Handshake Activity

Partner next to you.

Give your partner a high five.
Dab up your partner.
Fist pump your partner
Shake your partner’s hand.
Which method is more effective for an interview?
 Preparing for an

INTERVIEW
Mrs. Watt & Mr. Nice
Today’s
AGENDA
01 Today’s goals

02 How to prepare for an interview

03 Role play activity

04 Conclusion
Today’sGoals
BY THE END OF THIS LESSON, I WILL
HAVE STRATEGIES TO HELP ME PREPARE
FOR AN INTERVIEW:
• What should I include in my portfolio
• How should I choose my references
• What research should I do before my interview
• How should I answer behavioral interview questions
 Preparing a
portfolio
Prepare this before the interview.
Bring a copy with you.
• Teaching Philosophy
• Your Pedagogy
• Resume
• Personal Component
• Community Involvement
• Professional Development
• Teaching/career Aspiration
• Reading Log
• Supporting Documents
 Choosing References

You should bring a copy of your references to the interview.

Choose three minimum.
• Guidelines: Employers sometimes have specials requirements.
• Professional Contacts: A Professional that has worked close to you (ex. Supervisor, manager, etc.)
• Relevant: Pick someone that knows your current ability's that would be associated with teaching.
• Diverse Perspectives: Different levels of authority.
• Communication Skills: Someone who speaks clear, and they know how to present your skills.
• Character Reference: Peer, Friend, or Family member.
• Ask for Permission: Ask your reference if it is okay to use them. Make sure to let them know what
job you have applied for. Keep them in the loop!
 Research
Researching the school: It is important to research the school you are applying to, so you have
knowledge of what their culture and what improvements they are looking to change for the future.
You could use this to ask questions during the interview to that you have interest in the school. This
could also decide that this placement isn’t for you. The following is what you should look for:
• Mission Statement
• Future Plans
• Improvements
• Values
To find the following most schools have an improvement plan. Just google “school name mission
statement”.
 Research
Job Position: Remember the interviewer is trying to find the most qualified teacher to fill the
position. Look at the curriculum and get yourself to know it well. Bring supporting documents
ready to show the interviewer that you are qualified to teach in this position.
• Curriculum
⚬ Supported Documents
When preparing for
interview questions
Think of details you can use in question
responses to help your interviewers imagine
your classroom and you in action.

• experiences
• anecdotes
• successes or failures
• plans or goals
A Teaching Interview...
EXAMPLES:

• Experience: School lock down

• Anecdote: Helping a student complete a task
• Success: Organizing a school fundraiser
• Failure: Choosing a class novel to difficult for your
students
• Plan or goal: Implementing project-based learning in your
classroom
Answer Look fors:
• problem-solving
• conflict resolution skills
• professionalism
• understanding of common
behavioural issues
 S TA R
A response method for behavioural interview
questions
Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.
Task: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation.
Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.
Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved.
 Example Question
TELL ME ABOUT A
C H A L L E N G I N G S I T U AT I O N
Y O U H AV E H A D W I T H A
STUDENT AND HOW YOU
D E A LT W I T H T H E S I T U AT I O N ?
 S TA R
Situation: While administering an exam I encountered a student cheating by looking at the test of the student beside
them.
Task: I stopped the behaviour by making the general statement to the class “Could everyone please keep their eyes on
their own tests”.
Action: Afterward I asked the student to stay behind so I could speak with them privately. During the conversation I
remained calm, serious and straightforward. I stuck to the facts of what I had observed. I asked the student why they
were looking at another test. They then divulged that they had been scheduled at work for three shifts before the exam
and didn’t have time to prepare. We had a discussion and came to the resolution that the next time they would come to
me with the conflict before the exam and if I saw any cheating in the future they would receive a zero on their test.
Result: By responding to the situation in this manner I addressed the situation without embarrassing the student which
could have lead to further behaviour. I also sought the WHY for the behaviour and created the solution with the
student.
 Role play activity
Step 1: Move into pairs and delegate the role of interviewer
and interviewee
Step 2: The interviewee will practice responding to questions
using the STAR method as if they are in an interview
Step 3: The interviewer will make notes just as if they are in
an interview
Step 4: When the buzzer rings switch roles
 S TA R
A reponse method for behavioural interview
questions
Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary details of your example.
Task: Describe what your responsibility was in that situation.
Action: Explain exactly what steps you took to address it.
Result: Share what outcomes your actions achieved.
 What is STAR and
when should you use
it?
WHAT ELEMENTS
ARE IMPORTANT IN
CONSTRUCTING A
TEACHING
PORTFOLIO?
Who might act as a good
reference for a teaching
position?
W H AT A R E S O M E O F
T H E T H I N G S T H AT
A R E I M P O RTA N T TO
KNOW ABOUT YOUR
POTENTIAL NEW
EMPLOYER?
Questions?