Interview advice!

A few of you may remember me asking in the spring time for exam tips, and the replies were an enormous help on the day! Utterly invaluable infact!

After passing my intermediate two maths (shudder) with an A (thanks again folks!), I now have the qualifications necessary to apply for teacher training. I have been selected for interview, which is in a couple of weeks time.

If there's something I hate more than exams, it's interviews! This one consists of a group discussion, a personal interview and a written task. (double shudder)

If anyone has any advice for me on any aspect of performing at a dreaded interview, I would be most grateful!

Thanks in advance,

Jane

 

Hello JarBax, nice to see you again.

Be prepared.

Research the school (in your case), it's environment, goals and objectives. Know your subject.

Be yourself, be confident and believe in yourself and your abilities.

Write down some questions ... "What do you know about the school, the locality, etc?", "What would you do in a situation where a child suddenfly became rambunctious/disruptive in the classroom?", etc. Answer your questions by looking in the mirror ... think first then speak clearly and precisely with no grunts, ums, ahs, coughs, clearing throat, etc.

Be positive in all respects ... throw negativity out of the window.

I was in Human Resources for many years and a member of Toastmasters (public speaking) for two years.

The last time I was interviewed was in 1993 for a Legal & Personnel position within education and went through quite a grilling ... I got the job. In fact, the man who hired me is here in Portugal now ... we became firm friends.

Perhaps others may have tips for you that have been useful to them.

 

I agree with you entirely LOL, Jane just two things, if you are confident in yourself then you will instil confidence in others and secondly, you can only do your best. Thirdly, good luck.

 

Jarbax,nothing more i can add, great advice given, would just like to wish you all the luck in the world, go for your dream. well done on achieving your qualifications and interview.

 

Hello there,
here is a link to an old post with some general advice that you may find useful:

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=003296#000000

PS what would you be teaching and to which age group?


all the best !!

 

Good Luck Jarbax,Just be yourself,take plenty of deep breaths and try not to shake too much and you will be fine Let us know how it goes.

 

Ohhh, thankyou all!

Because of my rural(ish) locality, I will (hopefully) be studying to teach at primary school level. My degree is in art, and my three years of school experience at secondary, but all secondary courses are at universities 2 hours in any direction from me here - so Primary here I come!!!

A senior manager at the secondary where I work (as a Support for Learning/Behaviour Assistant)has agreed to give me a 'mock' interview sometime this coming week - and he suggested filming it! Yikes ma crikes, this is going to be painful!

I have been given the topic for the group discussion - A Curriculum for Excellence - which I have been studying for the past week, and am still not much further forward! So, I am making a start at knowing my stuff!

I am worried my nerves will get in the way, and my mind will go completely blank - I have seen a couple of possible questions which scare the living daylights out of me! Give me a class full of horrible teenage louts anyday!

 

Jane the advice given by LoL is sound, just be yourself and the best of luck.

 

Jarbax, I don't know if I can be of much help but I am an Early years teacher who finished at uni 2 years ago. If you want to PM me I may be able to give you help with your interview problems. How I remember that uni interview!

 

Thanks again!

I have PMd you Celia.

The interview isn't until the 7th of December - but I really want to be well prepared in advance. The thing that is worrying me at the moment is that the manager from the secondary where I work will be mock interviewing me next week sometime, and I am not prepared in the least for what he may ask! And I am certainly not prepared to sit and watch back my embarrassing attempts - though do really appreciate that it will be most useful!

Will up my brushing regime to maximise my smile on entering the room - and practice confident grins in the mirror! :D I rmemeber meeting my son's geography teacher at a parents evening - and she had such a lovely smile I still remember it now!

 

Jarbax, as I said earlier, all you can do is your best, and if that`s not good enough for them then they are losing out.

 

good luck Jarbax
you put your mind to it keep your cool and you will do really well,lets know how you get on will think of you XX

 

Had a pre mock interview with a colleague today - it was terrible! At least things can't possibly get that bad again - I giggled like a school girl and generally made every mistake in the book. How embarrassing. I seriously need to focus (though am totally stressed as my son's first prelims are tomorrow - and he's left serious revision to the last minute (not for lack of me nagging!))

Mock interview (with video) will be period seven on Friday (the kids I'm usually in with tend to take an early weekend, so I wont be missed). Help!!!

Aaaaahhh - it never rains, but it pours!

 

It sounds like your woorying about it too much, just be confident and give it your best shot.

Remember to take a mock interviwe with a pinch of salt, although well intentioned the person giving it may not have sat an interviwe for a long time and could be as in the dark as you!