Resignation Date is around the corner, we thought that to support the interview process some valuable advice would be in order!
There is a number of interview techniques available to teachers such as STAR. However, there are a number of common mistakes that teachers tend to make. If you want to secure the right role and stand out from the intense competition, follow these simple tips.
Now, most blog posts may give the generic answers like Turn off your mobile, dress like the job you want, don’t swear (I know…) and arrive 15 minutes before the interview begins. These should be obvious by now.
Try these in addition to the common interview tips:
Know yourself and your teaching philosophy:
Interview questions are increasingly about the person and their soft skills. The technical knowledge about the curriculum, teaching strategies and knowing what is expected of a teacher are becoming the standard.
What school leaders and business managers strive to understand is the person and their why. How do they achieve this? By asking questions about how others would describe you. How your colleagues would interpret your teaching style and human interactions. The adjectives and adverbs used will form the foundation of how the interviewer gets to know you. Your philosophy is the compass for your teaching, it is your blueprint as to what teaching means beyond just subscribing to the profession. So know what your philosophy is and stand by it.
Determine why you are good for the position:
It’s not just about applying for as many jobs as possible. As a recruitment agency, we come across candidates that do not even remember who or which schools they have applied for. This gives the impression that the candidate had not taken the time to really assess the company or school. Each organization works really hard at developing an ethos and mission that differentiates itself from other schools. Should your value system reflect that of the schools and the post they have available, it certainly comes through an interview and will set you apart from those that have just applied for the role, without determining how they would fit into the company or school.
Know the interviewer and have questions prepared:
An interview is a reciprocal process. It gives you the opportunity to probe and assess whether or not this is “really” the role for you. Both parties will gain more from the interview if the conversation is kept open if you need to clarify a point, do so! By engaging in the conversation you will be seen as a candidate that listens, is interested and is an active participant in the process.
Do not wait till the end of the interview to ask some questions (unless that is the structure), keep the conversation going and ask the question at the appropriate time. If you have to wait, it can come across as scripted and perhaps the questions were answered and now you have nothing to ask.
Walk away if this not the role for you:
If the job is not for you, don’t accept just to please everyone else. You have to live with the ramifications of your decision. You have a duty to the school, yourself and the children to give your all and if the organization is or has given the impression that the support you will receive or your views are contradictory to their own you have the duty to walk away. Guilt-free.
If you are seeking a new role, contact Impact on 0207 223 0006
