Interviewing 101 Amy Friedlander

Purpose of an interview - Candidate You bring your cover letter and resume to life You connect with the interviewer and distinguish your application from the rest You assess the work environment and culture You assess classroom environment and teaching style to determine if there is a fit with your teaching philosophy

Purpose of an interview - Employer The interviewer assesses your level of professionalism The interviewer assesses your personal style The interviewer gathers information not available from your application The interviewer gauges your interest in the position

Interview Preparation Review the job description/posting/ad Review the center/organization website Review your on-line presence Practice responses for most typical interview questions Prepare questions for the interviewer Map your route to the interview location and ensure that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the interview appointment time Select appropriate professional attire to wear to the interview Bring all requested documentation to the interview

Typical Interview Questions Tell me a little about yourself What are your strengths and weaknesses? How do you handle challenging personalities on the job? Why are you interested in this position? Why are you looking to leave your current place of employment? What makes you an exceptional teacher/lead teacher/assistant teacher? Where do you see yourself in 3 years?

Typical Questions for the Interviewer What is the search timeframe (what are the next steps)? Is this a new position or is someone leaving? If a new position, is it related to new funding and growth? If someone is leaving, has turnover been a problem? What are the benefits and salary (follow the interviewer’s lead here)? What are the job responsibilities and work schedule (if anything is unclear from the posting/job description)? What is the typical career pathway for someone in this position?

Interview Follow-Up Write a thank you message or letter Thank the interviewer for his/her time and interest in your application Reiterate your interest in the center/organization/job Monitor the address and phone number provided on your cover letter and resume Respond quickly to any employment related messages received