Preparing for an In-person Interview

Interviewing for a job in education can be an overwhelming experience. You may have to complete a pre-interview task. You may have what feels like a million questions. On top of that, you are a complex individual and it can be hard to condense what makes you great into a limited interview time slot. My suggestion? Take a deep breath. There are a few things that you can do to help you be at your best come interview time.??

Thoroughly prepare for any task or performance activity?

Often finalist interviews involve some sort of performance task that is linked to the role that you are seeking. This could be teaching a sample lesson if you are interviewing for a teacher role, or giving feedback to someone if you are interviewing for a coaching role. Some schools require that the performance task be completed in advance of the interview while others have you do it during the interview. However, almost every school will tell you in advance what the tasks will be. This gives you the chance to prepare to complete it thoroughly as possible. I have seen countless examples of tasks being returned incomplete because some of the instructions weren’t read. So, read the instructions several times to make sure you've got every element covered. Practice what you’ll be asked to do. The more prepared you are the more natural and confident you will be when the time comes.???

Write down your questions?

There is a lot you don’t know about this new opportunity, and you may have several questions in the run up to the interview. However, nervousness during the interview may cause your mind to go blank when asked, “Do you have any questions?” Combat this by writing your questions down and bringing them to the interview. Review your list of questions with a trusted friend or colleague to make sure you aren’t forgetting anything. Once you have your questions written down, rank the questions from most to least important. Interviews usually have a time limit. You may only be able to ask a few questions from your list.??

Be yourself?

It may sound cliché but be yourself. Don’t be a version of yourself in the interview that isn’t true to who you are, because that sets the stage for a poor working relationship.? Be yourself- warts and all. The right school will appreciate what makes you special.?

If the prospect of looking for a new job in education feels overwhelming to you, connect with Greenhouse Talent. We simplify the hiring process so that you can focus on connecting with your ideal school.??

James Dennis, Director of Strategy and Partnerships