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K-12 Job Search - Interviewing in Education

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Interviewing can often be an unnerving experience. In order to attain a modest comfort level, it is important that you are prepared. Practice interviewing with friends, family and/or your EPCS consultant. Review reference materials on interviewing strategies. Drill yourself with those most often-asked interview questions. Most importantly take a deep breath and try to relax.

When you are invited to an interview, ask what type of interview will be conducted. Most interviews have traditionally been of an unstructured format. The interviewer asks questions and gives feedback based on your answers. Recently, more and more school districts are conducting "structured" interviews. These are sometimes referred to as the "Teacher-Perceiver". The purpose of the structured interview is to ask the same questions of each candidate so that valid comparisons of the quality of responses can be acquired. The questions generally take three forms: situational, observational and conceptual. All questions, regardless of form, are job related. There are many interviewing references available in the EPCS office, including videos. Check with your EPCS consultant for more details.

Interview Dress Tips

Key Interviewing Points:

Know Yourself
Have a clear understanding of the position you are applying for and why you are applying. Thoroughly know your resume and credentials, your strengths and weaknesses. Be prepared with specific examples to back up your answers.

    Be Physically Prepared
    Be sure "paperwork" is in order (resume, credentials, application form.) Be aware of the importance of personal appearance. Always dress "up", never dress "down". Be well rested and fresh. Arrive five to ten minutes early to relax.

    Know the Employer
    Be clear of the time, date and location of the interview, as well as the interviewer's name. Research the district for information on the size of district, school locations, history/recent news.

    Practice and Use Good Communication Skills
    Speak clearly and concisely. Make eye contact-- this helps to project confidence. Be aware of your body language-- SIT UP STRAIGHT! Be sure to listen-- if you are talking too much you may miss cues from the interviewer. Think about a question before answering. Don't be afraid of long pauses. Project self-confidence, enthusiasm, and interest. You are selling yourself; this will be your one chance to do that.

    Practice Specific Questions
    Practice answers to typically asked interview questions OUT LOUD. See the listing of questions below. Check out the many resources in the EPCS reception area as well.

    Participate actively in the interview.
    Ask questions. Describe your interests, career goals and special skills. Take time to give thoughtful answers. Relate events in an organized manner: state the event, what action you took, and the outcome.

    Be Yourself
    Preparation will help to ease your anxiety. Be honest, frank and sincere. Take a deep breath and relax.

    Be Positive
    Don't speak negatively about past experienes. Be honest if a situation was not ideal. This will demonstrate you can learn from difficult situations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Over 2,000 first-year teachers were asked to identify the topics asked most often by hiring officials during an interview. Here is what K-12 certified teachers shared with us in the National Teacher Interview Survey:

  1. Strengths
  2. Classroom Management
  3. Student Teaching experiences
  4. Weaknesses
  5. What If
  6. Teaching Philosophy
  7. Future plans
  8. Teaching Style
  9. Motivational Theories
  10. Employment History
  11. College Courses
  12. Lesson Design
  13. Salary
  14. Curriculum Knowledge
  15. Coaching Interests
  16. Youth-Related Activities
  17. College Activities
  18. Community Activities
  19. Higher Thinking Skills and Strategies
  20. GPA

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Newly hired teachers across the nation identified these interview questions as the most difficult. Prepare answers to these questions, and then rehearse your answers out loud, so the responses become natural.

  • What is your philosophy of education?
  • What if.....? (you will be given a classroom scenario)
  • How would you set up a program in your major teaching area?
  • What are your weaknesses?
  • Define the role of the principal.
  • Describe yourself using 5 adjectives
  • How do you handle discipline in your classroom?
  • Do you want students to like you?
  • Describe in detail a lesson that you taught.
  • What are your strengths?

 

Questions You Should Ask During An Interview

Your questions should indicate that you are already informed about the school or district. They may include:

  • Are extracurricular assignments available for teachers interested and qualified in after-school activities?
  • How many students participate in extracurricular activities?
  • Does your district offer faculty inservice training days during the school year?
  • What reading series do you use?
  • In the past few years, what has been the average faculty turnover rate?
  • Is there a budget established for supplies which need to be purchased during the school year?
  • Do you have an active teacher-parent organization?
  • What percentage of your graduates continue their education?
  • Are there opportunities for team teaching or team planning?
  • Who is responsible for the instruction in the use of resource materials in your library or learning center?

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After the Interview: Assess the Meeting

  • Do you still want the job?
  • Why, or why not?
  • How well did you project your abilities, skills and talent?
  • Did you ask for the job?

    Send a Thank-You Letter

    The Thank-You letter is critical! Say something more than "thank you." Remind them one more time how your skills will be an asset to their school/district. In addition, in the Thank-You letter you can reiterate or add anything you forgot to mention in the interview. Your letter should be clear, to the point, and no more than one page. 

    Your letter should contain the following information:

    Paragraph #1: It was a pleasure to talk with you yesterday (then mention something that really impressed you about the job/school/district).

    Paragraph #2: Mention two or three reasons, based on your qualifications, why you would be the right candidate for the job.

    Paragraph #3: Thank him/her for the time spent with you and say that you will contact him/her in a week to see how he/she is coming on the decision.

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Learn From Your Job Search

The career planning process is a life long task. Not only do our needs and aspirations change throughout life, but the job market is continually changing. Be prepared to continually evaluate your progress and your options.

  • Have you adequately sized up the job market?
  • Are you getting the responses you had hoped for?
  • Did you have a professional critically review your resume and cover letters?
  • What happened during the interviews?
  • Which schools/districts seem to fit your needs best?
  • If a district turned you down, how did you handle the rejection?
  • Did you ask them about future possibilities and what was missing in your background or experience that could have made a difference?
  • Did you write thank-you letters after each interview? (Even though you may not be interested in the position now, keep all avenues open for future opportunities.)
  • What are you going to do next?

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MORE INTERVIEW INFORMATION LINKS:

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Web page maintained by Ann Halbach
Send comments or questions to ah@education.wisc.edu
 
Copyright © 2008 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System