Educator Job Interviews
Read tips about teacher and principal job interviews, including interview questions to prepare for
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
School Administrators' Advice for Teaching Candidates
Throughout the course of the academic year, I sat down with several administrators and discussed the skills and qualifications that they are seeking in teaching candidates' applications. While answers varied slightly depending on the school administrator and the specific needs of their districts, below are common action steps they recommended for teaching candidates:
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
How to Use Your Strengths to Land a Teaching Job
Guest post by Connie Rath. This post was originally published in the March 21, 2013 TopSchoolJobs eXPO
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
How Should I Prepare for an Interview?
Many pre-service teachers think they need to memorize the 'right answer' to interview questions or participate in many mock interviews. First of all the bad news: there is no 'right' answer. In addition, while the mock interview may help you calm down and feel more confident about an interview, the best preparation is to think deeply about your teaching career.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Interviewing for an International Teaching Position via Skype
Skype is the most common way to interview for an international teaching position. It may sound like a relief to be able to interview from the comforts of your own home, but there are a few things you should remember:
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Head of School Interviews: 8 Tips for Success in Landing a Headship
If you're in the midst of searching for a new position as a Head of School, you probably already know the process is an arduous one. In the independent school world, candidates don't just send a resume and cover letter to a school and call it a proverbial day. Rather, a school's board typically undertakes a rigorous search process--often enlisting the help of a professional Search firm--to find the best possible fit for its next leader.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Celebrate Your Soft Skills
Communication skills, flexibility/adaptability, and problem-solving skills are some examples of "soft" skills that make a big impact in the workplace. While soft skills are important, it can be difficult to find specific examples highlighting soft skills to share with employers. In characterizing soft skills to potential employers or networking contacts, draw from previous experiences to demonstrate abilities. Reflect on classroom experiences, work experiences, student involvement, and volunteering to uncover examples of positive experiences where some of these superior soft skills were applied.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
How Do You Show Your Passion?
"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you." -Oprah Winfrey
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
4 Tips When Interviewing for the Principalship
1) Research, Research, and More Research
Your goal is to outwork your competition. You accomplish that by out-researching them. Start by researching the district and its demographics. Next find out all you can about the position you are interviewing for, including what the selection criteria are, names of all the teachers and staff members. You also need to research the community the school serves. The more you know, the better prepared you will be for the interview.
Your goal is to outwork your competition. You accomplish that by out-researching them. Start by researching the district and its demographics. Next find out all you can about the position you are interviewing for, including what the selection criteria are, names of all the teachers and staff members. You also need to research the community the school serves. The more you know, the better prepared you will be for the interview.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Getting plenty of interviews but not getting job offers?
Getting plenty of interviews but not getting job offers? It's time to evaluate what might be going on.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Profile of a Successful Job Applicant (Part 2)
This blog posting is Part II of a profile of a successful job applicant. See Part I in the previous blog posting.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Keep It Positive: How to Use a Bad Experience to Your Advantage in the Interview
I had a student this past semester whose student teaching experience almost drove her away from wanting to teach. Her cooperating teacher was retiring at the end of the year and had already "checked out" from teaching. She was completely on her own in the classroom. She gave serious thought to not seeking a teaching position at graduation, but after some encouragement from others, finally decided to give it a try. She ended up getting hired at the first job she applied for. Why? She was able to take her bad student teaching experience and put a positive spin on it. In the interview she told the principal how she was on her own in the classroom but learned quickly to be independent and to seek out others for support. She also talked about being determined not to fail and making sure that she didn't take out her frustration on her students. Not once did she go negative about the experience! The principal was so impressed by this positive attitude that she was offered the job that day.
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Interviewing: Becoming an Effective Storyteller
A while back, I came across an article in which a recruiter was asked to describe what makes an effective interview performance. Her answer was simple, yet compelling: storytelling. From her perspective, interviewees who can master the art of storytelling make the best interviewees. Consider the most memorable lessons you have learned from teachers, speakers, or mentors. My guess is that what comes to mind for most people involves a personal story. As teachers know best, concepts most often come alive when they are put into meaningful or relevant context.
Education Funding
Opinion
From Jeans to Suits--With Money to Spare
Are you wondering how to buy your interview suit and build a professional wardrobe without maxing out your credit card?
Job Hunting Tips & Advice
Opinion
Be Prepared! Keep Up with Current Events.
Have you read the February 2012 article releasing the ratings of over 18,000 New York City teachers? Did you know that similar controversy exists in California over whether teacher ratings should be public knowledge?