Have you ever got to an interview and just froze? There are a million witty anecdotes rushing around inside your mind but nothing seems to be coming out. When you go to talk, the back of your throat starts to close up as you take a nervous gulp. Your fingers are fidgeting frantically, your nails digging into the side of your thumbs. Your head starts to perspire as you become more aware of your troubling predicament. Your posture is rigid, your shoulders are raised like Frankenstein’s monster and you are wishing for it all to be over as soon as possible. Well here at Tick Education, we don’t want that to happen. So here’s some Interview tips for teachers, to make that gruelling event of an interview feel less like torture and instead an enjoyable opportunity and experience.
Interview Tips For Teachers
Be Prepared – Make sure you’re well organised before the interview. The more effort you put in before the interview, the more relaxed you’ll be for it. Put a time and date in your diary so you know when it is. The day before the interview is a perfect time to do a practice run of getting to the location of the interview. This way you will know exactly how to get to your destination and you’ll know the time it takes to get there. If you’re driving, make sure you have enough petrol, diesel or electricity for the journey. If you’re taking public transport, keep up to date with the live bus and train timetables or pre book with your local taxi service in case its going to be a busy time of the day. However long the journey is going to take, leave an hour before that time. Its better to be an hour early than 5 minutes late and this way it allows for cancelations and delays.
Practice Makes Perfect – You’re more likely to perform well in an interview if you practice and rehearse what you’re going to say. Of course you don’t know exactly what questions the interviewer will ask you, but you can prepare yourself for the types of questions that they might ask. Get a friend or family member to do a role play with you so you can get used to answering the questions and this will help you become more familiar with the topics you’re going to mention. Or if role plays aren’t your thing, why not talk in front of a mirror. Its not only going to give you time to practice what to say but it will also give you the chance to see how you look while you’re talking. You can focus on facial expressions and positive body posture to give off a relaxed and confident exterior.
Look The Part – Make a great first impression. It might sound fickle but first impressions make a massive difference and if you want to look the part, you have to dress smart. Not only will dressing smartly make you look good, it will make you feel good as well. How much confidence does it give you when you look into the mirror and think I look good! That confidence will breeze you through the experience and it will leave a positive lasting memory in the interviewers mind. If you turn up wearing a T shirt, jeans and trainers, the interviewer is going to think casual clothes, probably got a casual attitude towards work as well. If you turn up suited and booted, the interviewer is going to think, they look professional, they look the part, this is the kind of person we want working for our organisation.
Its No Pressure – Don’t put pressure on yourself. We know it might be your dream job and any interview is a daunting prospect, but don’t add extra pressure on yourself to perform. Sometimes you can want something so badly that it actually effects your performance in a negative way. Look at the interview as a positive experience and an opportunity to learn. What’s the worst that can happen, you don’t get the job. Ok, it might not be the outcome you wanted but look at what you’ve taken away from that experience. You can evaluate what went well and what areas you can improve on so that the next interview you go to, you have an even greater chance to smash it.
Ask For Feedback – After the interview, regardless of whether you get a response from the interviewer or not, it’s important that you contact them yourself and ask for feedback on how you did. This shows initiative and that you want to be aware of your own strengths and areas to improve. If you don’t ask for feedback then you will never know what you need to do in order to learn and grow as a person. A great trait to have is being self aware and feedback is the best way to attain it. Whether its asking an interviewer, a family member or a friend, any feedback is the next step towards you being the best version of yourself you can be.
So there you have it. We hope Tick’s interview tips for teachers will assist you in getting your dream job and wish you all the best in your next interview.
If you’re looking for a job in education, then Tick Education is a call away. You can call us on 01234 975200 or email info@tickeducation.co.uk