As an administrator for several years, I have sat through my fair share of interviews on both sides of the table. I once sat through well over a hundred interviews in a single summer to fill several open teaching positions. After a while, all of the teaching candidates, who are trying to distinguish themselves, start to blend together.
Through all of the interviews over the years, I’ve learned a few things. This week, I’ll share some interview tips. Consider this practical advice if you are searching for or interviewing for a teaching position right now.
Avoid Buzzwords and Canned Answers. If I’ve heard one canned answer, I’ve heard them all. After listening to 23 candidates share the same canned answer, most responses start to sound the same. Some Teacher Prep programs help students prepare for certain interview questions, and you can always tell when a candidate from a specific university shares the same answer as the previous five candidates from that same school. Try to differentiate your answer slightly from the prepared answer.
Mentioning buzzwords just for the sake of mentioning buzzwords also holds the same weight. If you do feel the need to mention a buzzword, be sure that you can speak to what the word means, and describe how you’ve implemented something that has to do with the buzzword. When answering questions, give a real answer, something that might just be different enough to make you memorable in the interviewer’s mind. (More on this later in the week!)
Make sure that you avoid those canned answers and buzzwords. Be authentic, and share a real answer that shows who you are!
I hope this helps as you prepare for interview season! Best of luck!
Rich (@RACzyz)