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Contact Candace Davies -
Email
780-513-0010
Toll-free 877-738-8052
Fax 775-593-3556
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What Not to do in an
Interview
As you are
aware, the staff at A+ Resumes for Teachers has the privilege of
working closely with many administrators, creating powerful
documents that ensure they get the job they deserve, and also
helping them prepare for interviews.
During our
conversations, we always make an extra effort to find out vital
information about both what administrators look for when
interviewing teacher candidates and what turns them off in the
interview. We use this information to help our teaching clients
prepare for their interviews. We always ask administrators what the
number one turn off is in an interview.
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Inappropriate
Clothing: One candidate came to an interview wearing leopard
skin pants and a spaghetti-strap top. The meeting didn't last more
than a few minutes.
Ladies should wear either a conservative dress or a two piece
suit. Men will not go wrong with dress slacks and a jacket or a
two-piece suit. Wear a tie, just to be on the safe side. Make sure
your shoes are polished and not ratted.
-
Rambling:
When candidates talk too much, they reveal too much and bore the
interviewer. They may give information that ends up screening them
out of the running. Talking too much also shows that the candidate
has a difficult time expressing him or herself or that he or she
really doesn't know the answer to the question.
Demonstrate your strong communication skills by presenting your
response with enthusiasm. Do so clearly and concisely.
-
Poor
Attitude: Criticizing and blaming others (e.g., for problems
in your previous job, for the reasons you left or were fired from
your previous job, etc.) is a surefire way to eliminate yourself
from the interview race. You will be thought of as difficult and
hard to get a long with … and we all know the importance of
demonstrating team work skills.
A teacher is a role–model, and your ability to be a role model
needs to be demonstrated throughout the interview.
Candidates who act too relaxed and disinterested show disrespect
to the interviewer. Administrators believe that a person can be
taught new skills, but they know they can't change attitudes.
It is critical that you look and sound interested in the meeting
and in the conversation. The key is to show great enthusiasm about
the position, the school, and the students. Never bad-mouth anyone
or another school district.
-
Failure to
Grow: A candidate was once asked, “What educational courses or
books have you read recently?” The response was, “I did a lot of
reading while in college 10 years ago, but haven't felt the need
to take any courses. Furthermore, it seems that students in my
class are doing fine.”
As a teacher, you must enjoy and promote life-long learning. No
exceptions! You must continue to read trade publications, books,
relevant Internet sites, take courses, etc. You need to be able to
demonstrate that you have stayed current on trends in education.
-
Lack of
Research: Failure to research the school district will make
you look unprepared and unprofessional. Furthermore, it will make
you look like you are applying to every school district and not
being selective as to where you apply. One administrator of a
large district explained that he believed only 15% of those
candidates interviewed actually did some homework and found out
information about the district.
The more you know about the school and district, the stronger will
be your connection with the interviewer (s). You will be able to
talk about your knowledge of their reading scores, extra
curricular activities, community involvement, student attendance,
the text books they use, etc.
There are many ways to find this information out, especially with
the growing number of school districts publishing their
information to a website.
-
Lack of
Response: Don't just answer questions with a short, no value
response. Interviewers want you to tell them what a great
candidate you are and what an excellent teacher you would be for
them. So, when you're asked questions like, “What would your
classroom look like?” don't just say, “It would be neat.” Give
them details! Tell them about the word wall, reading corner with
some great literature, students' work displayed, things organized
and labeled, daily schedule, etc.
It is important that you sell yourself to the interviewer. You
don't have to brag, but you do have to relate the valuable things
you have done in your career.
-
No
Questions: Administrators are impressed with candidates who
have relevant and well-thought-out questions. Come up with three
to five questions that show your interest and enthusiasm. Try to
ask detailed questions whose answers are not easily found on the
school or district website.
Read more about the
importance of asking questions during the interview
You can also review our
resume samples to get an idea of how keywords are
incorporated into the resume
For further
help with your resume,
contact A+
Resumes for Teachers.
Success Stories
"I just had to write and tell you I
got the job. The one we talked about on the phone. I still can believe
it, I tried to get an interview with this district for 5 years and no
luck until I sent in the resume and letter you created. My whole family
thinks you are an angel."
R. T.
"Candace, I am so pleased with my
whole package. I will definitely stand out from the other candidates. I
feel so confident already, this will certainly help when I enter the
interview room."
L. M.
"Nicely done Candace. I am so excited
with what you came up with, I could never have come close to these
wonderful documents. Thank you so much for providing this valuable
service."
K.M.
More Success
Stories
Contact
Information
Below is our
contact information, please don't hesitate to call or
email if you have questions or require assistance. We are here to
help you!
U.S./Canada -
Toll-Free: (877) 738-8052
International/Local: (780) 513-0010
Fax: (775) 593-3556
Email:
candoco@telus.net
"Go confidently
in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined."
- Henry David
Thoreau
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