Congratulations and good luck if you’ve been asked to come in for a teaching interview! A teaching interview is one of the first steps into an exciting part of your career, so it’s perfectly normal if you feel a little bit nervous and not as confident.
“Being prepared and making a good first impression is key!”
It’s very important to provide yourself with knowledge about how to have a great interview but also it’s just as important to look into mistakes to avoid. This will prepare you for your interview.
Here are 4 mistakes to avoid during a teaching interview:
Not being yourself
When preparing for an interview, it can be tempting to learn answers to popular questions asked at a teacher interview, but this can come across as very robotic. That’s not to say you shouldn’t prepare some questions in advance, but aim to answer in your own way, highlighting your personality.
Top Tip: Have some answers at the top of your mind, and make it your own, be yourself – this will make you feel more confident, and give you concise answers to highlight your skills and attributes regarding the teaching role you’re applying for.
Not researching enough about the school Or Institution
In your interview preparation, you’ll need to make sure you’ve done your research, if not – you may find yourself struggling to answer questions and won’t be able to highlight the passion behind the reasons for applying for the teaching role.
It’s important to remember every school/trust is different. The interviewer will want to know why you’ve specifically applied to their establishment. This will be the best time to showcase your interest from all the research you’ve collected.
Top Tip: When researching about the chosen school, college or university – briefly get clued up about the education sector, you may not but it will highlight your passion for the industry. as this may come up in the interview.
Not Appearing confident and calm
You need to come across as confident and in control, you don’t want to be fumbling over your words and thoughts. If you’re doing a presentation you’ve got to imagine the interviewers are a class of students.
One of the most important traits of a teacher is to have an approachable and calm presence (even if you are nervous inside).
Top Tip: Try to avoid, playing with your clothes, staring at the ground and crossing your arms. Instead, make eye contact, smile and engage in conversation.
Not Preparing Your Own Questions
At the end of the interview, you’ll be allowed to ask your own questions, having your own questions prepared can showcase that you’ve done your own research.
You may have questions of your own that you would like to ask during or at the end of the interview but just in case it’s a good idea to prepare some in advance before attending the interview.
Top Tip: The questions you ask, can reveal a lot about who you are, and your interest in the teaching role.
Have a look at the vacancies currently available at MyNewTerm to find your perfect teaching role.
