! You don’t get to make a first impression twice, so be sure you show how serious you are about the job by taking care to dress appropriately.

And, show a little bit of your style. One of the benefits to being an elementary teacher is that we get to dress funky. Wear the cute teacher earrings or a bright blouse!

Advice #10: Centre the students

Your kiddos have to be at the centre of everything, in your teaching and in your interview responding. Be sure to show how you’ve taken special care to be an outstanding educator in student time of need, to explain how you will put the students at the centre of every lesson and activity, and to emphasize that you want to leave a long-lasting impression.

After all, your kiddos will move up a grade after you! You don’t just teach the curriculum, you also inspire and empower lifelong learners.

Advice #11: Prepare your own questions

Preparing for a teaching interview also allows you to ask your own questions in the interview, which shows your interest and willingness to learn. At the end, they will ask if you have any questions for them.

Be sure to take note throughout the interview if there are things you have questions about, but also have a few questions on hand just in case.

Here are three that I suggest:

1. What are you looking for in a new teacher?
2. What is the school culture like at your school?
3. I have an interest in…, would there be opportunities for me to share this passion with the school community?
   • This may be starting school clubs, learning groups, or offering tutoring, for example. Just be sure not to take too much on – Burn out is real and hard to bounce back from

Advice #12: Send a follow-up email

Wait a few days or up to a week and then send a follow up email to confirm your interest in the position, offer gratitude for them taking the time to interview you, and to offer that you provide any documentation to supplement your application process.

Whether or not you’ve got the job, this ends the process on a positive note and shows a high level of professionalism on your part.

One last piece of advice: Give yourself credit where credit is due

My friend. You already landed the interview! That means they are already interested in you. Now it’s just up to you to let your experience and passion shine through while helping them envision you as a new teacher at their school.

Take some deep breaths, do some self care, and get to prepping. You’ve got this!

Frequently asked questions about preparing for teaching interviews

Conclusion

Preparing for a teaching interview can be a daunting task. By researching the school and district, memorizing parts of your resume and job description, and coming up with a list of questions for the interviewer, you can be sure to nail the interview.

Additionally, make sure to practice answering common interview questions and dress appropriately for the job. Finally, be sure to emphasize how everything is more about your students than yourself and use good nonverbal communication. Through following these steps, you can be sure to have a successful teaching interview.

Resources

Here are some more articles you may be interested in reading:

• Meet the teacher (and students!) first day of school activity
• Informal educational assessment: Exit tickets
• Last day of school teacher evaluation activity
• Online resources for elementary teachers
• Tips for maintaining balance between work, school, and life
• Reasons to complete a university internship