Interview Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make - Part I

Many school principals will agree that most teacher candidates typically make several common mistakes during the interview process.  These are the blunders that happen in so many interviews that they frequently “contaminate” any chance of getting hired.

            Yet, all of these typical and common mistakes have one thing in common – they can all be controlled by you.  Each of these interview mistakes is under your control, your supervision, and your influence.   

 

·         If you spend any time on your cell phone in the waiting area or during an interview you will be sending a powerful message to the interviewer: my business is more important than your business.

·         One recent report showed that 50 percent of job candidates were tardy for their interviews.  If you really want the job, then you’ll really be on time.

·         Candidates who glance around the room, avoid the eyes of the interviewer, or stare at the aquarium behind the interviewer’s desk are seen as insecure, unsure, and unconnected.

·         Make sure you can be easily heard from a distance of about five to six feet (the average distance between a person behind a desk and one in front of the desk).

·        Don't over-talk your responses!  Most professional interviewers suggest that the ideal answer to a question should be no shorter than 30 seconds and no longer than two minutes.

·         Can you believe that, in order to make a point, some candidates actually argue with the interviewer?  One word: don’t!

·         Many candidates neglect to respond to the one question always in the mind of every interviewer: How will this person make my job easier?  The question will never be asked out loud, but you must always answer it.

·         Some people try to compensate for the stress of an interview by being arrogant or haughty.  It’s one thing to be confident; quite another to be arrogant.  Be the former, not the latter.

            You can choose to ignore these miscues or you can chose to do your ‘homework’ and prevent any one of these from sneaking its way into a job interview.  Choose the latter and you'll be "heads and shoulders" above the competition.

[Next Post:  Another 8 Common Interview Mistakes]  

Why Do You Teach?

Here's a question that often comes up in teacher interviews.  The person asking the question wants to know something about your philosophy, your personality, and your desire to make a significant impact in the lives of students.  It's a golden opportunity for you to separate yourself from the crowd.

Q:  What gives you the greatest pleasure in teaching?

     A:   I call it the “light bulb effect.”  It’s that time in a lesson, a unit, a whole class discussion when a student “gets it” – when that proverbial light bulb goes off over his or her head.  There’s nothing like it in the world!  It’s when that look of recognition crosses a student’s face, when a student exclaims, “Hey, this is really cool!”, or when a student jumps up and down with unmitigated excitement.  There’s a joy in the discovery and there’s an enthusiasm in the voice as students realize that they now understand something they didn’t previously.  That’s what I want to work for with all my students.  I want them all to experience that “light bulb effect” in each and every subject throughout the school year.

            Your answer should underscore your reasons for becoming a teacher.  Your response should be a validation of why you decided to enter this profession and what you will do in order to be one of the best.  Most importantly, there should be passion in your response!