When searching for a job, there are many things that can go wrong. It's important to take steps that make sure your interview is successful. You must have an updated yet concise resume, a telling cover letter that paints you in a positive light and a LinkedIn profile that highlights your best assets while adding facts you haven't shared on these other documents. Those interviewing for teaching positions have a different experience than in other careers, so here are a few tips for having a successful interview:
Have lesson plans ready
Walking in to an interview unprepared is a surefire way to be full of nerves and have nothing to say when the person you're interviewing with asks questions. Lesson plans are one of the most commonly discussed topics in an interview because a school wants to know that they are hiring someone who knows what they are doing and can plan ahead. You may even consider bringing a few lesson plans with you to give to the interviewer to peruse. Make sure you take into account the kind of standardized testing the school participates in, such as the Common Core, when you are creating these plans. That will show you know how to think ahead and prepare the students for upcoming exams.
Know some assessment strategies
Some schools require all teachers to follow the same method of assessment. For example, an educator may have to use standardized letter grades and provide an end-of-the-quarter test to see how students are progressing. If this is the case for the school you are interviewing at, make sure you know their preferred assessment method and that you can stick to it. Discuss your assessment plans with the interviewer so the school can know what to expect if you are hired.
Establish a disciplinary system
Regardless of what grade you're teaching, you'll need an established system of discipline to address when students are not behaving properly. This is an important plan to develop and have ready for an interviewer as it shows you are ready to handle the realities of leading a classroom. Your discipline system should include incremental misbehaviors and the corrective actions that correspond with each. If a student is talking in class, for example, dole out a warning. After three warnings you may consider sending a note home or requiring the student to stay after school to discuss the misbehavior. If possible, get a feel for how other teachers discipline their students at the school you are interviewing for so you have a plan that reflects those that are already in place.
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