Interviewing
Following are some tips and general information on interviewing with employers. These are excerpts from the EDUC M202 Job Search Strategies course textbook written by Dr. Kinman.
Anatomy of an Interview
- Casual beginning
- Structured phase
- Situational
- Observational
- Professional/Conceptual
- Open discussion and asking questions
- Sample Questions
- What is your philosophy of education?
- What if...?
- 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?
- How do you go about using educational technology to improve your instruction?
- What do you consider the "Basic Skills" for students in 2002?
- How do you foster respect for racial and ethnic diversity in your classroom where students are almost all white?
- How do you go about meeting the diverse needs of students in the classroom, form the lowest functioning students to the gifted students?
- What has been the most challenging experience in your life to date?
Top Interview Topics Identified by Employers
(Don't interview until you are comfortable with these topics!)
- Classroom management
- Learning theories and instructional strategies
- Teaching philosophy
- Collaborative/team-building
- Subject matter/grade-level expertise
- Strengths and weaknesses
- Assessment and evaluation
Employers Give Advice
- Be yourself
- Be prepared
- Be conversational
- Be gracious
- Be positive
- Be relaxed
- Be confident
- Be specific with answers
Questions to Ask Employers
- What are the opportunities for personal growth?
- How is a teacher evaluated and promoted?
- What are the challenging facets of the job?
- Describe the work environment.
- Why do you enjoy working here?
- What are your expectations of first-year teachers?
Professional Qualities Employers Seek
- Dedication: to teaching and learning
- Expertise: in subject area
- Commitment: to the success of each student
- Knowledge: of effective teaching and classroom management practices
- Understanding: of learning theories and how to make instruction relevant to the learner
- Ability: to team within and across departments and grade levels
Personal Characteristics Employers Seek
- Adaptable
- Articulate
- Caring
- Confident
- Conscientious
- Cooperative
- Creative
- Enthusiastic
- Flexible
- Honest
- Intelligent
- Motivated
- Sense of Humor!