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PREPARING FOR A JOB INTERVIEW

Commonly asked interview questions

Think about your answers to the following questions:

About why you want a position in this school system

1. Why do you want this position?

2. Why do you want to work in this district?

3. What do you know about our school/school system?

The interview process is really a two way street. Just as the school district is interviewing you for a position, you should be interviewing the school district. The more information you have about the school and district the better prepared you are for the actual interview.

The Niagara Frontier College Placement Association suggests some information you should know before going into an interview.

• Demographics of the district - geographic boundaries, student enrollment, grade levels served, number of teachers employed.

• Mission statement.

• Districtwide goals and plans for the future.

• Instructional programs and learning objectives for its students.

• Pupil achievement in reading and math.

• Special honors or recognition by state or federal agencies for academic excellence.

• Technological initiatives.

• Key personnel.

• Textbooks being utilized.

• Extra-curricular and sports programs offered.

• Parent involvement.

• Staff development programs available.

• Mentoring programs for new teachers.

• Teacher union involvement.

• District challenges (e.g. budget constraints, physical plant, meeting learning standards)

• Salary schedule.

• Residency requirement.

About your conceptions of good teaching

1. Do you remember your favorite or best elementary or high school teacher? Tell me what there was about him/her that you admire.

2. What makes a good teacher?

3. Why would you be a good teacher? What are your strengths? Weaknesses?

How To Prepare

• Recall your time spent as a student and refresh your memory about your experiences in school.

• Think about difficult problems or obstacles that challenged you.

• Demonstrate past behaviors by drawing on many experiences; think about student teaching, classes and projects, activities, team and sports participation, community service and full or part-time jobs.

• Decision making, leadership, organizational skills, problem solving and team building are among the many topic areas that behavioral questions probe into, so any experiences which involve these areas would be good for use in behavioral examples.

About your beliefs/goals/philosophy

1. What do you hope to achieve with your students?

2. If there were only one skill or concept that you could get them to learn, what would it be and why?

3. Why did you want to become a teacher?

4. What is your stance on (be familiar with the initiatives of the school or district to identify issues that might come up):

* Inclusion?

* Whole language versus phonics?

* Using concrete rewards to motivate students?

* Involving families and the community in your classroom?

* Integrated curriculum?

5. If you were to be on an advisory committee for your college to improve the preparation of teachers, what would you suggest and why?

6. What current trends in public education please you? Displease you?

About your skills/abilities

1. What is the best lesson you have taught? What made it good?

2. What has been your best experience in the classroom so far? What made it good?

3. What support do you need to make you successful?

4. Tell me about all your experiences in working with children in addition to your student teaching.

5. What has happened in your student teaching experience that you felt you were not well prepared for and how did you handle it? What would you do differently now that you have had this experience?

About classroom management

1. What are the challenging aspects of classroom management for you?

2. What was your most challenging discipline problem so far and how did you handle it?

3. Here is a specific situation (interviewer describes a student who challenges your authority or refuses to follow rules or do work). What would you do?

4. How will you establish rapport with students and motivate them?

About instructional strategies

1. How do you accommodate different student abilities and learning styles in your teaching?

2. How do you make accommodations for students with special needs and challenges?

3. How would you involve families and the community in your classroom?

4. Based on what you know so far, would you prefer to work alone and be responsible for smaller numbers of students or collaborate with other teacher and be responsible for larger numbers of students?

5. What role does technology play in your teaching?

How To Prepare

• Be honest. Sell yourself. Don't just answer the question. Illustrate your personal qualities and strongest abilities with examples from your past. Try to address any underlying questions you think the employer might have about your suitability for the job.

• Focus attention on the positive. Should the subject of past failures or shortcomings arise, try to explain circumstances rather than give excuses or blame others. You'll create a better impression by being honest and candid.

• Watch what you're doing while you're talking. Non-verbal communication can distract the interviewer's attention. Sit up straight and you will appear poised and confident throughout the interview. Even the way you dress will communicate volumes about who you are, remember teachers are professionals and should dress accordingly.

• Ask questions when indicated. If appropriate, ask meaningful questions. Find out, for instance, how many classes a day will you be expected to teach, how training is provided, how involved are the parents in school activities, what are the students like, how are teachers assigned to extra-curricular activities, how you will be evaluated. See below for additional questions to ask.

(Thanks to Dr. Harry Galinsky, former superintendent of Paramus, NJ and Superintendent of the Year and Dr. Michael DiPaola, former superintendent of Pitman, NJ and Associate Professor of Education at the College of William and Mary for their questions and suggestions.)

This is a humorous look at a virtual job interview.



The Niagara Frontier College Placement Association



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