interview skills for successful job searches
TRANSCRIPT
Educator Job Searches https://bit.ly/3ppgnXPDavid Conrad,
Ed.D.
[email protected]
Friday, November 4, 2021
Apply interview strategies to secure employment in education.
The education profession is a good life (Higgins, 2011). This historical time presents many challenges and exciting
opportunities, and rehearsing for interviews will increase your confidence and your employment choices!
How To Use This Presentation
1. Don’t feel overwhelmed! Find one or two ideas you can “takeaway” from the presentation.
2. When reviewing this presentation later, “pause” at any time to internalize the skills and content.
3. Download the handout to access all the slides and a set of ten practice questions with scoring guides.
4. The skills for interviewing are learnable. Practice alone or with a group of peers.
5. Contact [email protected] for additional support.
similarity to the position • References/letters • Extracurricular potential • Community participation • Community service • Writing quality in submission • GPA and academic performance • Perceived college reputation
Level #2: Personal Characteristics (interview/performance)
• Personal appearance • Confidence and poise • Communication skills • Knowledge • Lesson/teaching sample • Growing use of video screening
(Bolz, 2009; Figlio, 2002; Guarino et al., 2006; Little & Miller, 2007; Mason & Schroeder, 2010; Mertz, 2010; Rose et al., 2014; Stronge & Hindman, 2006, 2009)
The Interview Invitation
• Email is the best method of contact with administrators. • Return all phone calls and emails promptly! • If contacted but you already have a job, thank the principal and
let them know you have accepted another offer. • When invited, you may ask what the interview format will be.
Interview Formats • Online • Impromptu • Telephone • Group • Committee • Proficiency • Structured
(Stronge & Hindman, 2006)
• First impressions influence principals (Mason & Schroeder, 2010).
• 50% of private industry employers reported they can decide within five minutes if a candidate will be a good fit in the organization (BottomLine Personal, 2019).
• Arrive early!
• Make safe apparel and personal appearance choices: dress professionally in conservative business attire (Mason & Schroeder, 2010)
• In private industry, 70% of job candidates who were hired wore mostly black, while only 33% of rejected candidates wore mostly black (BottomLine Personal, February 2019)
Graphic: https://www.stetson.edu/administration/care er/media/DressforSuccess2016_PROOF.pdf
• Sample Pre-Screening Format: Receive the question, prep for one minute, then four minutes (maximum) to speak/record, with four to six questions total
• “Our district also bought RIVS program…it video records the candidates answering the initial questions so (the principal) and the committee can watch together or alone with a link.”
• “Candidates receive a link that has questions recorded by our own staff members and the candidate then records their answers to our questions. We narrow the candidate pool based on these video responses.”
Trend: Compact Interviews
• “Speed Dating”: Schools will select 8-10 candidates for brief speed interviews (10-15 minutes).
• Job Fair: Candidates circulate from table to table to meet with multiple interviewers on the same day (just a few questions at each table).
• Both are used in online and F2F modes.
Trend: Structured Online Interview
• Online interview with questions from a single interviewer or a committee/panel.
• Principal: “I'd be thinking about how I present on camera. I'd double check my microphone, room lighting, and position of my computer. I think it's a great opportunity to showcase your tech knowledge. Bonus points to the candidate who can share the screen and show something.
• Principal: “...treat the online face interview the same as a regular in person interview: dress up, be ready with questions, have a portfolio to share if requested, plus know how to navigate the online platform. I would tell candidates to ask what the online interview expectations are so they can get familiar with the software. At home, make sure tech is working correctly, set up a well-lit space so you can clearly be seen, make sure you can be heard, and be uninterrupted.”
• Principal: “Treat the interview space similarly to a live interview - avoid busy places, dress appropriately, and prepare any materials for electronic sharing/submission. Also, practice on video - it is different in many ways and going through it as practice will help them be comfortable.”
• Unclutter your background and silence your phone. • Consider childcare and pet sitters.
Trend: Structured Online (continued)
Trend: Presenting a Lesson
the topic • State the learning outcome • Engaged, active learning
lesson/activity • Post-assessment (exit slip,
Questions for Planning • How much time? Practice your
timing!!! • If online, can you share your
screen? How will you share external hyperlinks?
• Who are the “students”? How many? Will they have technology access?
Response Strategies: Skills You Can Practice!
Plan to Sell the Typical Questions
• Tell us about yourself.... • Why are you interested in working at XYZ school? • What is your philosophy of classroom management/restorative
justice/discipline? • How will/do you differentiate your lessons? • How will/do you accommodate for special needs learners? • How will/do you increase achievement on SAT/IAR? • How will/do you assess students/measure student growth? • How will/do you plan instruction? (Hint: Start with learning standards!)
Gather with peers and practice!
Prepare the “Hot Topics”
Types of Interview Questions
Informational & Situational Questions: Three-Part Response Model
1. Explain your philosophy • “I believe…” • “I feel…” • “The research suggests…”
2. Describe what it looks like now • During student teaching
3. Describe how it will look in the future • In the position you are interviewing for
(Lubelfeld, 2016)
Student-Centered and Collaborative Responses • Focus on students and student learning.
• What are students doing? • How does student voice influence your practices?
• “We” or “us” demonstrates teamwork and collaboration. • Use the pronoun “I” sparingly (if at all).
• Q: How do you use assessment data? • Less effective: “After I grade the papers, I look at the questions and
decide what lessons I need to teach next.” • More effective: “The assessment data and exit slips drive the daily
planning decisions about our students’ learning needs.”
Sample: How would you address the SEL standards? 1. Explain your philosophy: I believe schools must develop the whole
child. Time spent on supporting the social-emotional development of children will improve their readiness to learn and accelerate their academic growth.
2. Describe what it looks like now: During my student teaching at Bayside High School, we held peace circles on the first day of every week. Our students needed time to refocus after the weekend. We used circles to build and rebuild a community of trust in our classrooms.
3. Describe how it will look in the future: As a fifth-grade teacher, I would integrate restorative practices into my classroom, giving voice to my students. I would use your school’s PBIS initiative to create “cool tools” to help my students practice…
Three-Part Response Practice
• How do you deal with disruptive students? • How will you use restorative justice? • How do you differentiate your lessons? • How do you integrate technology? • How will you plan for instruction? • How do build connections with students?
1. Explain your philosophy
3. Describe how it will look in the new position
Experience-Based Questions: PAR
P: Problem—Briefly describe the problem.
A: Action—What were the steps you took? What was your role? Frame your action in the context of collaboration and teamwork.
R: Result—Describe the positive outcome. What did you learn from this experience?
PAR Response Practice
• Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult student behavior challenge and how you addressed it.
• Share an example of how you work with colleagues in a team situation?
• How have you handled irate parents? • How have you modified your instruction to
meet the needs of struggling learners?
P: Problem—Describe the problem or situation.
A: Action—What were the steps you took? What was your role? Frame your action in the context of collaboration and teamwork.
R: Result—Describe the positive outcome. What did you learn from this experience?
Sample Interview Questions with Scoring Guides
Sources of Sample Questions
• Teacher Quality Index by Stronge & Hindman (2006) • Knock 'em Dead Job Interview: How to Turn Job Interviews Into
Job Offers by Yate (2011) • https://www.snc.edu/careers/docs/education/interviewing.pdf • Search online
Closing the Deal: Follow-Ups and Offers
Plan End-of-Interview Questions
• Ask open-ended, higher-order questions: • Less effective: Do you have a mentoring program? • More Effective: What kinds of supports do you provide early-career teachers?
• Ask about the culture: • Tell me about your students? • Why do you (the principal) work here?
• Bring out your value-added skills: • Extra licensure/endorsements, extracurricular skills • Less effective question: Do you allow teachers to coach? • Effective questions: During college, I competed on the cross-country team and
played competitive chess. What kinds of extracurricular roles could I help with?
Salary
• Research the local norms for discussing salaries and benefits. • Many first-year salaries in K-12 public education in Illinois are
non-negotiable due to collective bargaining or statewide salary schedules.
• Always appropriate to discuss salary and benefits when the position is offered.
• Investigate sign-on bonuses, retention stipends, loan forgiveness, and other early-career incentives.
Wrap-Up
• Thank the interviewers for the opportunity. • Appropriate to ask about the timeline and when you would be
notified about the next steps in the process. • Follow-up with a thank you note (email or postal mail).
Conclusion
• St. Norbert College Career Center • https://www.snc.edu/careers/docs/education/interviewing.pdf
Welcome to the Profession!
• Build confidence by practicing. The skills are learnable. • Be proud of your story—and your positive influence on students!
For More Information:
Learning Objective
The Interview Process
Prepare the “Hot Topics”
Types of Interview Questions
Student-Centered and Collaborative Responses
Three-Part Response Practice
Experience-Based Questions: PAR
PAR Response Practice
Sources of Sample Questions
Slide Number 28
Slide Number 29
Slide Number 30
Slide Number 31
Slide Number 33
Slide Number 34
Slide Number 35
Slide Number 36
Plan End-of-Interview Questions
[email protected]
Friday, November 4, 2021
Apply interview strategies to secure employment in education.
The education profession is a good life (Higgins, 2011). This historical time presents many challenges and exciting
opportunities, and rehearsing for interviews will increase your confidence and your employment choices!
How To Use This Presentation
1. Don’t feel overwhelmed! Find one or two ideas you can “takeaway” from the presentation.
2. When reviewing this presentation later, “pause” at any time to internalize the skills and content.
3. Download the handout to access all the slides and a set of ten practice questions with scoring guides.
4. The skills for interviewing are learnable. Practice alone or with a group of peers.
5. Contact [email protected] for additional support.
similarity to the position • References/letters • Extracurricular potential • Community participation • Community service • Writing quality in submission • GPA and academic performance • Perceived college reputation
Level #2: Personal Characteristics (interview/performance)
• Personal appearance • Confidence and poise • Communication skills • Knowledge • Lesson/teaching sample • Growing use of video screening
(Bolz, 2009; Figlio, 2002; Guarino et al., 2006; Little & Miller, 2007; Mason & Schroeder, 2010; Mertz, 2010; Rose et al., 2014; Stronge & Hindman, 2006, 2009)
The Interview Invitation
• Email is the best method of contact with administrators. • Return all phone calls and emails promptly! • If contacted but you already have a job, thank the principal and
let them know you have accepted another offer. • When invited, you may ask what the interview format will be.
Interview Formats • Online • Impromptu • Telephone • Group • Committee • Proficiency • Structured
(Stronge & Hindman, 2006)
• First impressions influence principals (Mason & Schroeder, 2010).
• 50% of private industry employers reported they can decide within five minutes if a candidate will be a good fit in the organization (BottomLine Personal, 2019).
• Arrive early!
• Make safe apparel and personal appearance choices: dress professionally in conservative business attire (Mason & Schroeder, 2010)
• In private industry, 70% of job candidates who were hired wore mostly black, while only 33% of rejected candidates wore mostly black (BottomLine Personal, February 2019)
Graphic: https://www.stetson.edu/administration/care er/media/DressforSuccess2016_PROOF.pdf
• Sample Pre-Screening Format: Receive the question, prep for one minute, then four minutes (maximum) to speak/record, with four to six questions total
• “Our district also bought RIVS program…it video records the candidates answering the initial questions so (the principal) and the committee can watch together or alone with a link.”
• “Candidates receive a link that has questions recorded by our own staff members and the candidate then records their answers to our questions. We narrow the candidate pool based on these video responses.”
Trend: Compact Interviews
• “Speed Dating”: Schools will select 8-10 candidates for brief speed interviews (10-15 minutes).
• Job Fair: Candidates circulate from table to table to meet with multiple interviewers on the same day (just a few questions at each table).
• Both are used in online and F2F modes.
Trend: Structured Online Interview
• Online interview with questions from a single interviewer or a committee/panel.
• Principal: “I'd be thinking about how I present on camera. I'd double check my microphone, room lighting, and position of my computer. I think it's a great opportunity to showcase your tech knowledge. Bonus points to the candidate who can share the screen and show something.
• Principal: “...treat the online face interview the same as a regular in person interview: dress up, be ready with questions, have a portfolio to share if requested, plus know how to navigate the online platform. I would tell candidates to ask what the online interview expectations are so they can get familiar with the software. At home, make sure tech is working correctly, set up a well-lit space so you can clearly be seen, make sure you can be heard, and be uninterrupted.”
• Principal: “Treat the interview space similarly to a live interview - avoid busy places, dress appropriately, and prepare any materials for electronic sharing/submission. Also, practice on video - it is different in many ways and going through it as practice will help them be comfortable.”
• Unclutter your background and silence your phone. • Consider childcare and pet sitters.
Trend: Structured Online (continued)
Trend: Presenting a Lesson
the topic • State the learning outcome • Engaged, active learning
lesson/activity • Post-assessment (exit slip,
Questions for Planning • How much time? Practice your
timing!!! • If online, can you share your
screen? How will you share external hyperlinks?
• Who are the “students”? How many? Will they have technology access?
Response Strategies: Skills You Can Practice!
Plan to Sell the Typical Questions
• Tell us about yourself.... • Why are you interested in working at XYZ school? • What is your philosophy of classroom management/restorative
justice/discipline? • How will/do you differentiate your lessons? • How will/do you accommodate for special needs learners? • How will/do you increase achievement on SAT/IAR? • How will/do you assess students/measure student growth? • How will/do you plan instruction? (Hint: Start with learning standards!)
Gather with peers and practice!
Prepare the “Hot Topics”
Types of Interview Questions
Informational & Situational Questions: Three-Part Response Model
1. Explain your philosophy • “I believe…” • “I feel…” • “The research suggests…”
2. Describe what it looks like now • During student teaching
3. Describe how it will look in the future • In the position you are interviewing for
(Lubelfeld, 2016)
Student-Centered and Collaborative Responses • Focus on students and student learning.
• What are students doing? • How does student voice influence your practices?
• “We” or “us” demonstrates teamwork and collaboration. • Use the pronoun “I” sparingly (if at all).
• Q: How do you use assessment data? • Less effective: “After I grade the papers, I look at the questions and
decide what lessons I need to teach next.” • More effective: “The assessment data and exit slips drive the daily
planning decisions about our students’ learning needs.”
Sample: How would you address the SEL standards? 1. Explain your philosophy: I believe schools must develop the whole
child. Time spent on supporting the social-emotional development of children will improve their readiness to learn and accelerate their academic growth.
2. Describe what it looks like now: During my student teaching at Bayside High School, we held peace circles on the first day of every week. Our students needed time to refocus after the weekend. We used circles to build and rebuild a community of trust in our classrooms.
3. Describe how it will look in the future: As a fifth-grade teacher, I would integrate restorative practices into my classroom, giving voice to my students. I would use your school’s PBIS initiative to create “cool tools” to help my students practice…
Three-Part Response Practice
• How do you deal with disruptive students? • How will you use restorative justice? • How do you differentiate your lessons? • How do you integrate technology? • How will you plan for instruction? • How do build connections with students?
1. Explain your philosophy
3. Describe how it will look in the new position
Experience-Based Questions: PAR
P: Problem—Briefly describe the problem.
A: Action—What were the steps you took? What was your role? Frame your action in the context of collaboration and teamwork.
R: Result—Describe the positive outcome. What did you learn from this experience?
PAR Response Practice
• Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult student behavior challenge and how you addressed it.
• Share an example of how you work with colleagues in a team situation?
• How have you handled irate parents? • How have you modified your instruction to
meet the needs of struggling learners?
P: Problem—Describe the problem or situation.
A: Action—What were the steps you took? What was your role? Frame your action in the context of collaboration and teamwork.
R: Result—Describe the positive outcome. What did you learn from this experience?
Sample Interview Questions with Scoring Guides
Sources of Sample Questions
• Teacher Quality Index by Stronge & Hindman (2006) • Knock 'em Dead Job Interview: How to Turn Job Interviews Into
Job Offers by Yate (2011) • https://www.snc.edu/careers/docs/education/interviewing.pdf • Search online
Closing the Deal: Follow-Ups and Offers
Plan End-of-Interview Questions
• Ask open-ended, higher-order questions: • Less effective: Do you have a mentoring program? • More Effective: What kinds of supports do you provide early-career teachers?
• Ask about the culture: • Tell me about your students? • Why do you (the principal) work here?
• Bring out your value-added skills: • Extra licensure/endorsements, extracurricular skills • Less effective question: Do you allow teachers to coach? • Effective questions: During college, I competed on the cross-country team and
played competitive chess. What kinds of extracurricular roles could I help with?
Salary
• Research the local norms for discussing salaries and benefits. • Many first-year salaries in K-12 public education in Illinois are
non-negotiable due to collective bargaining or statewide salary schedules.
• Always appropriate to discuss salary and benefits when the position is offered.
• Investigate sign-on bonuses, retention stipends, loan forgiveness, and other early-career incentives.
Wrap-Up
• Thank the interviewers for the opportunity. • Appropriate to ask about the timeline and when you would be
notified about the next steps in the process. • Follow-up with a thank you note (email or postal mail).
Conclusion
• St. Norbert College Career Center • https://www.snc.edu/careers/docs/education/interviewing.pdf
Welcome to the Profession!
• Build confidence by practicing. The skills are learnable. • Be proud of your story—and your positive influence on students!
For More Information:
Learning Objective
The Interview Process
Prepare the “Hot Topics”
Types of Interview Questions
Student-Centered and Collaborative Responses
Three-Part Response Practice
Experience-Based Questions: PAR
PAR Response Practice
Sources of Sample Questions
Slide Number 28
Slide Number 29
Slide Number 30
Slide Number 31
Slide Number 33
Slide Number 34
Slide Number 35
Slide Number 36
Plan End-of-Interview Questions