Primary School Teacher Interview

Pauly1992

Hi! I have my first interview this week (3 years after leaving college) and am quite worried. I have typed up answers to some of the typical interview questions, and I don't know if my answers are too long. I'm trying to sell myself, but how can you sell yourself without waffling? I have a full A4 page for the "tell use about yourself" answer (one paragraph on my degrees/subbing experience, 2 on extra curricular activities, and one on my educational elective in a curricular subject). Other answers are all 1-2 paragraphs, generally half an A4 - three quarters of an A4 page long. Is that ok?

Now other questions: How long are the interviews generally? When do you hear back? Do they phone you to say yes/no, or is it a letter? Does anyone have any sample questions they like to ask?

evolving_doors

Just a few thoughts off the top of my head.

• Involvement in community/volunteering work of some sort. If you have none say it's something you would like to explore in the future.
• Continuing professional development.
• Ethos of the school.
• Any non-educational work experience you can bring to your teaching.
• Any subject specialisms.
• Interest in Extra curricular.
• What you learned from college during your teacher training (educational theories that interested you).
• Use of IT, think of an example that worked well for a class.
• At the end of the interview.. "do you have any questions you'd like to ask yourself?"... always have a question!
• Areas you feel you need to work on in your teaching.
• What class groups you would prefer to teach.
• Collaboration with other teachers.
• Experiences or knowledge of working with students with learning difficulties.

How to avoid waffling... provide evidence based answers. Have examples to prove all of the above rather than just giving an opinion. There's no harm in repeating a question that they asked as you start giving your answer. It'll force you to paraphrase it down to a bullet point. Teachers naturally do this anyway when students ask long winded convoluted questions in class so no harm in doing it during an interview to show you are processing their question carefully.

Pauly1992

Gebgbegb wrote: »

Just a few thoughts off the top of my head.

[*]At the end of the interview.. "do you have any questions you'd like to ask yourself?"... always have a question!

[*]Areas you feel you need to work on in your teaching.

Thank you so much for your detailed reply! It's extremely informative and helpful! Just in relation to the two points above... Would a question like "what size class is the post for?" be an okay question, or would you go more for "what do you think are the strengths of the school?"

Secondly, in relation to areas that need work. Would it be okay to say "Irish", because I'm not very good at it? Or would you go more the "time management", or something like that?

evolving_doors

Pauly1992 wrote: »

Thank you so much for your detailed reply! It's extremely informative and helpful! Just in relation to the two points above... Would a question like "what size class is the post for?" be an okay question,

Ya I suppose, or maybe just ask "what is the profile of the class", this way you can tailor their responses to your experiences with different types of classes. Asking how many in the class might make them concerned that you would prefer a smaller class!

Pauly1992 wrote: »

or would you go more for "what do you think are the strengths of the school?"

It sounds like you are interviewing them :pac:... Maybe ask "what do you think parents like about the school the most?". I think parents might often be forgotten about in interviews and a good relationship with parents is important for a school/teacher.

Pauly1992 wrote: »

Secondly, in relation to areas that need work. Would it be okay to say "Irish", because I'm not very good at it? Or would you go more the "time management", or something like that?

Well personally I wouldn't say "im not very good at Irish".. you should really be providing evidence that you are taking steps to improve your irish if you do.

Time management is everything in teaching, hone down to what actual aspect is costing you time ... e.g. explaining something, asking questions, correcting homework, paperwork, getting used to names, getting around to every student! But again, provide steps at how you are improving this.

byhookorbycrook

Have you been sent a list of interview criteria?Research the school and be able to say why you would be an asset. Not sure I'd say what group you'd like to teach, the days of a teacher staying at one level are long gone and you may appear to be limited if you specify.

Windorah

A few topics I have been asked

-bullying (how would you deal with it, have you any experience dealing with it etc.)
-preparing classes for sacraments
-working with other staff, sna's etc. and how to deal with possible grievances etc.
-working with parents (if a parent has a complaint, how to encourage parent participation in school, encourage engagement with homework)

One "tip" someone gave me when I started out was that I should also think of the interview as a chance for me to see if I WANT to work there. I walked out of my first interview and thought even if they offer me that job I don't want it!