Teacher Education Interviewing Guide

Congratulations! You got the interview! Now what?

The best way for you to succeed in an interview is to:

Research (yourself, the position, the school, the district).
Dress appropriately, know where you are going and arrive on time.
Practice, practice, practice!

Use the links below to learn about the entire interview process. To schedule a mock interview, please contact Career Services. To download a copy of the Teacher Education Interviewing Guide, click here.

Types of Interviews
Before the Interview
Dress for Success
During the Interview
After the Interview
Behavior-Based Questions
Sample Interview Questions
Questions to Ask the Administrator/Interviewer

Types of Interviews

SCREENING: The purpose of a screening interview is to eliminate unqualified candidates who don’t meet the requirements for the position or who would not be a good fit with the organization.

TELEPHONE: Often used in the screening process to determine if the employer wants to invite you to interview on-site. Keys to successful telephone interviews:

Give the interview your complete attention.
Treat a phone interview as though you are interviewing in person (be professional, get dressed, etc.).
Have your resume and a copy of the job description nearby.
The employer can’t see your body language; therefore it is important to communicate your enthusiasm through your words and tone of voice. Stay confident, upbeat and positive!

ONE-ON-ONE: Standard type of interview, with one interviewer and one applicant. Your goal in this interview is to establish rapport with the interviewer and communicate your skills and qualifications, as well as your fit for the position/organization.

GROUP: This type of interview can include multiple interviewers and multiple applicants. Gives the interviewers the opportunity to observe your ability to “think on your feet” and interact in a group setting. The key to this type of interview is to make eye contact with each member of the group as you are speaking and do so in a relaxed and confident manner. Group interviews are commonly used for graduate school interviews.

MEAL: The interview takes place while eating, typically over lunch. Follow the interviewers lead in ordering food and dining etiquette. A great way to prepare is to attend a dining etiquette program at SNC if possible.

Before the Interview

Analyze the Position. Review the job description so you understand the required job duties and qualifications. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and background fit the qualifications for the position. Be ready to communicate your interest in that particular grade, school, and district.
Research the School/District. Utilize the school/district web sites to learn all you can about the school. Use the school board minutes (typically posted on the district web site) to learn more about the school. Use personal contacts in the school/district to gain additional information.
Research the Industry/Career field. Learn about the issues or major news related to the career field.
Know Yourself. Clearly define your goals before the interview. Identify your skills, qualifications, experience. Know your strengths as a teacher and why you chose this profession. Be prepared to communicate these topics in a clear, concise manner.
Practice, Practice, Practice!!! Know your skills and qualifications and be prepared to talk about them. Use the list of frequently asked questions to help prepare. Schedule an appointment with a career counselor for a mock interview to practice your interviewing skills and get feedback. Attend the Mock Interview Relay for Teachers (MIRT) hosted by Career Services and held every March. This event allows you to practice your interviewing skills and receive feedback from administrators in local school districts.
Attend the Interviewing Skills for Teachers Workshop hosted by Career Services and held every Spring to learn more about improving your interviewing skills. To register for the workshop, you must first login to Career Connections. If you have not previously registered for Career Connections, you will need to register. After you have registered and been approved, click on Career Events and you will be able to RSVP for the event.
Utilize Online and Library Resources to research frequently asked interview questions and strategies for answering those questions. Check out www.collegegrad.com for helpful advice. Please keep in mind that this is a general interviewing web site, not specifically focused on Education students.
Prepare your 60 Second Commercial. Use this strategy to answer the interview question “Tell me about yourself”, to introduce yourself at an education career fair, to network at a professional event or to mingle at a party. Click here to learn how to create your own unique 60 Second Commercial.
Map out directions to the interview site. If possible do a trial run to determine what route you will take, how long the drive will be and where you will park.

Dress for Success

WOMEN

WEAR A SUIT! Even though you might think you will never wear a suit again, you should still wear a suit. You may be surprised at how much use you will get out of that suit. Don’t have a suit? It’s time to buy one. Can’t afford a suit? Borrow one (as long as it properly fits!).
Pant suit or skirt suit. If you choose to wear a skirt suit make sure the skirt length is to your knees. Also, if you wear a skirt be sure to wear skin-colored hosiery – no bare legs!
Solid color button down shirt.
Tasteful accessories (small earrings, one ring per hand maximum).
Keep color-treated hair updated.
Well-groomed fingernails. If you choose to wear fingernail polish, keep it a conservative color and be sure there are no chips in the polish.
Makeup should be neat/refined.
Polished, dress shoes.
Remember to iron your clothes! If you don’t have an iron, borrow one!
Your scent should leave the room when you do, so go easy on the perfume.

MEN

WEAR A SUIT! Even though you might think you will never wear a suit again, you should still wear a suit. You may be surprised at how much use you will get out of that suit. Don’t have a suit? It’s time to buy one. Can’t afford a suit? Borrow one (as long as it properly fits!).
Solid color button down shirt.
Conservative tie. Avoid cartoon characters, less-than-serious graphics or theme ties.
No distracting jewelry.
Socks must match pants.
Hair length should be appropriate and hair should be clean and well groomed.
Well trimmed facial hair.
Polished, dress shoes. Make sure the color of your shoes matches the color of your belt.
Remember to iron your clothes! If you don’t have an iron, borrow one!
Your scent should leave the room when you do, so go easy on the cologne.

During the Interview

Carry these items to the interview: several copies of your resume on quality paper, copies of your references, professional looking portfolio to take notes following the interview and carry your resumes/references, directions to the interview site.
Leave these items at home: cell phones/pagers, friends/family, bad manners/negative attitude, gum.
Upon arrival: arrive 10-15 minutes before the interview, treat the receptionist with respect, check your appearance in the restroom, take along a breath mint, try to relax and take a few deep breaths.
Be aware of your disposition. Greet everyone you meet with a smile, good eye contact and a firm handshake. Always be aware of your nonverbal behavior. Maintain a relaxed, but professional posture and a positive tone of voice. Show excitement for the position.
Listen and relax! Enjoy the conversation and listen carefully by focusing and giving the interviewer your full attention.
Think before you speak. Before you answer a question: take a deep breath, organize your thoughts, understand the question and clearly communicate your response.
It is ok to ask for a minute to think about a question. It is perfectly acceptable to pause for a moment to collect your thoughts before responding to a question. Simply say to the interviewer “May I have a minute to think about that?”. Interviewers would rather you take a minute to think about your response and give a well thought out answer, rather than have you ramble on because you did not take enough time before responding. If you are really stumped on a question it is acceptable to ask “Can we return to that question later?”.
Be specific and give examples. Do not diminish past experiences. You can provide examples from a wide variety of experiences including: student teaching, academics, career-related experience, volunteer work, activities, etc. It adds to your credibility when you can give specific examples with a few strong points.
Be honest! Under NO circumstances is it ever acceptable to lie or make up an example. If you are struggling to come up with an answer, ask for a minute to think about the question or ask if you can come back to that particular question later.

After the Interview

Collect business cards from each interviewer. This ensures you have the correct contact information if you have questions after the interview and so you can send a thank-you note.
Evaluate your performance. What parts of the interview went well? What parts need improvement? Be sure to address the areas for improvement to ensure that it goes better during the next interview.
Thank the interviewer. Always write a thank-you note to the interviewer. Send a letter within 1-2 days to each person you met with. If you are limited by time, an e-mail thank you is acceptable. This is your opportunity to remind the interviewer of your great qualities, share something you may have forgotten in the interview and again express your interest and enthusiasm for the position. Please see the Thank You Letter Guide for more information.

Behavioral-Based Questions

The basic premise of behavioral-based interviews is that past behavior predicts future behavior. Behavioral-based interviewing is designed to minimize personal impressions that can affect the hiring decision by focusing on your actions and behaviors rather than subjective impressions. These types of questions are structured to obtain specific, behavioral examples. Recall situations that highlight favorable behaviors or actions, such as student teaching, sophomore block, other career-related experiences, course work, class projects, volunteer experience, work experience, coaching experience, leadership, teamwork, or activities. Utilize the PAR technique to help you highlight relevant pieces of your examples and give structure to your answers.

P = Problem (Describe a problem or situation)
A = Action (Explain the action you took, individually or as part of a group - focus on skills you used)
R = Results (Talk about the positive results, quantifying if possible)

Examples of Behavioral-Based Questions

Tell me how you have dealt with unmotivated students.
Tell me how you have handled a student who continually disrupted your class.
Describe the toughest discipline situation you have encountered and how you handled it.
Describe a positive impact you had on a student.
Discuss a challenge you encountered from student teaching. What did you learn from it?
Discuss the most challenging aspect of student teaching.
Describe a situation that demonstrated good communication between you and a colleague, administrator or parent.
Tell me about a memorable experience you have had as a teacher.
What accomplishment has given you the greatest satisfaction?
How do you work under pressure?
When have you failed?
How do you deal with conflict?
Describe a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills.
Describe a situation where you had to do several tasks at the same time.
Tell me about a time when you had to exert leadership in a crisis situation.
Tell me about a time when you went above and beyond expectations.

Sample Interview Questions

Click here for a list of sample interview questions.

Questions to Ask the Administrator/Interviewer

Typically at the end of the interview, the interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. You should ALWAYS have questions prepared to ask the interviewer. If you don’t have questions prepared you might damage your chance of a successful interview. This is your opportunity to gain valuable information to determine if this position/school/district are a good fit for you.

Topics to avoid asking questions about include: salary/benefits, information about the school/district that is readily available on the web site or brochures, personal questions, and questions that have already been answered during the course of the interview.

Topics to consider asking questions about include: specific questions about the position/district/school, qualities and skills the employer is looking for in candidates, advancement and promotion, and training programs.

Click here for a list of possible questions to ask.

GOOD LUCK!