Résumé Ideas and Interview Strategies
The best way to impress potential employers is to submit a solid résumé and show that you are thoroughly prepared for your job
interview. This requires research and time, but landing a job will make the effort worthwhile.
Your résumé should not only reference your preparation and work history. It should also give potential employers a glimpse into your
interest in education and your commitment to student learning. During your interview, discuss how you would align the state’s curriculum, the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), with the
state’s former accountability system, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and new assessment program, the STAAR. Interviewers will be impressed if you show an understanding
of TEKS and TAKS and how they relate to the position’s grade level/subject area. Be prepared to provide references, such as cooperating teachers and building-level administrators, who have seen you in a classroom
setting. University references are helpful, but public school-based professional references carry greater weight. Incorporate a school district’s mission statement and instructional goals (usually listed on its website) into your interview
presentation.
Jed Reed, Lewisville ISD director of staffing and human resource services, and Pat Barges, Lewisville ISD administrator for elementary
staffing:
Before the interview
1. Research the school district and the campus.
2. Practice your responses to questions you anticipate being asked.
3. Prepare questions to ask during the interview.
4. Dress professionally.
During the interview
1. Arrive on time.
2. Be upbeat, positive and enthusiastic.
3. Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake, and call him by name.
4. Make eye contact with the interviewer.
5. Give thoughtful and complete answers, but be concise. Provide examples that demonstrate your ability to perform required tasks.
6. At the interview’s conclusion, briefly restate your interest in the position and your qualifications as a candidate.
7. Be sure you are clear on the “next step” in the hiring process before leaving the interview.
8. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to interview, and give him a firm handshake.
9. Ask each interviewer for a business card.
After the interview
1. Immediately send a thank-you note to the interviewer.
2. Send in all required documentation and paperwork.
3. Adhere to the district’s hiring procedures.
Interview questions not only test your knowledge but also your
ability to communicate your thoughts. Some districts have a standard set of questions; others allow
administrators to create their own questions with few guidelines.
Interviewers might ask a set of questions they have consistently
used for years, so talk to a current employee who remembers his
interview. Prepare for both types of interviews by knowing your answers to
common questions and practicing interview skills with a friend.
Potential questions
• How would you manage discipline in your classroom?
• How would you teach a student to write?
• Why should we hire someone like you?
• What does parental involvement mean to you?
• How do you feel about site-based management?
• What is your biggest weakness/strength?
Interviewers often ask if you have questions. Think of your
questions before you arrive for your interview. Asking questions
shows interest and thought. Plus, it gives you a chance to figure
out if the campus and district are a good fit for you. Do some
background research on the district before your interview. Potential questions:
• How would you describe this school's student population?
• What is the school's accountability rating?
• Will I be expected to oversee any extracurricular activities?
• How are supervisor visits handled?
• What is the district’s policy on taking time off for continuing
education?
• What does the administration do to improve instruction?
When interviewing prospective educators, administrators look for:
| • |
A good attitude
Someone who comes across as caring, pleasant, enthusiastic,
positive, professional and confident. Whose personal philosophy is
that students and their needs come first. Who wants to teach to
make a difference, not just draw a paycheck. A team player who is
willing and eager to continue his own learning. |
| • |
Ability
To be a good role model. To solve problems. To verbalize future
goals and visualize future accomplishments in the classroom. |
| • |
Evidence
A resume that demonstrates specific experiences with children
(through college courses and other means) and leadership positions
held in high school and college. An above-average transcript that
shows that the candidate knows how to work hard. A portfolio that
demonstrates how the candidate’s experience relates to the
position. |
Administrators don’t like:
• Transcript grades that indicate a poor work ethic
• Lack of recommendations
• Lack of enthusiasm, eagerness or willingness to perform duties
• Signs of self-centeredness
• Indecisiveness about accepting the position
• Talking too much and not listening during the interview Back to top |
