5 Interview Tips for Teachers. How to Ace the Interview and Get Hired as a Teacher

What are the best skills for a teacher to have?

Is it the Level 3 Award in Education and Training or is it the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement?
The answer is, of course, interviewing skills.

You are a teacher and you want to know how to ace the interview? Interviewing is hard. It's stressful, it takes time and if you don't do well then you won't get the job.

Interviewing for teaching positions is different from other types of interviews because you're not just selling yourself as an applicant but also your school and subject matter. You need to be able to describe how you've been successful with students in the past and why they would want to come and learn at your school.

What are the best ways to prepare for an interview?

• Research the company and position thoroughly.
• Dress appropriately.
• Be ready with a list of specific questions you want answered in the interview.
• Practice answering difficult questions as if they were being asked by your interviewer.
• Prepare answers that will be appropriate for any question, even ones not specifically mentioned on your list of prepared responses.

1. Research the company and position thoroughly.

Any decent employer will have a selection of potential teachers to choose from, some with the Level 3 Award in Education in Training, some with PGCEs and some with nothing other than experience. Employer's want teachers that are genuinely interested in the role and not just for the pay. By researching the company, or the interviewee, you can demonstrate your interest and put yourself at the front of the queue immediately.

2. Dress appropriately

Employers like teachers that will fit in with their culture. Do your research, are they a white-collar organisation or do they have a laid back attitude? Employers want someone whom will slot into the business easily and your dress-code will help with that.

3. Be ready with a list of specific questions you want answered in the interview

Interviews are a two-way process. Make sure that the organisation is the right fit for you. Who will you working with? What support will you be given? How much are they paying? These are all important questions you should be asking to find out if you will be sticking around more than a couple of weeks.

4. Practice answering difficult questions as if they were being asked by your interviewer.

Write down a list of 10 questions organisations could ask you. Your answers should always feed back to the role. Maybe you've not experienced and only just qualified in the Level 3 Award in Education and Training but you will still have experience teaching whether that's your children, friends or colleagues.

5. Prepare answers that will be appropriate for any question, even ones not specifically mentioned on your list of prepared responses.

It is important to remember that interviews are not just about what you say, but how you say it. Whether this interview is for a teaching position or any other type of job, the key to success is being able to articulate your skills and passions in an engaging manner.

The key to acing the interview is to be confident. If you're not confident in yourself, then your interviewer will sense that and question whether or not they want to hire someone who doesn't think very highly of themselves. Be sure to answer questions with confidence and don't back down from any challenges presented.

I hope this blog helped you learn some new interviewing skills for teaching. Practice these techniques and you will be on your way to a successful interview!