The Interview

The job interview. Many dread it but everyone has to face it eventually.  But how can you get experience and learn how to really nail the interview for your dream job? Today I had the chance to sit down with Mrs. Dolges, Penns Manor's principal to talk through the interview process and discuss some tips. Here were some of my top takeaways!

• It's not always about the 4.0 GPA.   
• While grades are important and should not be ignored, administrators like to see a candidate who was involved in extracurricular activities, work, service and more. An impressive resume with a GPA lower than 4.0 may show that the candidate could still keep a full plate while balancing their course load. Candidates with less than a 4.0 may also be a better teacher because they have had the experience of truly working and struggling for their grade, this may not always be true but ultimately not having a perfect GPA does not count you out of the job hunt.
• Show gratitude. 
• When entering and exiting an interview, always shake hands with the hiring committee and thank them for their time and consideration. This is both a job hunt tip and a life tip. Lifehack: being a polite and gracious person gets you further in life. 
• Give detailed answers.
• Don't give a cliche answer that just glosses over the question. Administrators can tell when an answer is canned and they learn nothing about you from it. Share your real experiences, be detailed, follow up. Don't leave the hiring committee confused or feeling like their questions went unanswered. 
• Ask for clarification. 
• If you don't understand the question, it's okay to ask them to clarify. If you didn't hear the question, it is okay to ask them to repeat it. If you truly do not know the answer, it is okay to tell them that you don't know. Don't lie, don't stretch the truth, just be real.
• Be aware of your social media presence.
• We've all heard it before and yet people still make the same mistakes. Administrators do and will find you on social media. Just think before you like, share, post, etc. Would you want the teacher of your child sharing it? Then you shouldn't either.
• Be prepared for the questions.
• Know your strengths and weaknesses. Know what you can offer to the program. 
• Know your information when it comes to topics like special education. Give examples of your experiences with students with IEPs. 
• Know your content. If you don't know the answer, don't lie.
• Know your philosophy and be able to speak to it. 
• Come prepared. 
• Bring copies of information that the committee may wish to see, do your best to know how many people will be in the interview and bring each of them a copy.
• Resume, cover letter, lesson plans, student work, etc
• Follow up with a thank you.
• Immediately send a thank you note to the hiring committee, thanking them for their time and consideration. This is also a great time to ask for feedback on how you could have improved your interview.