Transitioning Teacher Tips

Set yourself up for success in your next interview with these tips and tools.

An upcoming interview is an exciting opportunity to explore a new career path and get to know a company you’re interested in working for. No matter what kind of interview you’ll be participating in, from initial screenings to case interviews, it’s important to prepare carefully.?

Doing so can help you feel confident in your qualifications, what you can contribute to the company, and the way you present yourself.?

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Preparing for an interview might seem intimidating, but there are several steps you can take to prepare yourself for a successful interview.

Preparing For an Interview

Preparing for an interview primarily means taking time to thoughtfully consider your goals and qualifications relative to the position and employer. To accomplish this, you should perform research on the company and carefully review the job description to understand why you would be a good fit. Let’s look at the steps to preparing for an interview.

1. Carefully Examine the Job Description

During your prep work, you should use the employer’s posted job description as a guide. The job description is a list of the qualifications, qualities, and background the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate. The more you can align yourself with these details, the more the employer will be able to see that you are qualified. The job description may also give you ideas about questions the employer may ask throughout the interview.

2. Consider Why You Are Interviewing and Your Qualifications

Before your interview, you should have a good understanding of why you want the job and why you’re qualified. You should be prepared to explain your interest in the opportunity and why you’re the best person for the role.

3. Perform Research on the Company and Role

Researching the company, you’re applying to is an important part of preparing for an interview. Not only will it help provide context for your interview conversations, but it will also help you when preparing thoughtful questions for your interviewers.

Research the company?and role as much as possible will give you an edge over the competition. Not only that, but fully preparing for an interview will help you remain calm so that you can be at your best.

4. Consider Your Answers to Common Interview Questions

While you won’t be able to predict every question you’ll be asked in an interview, there are a few common questions you can plan answers for. You might also consider developing an elevator pitch that quickly describes who you are, what you do and what you want.

Here are a few examples of common interview questions:

Why do you want to work here?

The best way to?prepare for this question?is to learn about the products, services, mission, history, and culture of the company. In your answer, mention the aspects of the company that appeal to you and align with your career goals.

Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the role, and to give you the opportunity to highlight your relevant skills. It can be helpful to compare the role requirements against your skills and experience. Choose a few things you particularly enjoy or excel at and focus on those in your answer.

What are your greatest strengths?

This question gives you an opportunity to talk about both your technical and soft skills. When an interviewer asks you to describe your strengths, share qualities and personal attributes and then relate them back to the role for which you’re interviewing.

5. Practice Your Speaking Voice and Body Language

It’s important to make a positive and lasting impression during the interview process. You can do this by practicing a confident, strong speaking voice and friendly, open body language. While these might come naturally to you, you might also want to spend time practicing with trusted friends or family or in front of a mirror.

6. Prepare Thoughtful Questions for The Interviewer

Many employers feel confident about candidates who ask thoughtful questions about the company and the position. You should take time before the interview to prepare several questions for your interviewer(s) that show you’ve researched the company and are well-versed about the position.

Some examples of questions you could ask include:

·???????What does a typical day look like for a person in this position?

·???????Why do you enjoy working here?

·???????What qualities do your most successful employes have?

·???????I’ve really enjoyed learning more about this opportunity. What are the next steps in the hiring process?

7. Conduct Mock Interviews

Just like public speaking, practicing interviews is the best way to relieve anxiety and improve your confidence. Practice may feel tedious, but repeatedly experiencing the interview process will make you more comfortable and help you give the right impression.

If you have friends or family to help, conduct mock interviews as much as you can. If you don't have another person, practice your questions and answers out loud. You may find that an answer sounds awkward or doesn't convey what you wish when it's spoken, so this gives you an opportunity to refine your answers and commit them to memory. The more you repeat your interview, the more confident you'll be during the real thing.

8. Print Hard Copies of Your Resume

Most employers ask for digital copies of your resume with the application, but they may not have easy access to it during the interview itself. Having copies to present to multiple interviewers shows that you're prepared and organized. You should have at least three copies to provide for multiple interviewers, plus one for yourself to follow along.

During your preparation, read over?your resume and rehearse explanations for any gaps that may appear or other oddities. For example, you may have taken time off work to care for a child or family member, switched careers or had other legitimate reasons for?employment gaps. These can be a concern for employers, so it's best to prepare your explanation to show them that you're not a risk.

9. Prepare Your Travel Arrangements

Job interviews tend to be stressful for most people for many reasons, but getting to the interview can be a challenge. If your interview is an unfamiliar area or even an entirely new city, it can be a source of anxiety to find your way around and make sure that you show up on time.

To avoid becoming too anxious for your commute, prepare yourself to ensure everything goes smoothly on the day of the meeting.

10. Sell Yourself

One of the biggest challenges in an interview is selling yourself. Most people are uncomfortable with this idea, but presenting yourself accurately and positively doesn't have to feel like a sale. The truth is that you do have?professional skills?and experiences that may set you apart from other applicants, so it's acceptable and expected for you to acknowledge them to your potential employer.

When you prepare for a job interview, make note of your skills that relate to the role and think of how your experiences and abilities can contribute to the overall goals of the department and company. Your answers will be somewhat short, so you want to choose the most positive and relevant information to share during the interview.

If you don’t know the answer to a certain question, it is perfectly acceptable to pause for a moment and simply state,?“Let me think about that for a moment”. The employer will appreciate you taking the time to give them a thoughtful answer. Be sure to provide specific examples wherever possible. Taking time to prepare for an interview will ultimately help you feel more relaxed and confident during the process.

11. Get Ready to Follow up After the Interview

After your interview, you should prepare to follow up with the employer. Doing so reminds the employer of your conversation, shows them you are genuinely interested in the position and gives you the opportunity to bring up points you forgot to mention.

Equally as important as knowing yourself and your experience, as well as the company and position, is knowing the company well enough to prepare some good questions for your interviewers, so don’t forget to do this ahead of time!