1. Week #4:
The End is Only the Beginning –
Let the Job Hunt Begin

2. Interviewers Want to Know...
 …how well you meet the requirements of the
teaching profession (KSAs).
 ...how interested you are in teaching.
 ...how well you will “fit” within the school culture.
 ...what the advantages are of hiring you over
someone else.
 …how ready you are to teach

3. Interviewees Want to Know...
 …how well the position and school board
suit my needs and goals.
 …what the employer has to offer me.
 …what the advantages are of working for
this school board as opposed to others.
 …if my training has prepared me to teach in
this school division

4. Success in an interview depends
upon…
 …your knowledge about yourself,
especially your skills and interests
related to teaching (study your portfolio)
 …your knowledge of the position and
school board.
 …your understanding of why you are
suited to the teaching position.
 …your interview skills.

5. Some Skills Required for Teaching
 Communication
 Patience and
 Conflict resolution
 Evaluation
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 Group facilitation
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 Interpersonal
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 Motivation
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 Organization
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understanding
Problem solving
Program planning
Public speaking
Record keeping
Supervision

6. Preparing for the Interview
 Start with a self-assessment
 Learn as much as you can about the position
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responsibilities
skills and qualifications required
 Learn as much as you can about the
school/school board
 Reflect on what you know about yourself as a
teacher and a learner

7. Researching School Boards
Find out:
 The size and location of the school district.
 The mission/vision statement, goals and
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objectives of the school board.
Unique features of the school district and the
specific schools within the district.
Regulations and policies within the district.
Any major challenges/issues the school district
currently may face.
Other information?
 Create a Wordle from their website

8. More Interview Preparation Tips
 Compare what you know about yourself with what
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you know about the position and organization
Prepare some questions to ask
Practice, practice, practice
Find out as much as you can about the interviewers
and interview process
Review the application you submitted for the position
and your teaching portfolio

9. Still More Interview Preparation Tips
 Get your “interview kit” ready
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Teaching Portfolio
Pad of paper and a pen/pencil
Name and phone number of the interviewer
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in case you’re delayed
List of questions to ask the interviewer
Copy of your application documents
List of references and copies of reference
letters to give at the interview.
 Get a good night’s sleep and eat
something about an hour before the
interview

10. Stages of the Interview
Stage 1
 Opening the Interview
Stage 2
 Exchange of Information
Stage 3
 Closing the Interview

11. Stage 1:
Opening the Interview
 Introductions
 Establishing
 Setting
rapport
the agenda

12. Making a Favourable First Impression
 Dress appropriately.
 Look clean and well groomed.
 Be punctual.
 Greet the interviewer(s) with enthusiasm.
 Smile and be friendly to everyone.
 Make eye contact.
 Don’t be afraid to make small talk.
Dress for Success: What not to wear? What to
wear for men ? And women?

13. Stage 2:
Exchange of Information
 Be prepared to ask questions as
well as provide answers to the
interviewers’ questions
 Sit comfortably
 Be aware of non-verbal
communication
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What does your body language and voice
tell the interviewer?
What does the interviewers’ body
language tell you?

14. Some Sure Signs the Interviewer’s
Attention is Wandering
 shuffling papers
 finger tapping
 hands playing with
things
 eyes down or glazed
over
 looking at watch/clock
 scratching head
 lying back in chair
sighing
legs repeatedly changing
position
picking lint off clothes
picking lint off your
clothes (do something
quick!!)
(Source:
The Student Guide to Job
Hunting by Francois Cote)

15. Interview Questions
 Structured format
 questions are pre-determined
 all applicants are asked the same
questions
 questions tend to be specific
 Unstructured format
 each applicant may be asked different
questions depending on the direction
of the interview which is not predetermined
 questions tend to be broad, general

16. Directive Interview Question
 The interviewer determines the
focus of your answer.
“What principles do you use to motivate
students?”
“What additional subjects, apart from
your area of specialization, would
you feel confident to teach and at
what level?”

17. Non-Directive Interview Question
 You determine the focus of your answer.
“Tell me about yourself.”

18. Hypothetical Interview Question
 The interviewer describes a situation
and asks how you WOULD react if in
a similar situation.
“Suppose you are meeting with a parent
who is very upset about his/her son’s marks.
How would you handle this situation?”
“What would you do if you found that your
ideas and those of your principal differed?

19. Behaviour Descriptive Interview
(BDI) Question
 The interviewer asks what you DID do in a
specific type of situation.
“Tell me about a time when you had a conflict with a
student with behavioral problems. How did you help
to resolve it? What did you learn?”

20. Stress Interview Question
 The interviewer intentionally introduces stress
into the interview to see how well you react
under pressure.
“If you could be any animal, what animal would you
be and why?”

21. Answering Interview Questions
 Think first, answer second
 Ask for clarification if necessary
 Focus on your skills and
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achievements
Provide specific examples.
Draw on work and non-work related
experiences
Turn negatives into positives
Demonstrate good communication
skills

22. Stage 3
Closing the Interview
 Ask questions you have prepared that were
not answered during the course of the
interview
 Summarize your most relevant skills and
qualities
 Find out what happens next
 Thank the interviewer(s)

23. Leaving a Positive
Lasting Impression
 If invited to ask questions, do so but
refrain from asking questions
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that have already been answered
that could be answered with a little
research
about salary and benefits
 Summarize your relevant skills and
qualities (e.g. visual summary sheet)
 Remain upbeat from beginning to end
 Drop off a thank you card or note the
day after the interview

24. If two applicants were equal in
education and experience, what traits
would influence you to hire one over
the other?
44%
42%
29%
28%
18%
15%
11%
10%
Ability to get along with others
Communication Skills
Confidence
Motivation/Ambition
Leadership Ability
Enthusiasm
Maturity
Learning Ability

25. Negative Factors Leading to Rejection
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Poor personal appearance
Overbearing, overaggressive, conceited
Inability to express oneself clearly
Lack of planning/vision for career
Lack of interest and enthusiasm, passive
Lack of confident and poise, nervousness
Failure to participate in activities
Overemphasis on money
Poor scholastic record
Unwilling to start at the bottom
Makes excuses
Lack of tact
Lack of maturity
Lack of courtesy, poor manners
Condemnation of past employers
Dislike for school work
Fails to look interviewer in the eye
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Limp, fishy hand-shake
Indecision
Unhappy personal life
Friction with other people
Sloppy application form
Cover letter/resume with errors
Merely shopping around attitude
Picky – wants job only for a short time
Little sense of humor
Long winded
Impatient, doesn’t want as directed
Arrives late or “just on time”
Bad breath (e.g. smokers beware)
Multiple piercings, tatoos
etc. etc.
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26. Mock Interviews