Latest / New Teacher Talk / Ep 197: From Application to Job Offer: Interview Tips That Work

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Ep 197: From Application to Job Offer: Interview Tips That Work · New Teacher Talk

Welcome to New Teacher Talk.
My name is Amy Howerton and I am an English teacher and
English department chairperson at Oswego High School in
Oswego, Illinois.
And I'm Isabel Wilde,
a first year English teacher at Oswego High School.
Today,
we'd like to share ideas about how to navigate the interview
process,
which actually begins well before the in-person interview.
After today's podcast,
you should walk away with ideas to help you navigate that
process and gain confidence as you approach the hiring
season.
Isabel and I are here today because I actually interviewed
Isabel as a first-year teacher,
and this is her first year in education.
So, Isabel, as we prepare for our listeners today,
we'd like to start with the idea about making a good first
impression, but to do so virtually.
So if you could share how you went about creating a good
first impression with your resume and a cover letter last
spring, probably about this time.
time last year.
How'd you do that?
So the resume and cover letter are the first two,
I would say, major documents that you have to upload.
Your resume, you know,
has all of your previous experiences,
probably where you've student taught and completed
clinicals at.
The cover letter, though,
is extremely underrated in my opinion.
Putting in the research of the schools you're applying to
the districts, looking at mission statements,
and really just making it personal.
You know,
a resume I feel people read to learn about your experience,
but that cover letter can allow them a little space and
aspect into who you are before, you know,
an actual interview gets set.
Going to job fairs, networking, looking on LinkedIn,
really just covering all your bases of things online is
really important because online comes first before in
person.
Definitely.
Those are really good tips to start with.
I love that you mentioned that you did a lot of research
and when you went online,
LinkedIn is a good place to start.
Educators don't often use a lot of those resources as much
as the other kind of business professions do,
but that's a really great way to network and see some of
the other professionals that you're going to want to
connect with.
Looking at mission statements, you also mentioned,
really important.
How did you use the information of mission statements and
the research that you did in How did you use that in your
cover letter and resume?
So I can't remember either on my cover letter if I put a
picture of a small panther or not,
but looking at the mission statements in the district,
because you don't want to be in a district if you don't
agree with what their mission is.
Good point.
And being able to tie in what their statement is with
things that you care about and what you want to bring into
the classroom,
it allows you to start to align some of those goals and
being able to see that is really important.
And I think it can be a good discussion in an interview.
As someone who's on the receiving end of those cover
letters and resumes,
I really appreciate when an applicant has done their
research to take a look at the place that they're
interviewing for.
They understand the school, they understand the district,
they've put in the time and effort to really understand not
just a job, but the mission and the vision of the school.
And then when that is integrated into the cover letter,
that tells me as the recipient of that information and that
communication,
that you care about that job is not just an employment for
you,
that you really care about the school and the children that
the school represents.
So really great tip.
Yes.
So once you send those things out and yay, next step,
you get a phone call and an interview.
In anticipating that phone call and emails,
that's often the second step of that interview process.
So what did you learn about that stage of the process when
you get that next step of the phone call, the interview,
the emails,
what are those things that you learned in that stage?
Well,
besides constantly checking your email phone calls and
everything, it's really important to communicate quickly,
whether that be,
if they give you a phone call or if they send you an email,
checking your email and also your spam folder,
everyone has like 14 different folders in their emails.
Check every single one and your voicemail and just really
being on time and checking everything frequently.
I received communication via email for all first round
interviews.
Some districts might be through phone, just making sure,
but make sure all communication that you do is formal.
Check your spelling.
Don't send emojis.
You were on that formal basis where now they're actually
starting to communicate with you, but they don't know you.
So just making sure that your formal interview times work
in your schedule, work with them,
you are more than willing to do an interview at any time.
It's really hard if you say no and that like hesitation,
make sure your polite conversation matters,
especially if it's on the phone and make sure to
references, if they haven't been contacted,
giving maybe like a heads up to past mentor teachers, Hey,
I have an interview.
If you get a phone call,
it might be them and making sure just all information's up
to date.
Good reminders.
I really like the idea of reaching out to your references
to give them a heads up.
You don't want any of the references to be unaware that
they might receive a phone call because you want them to
speak well of you on your behalf.
And the other thing that is really valuable is to be formal
in that communication.
Answer the phone calls, check the emails,
check the voicemails,
and make sure that voicemail box is available to take
messages.
I can't even tell you how many times I try to call
applicants and leave voicemails,
and I can't because the voicemail box is full.
That is really important that you're available to receive
the communications,
because sometimes that's the make or break it for a second
round interview or a first round interview if I can't get a
hold of the applicant.
Well, Isabelle,
thank you for telling us about that stage of the process of
the phone call and getting the interview and anticipating
all of that.
It's really a second, very important part of that process.
Yes, it is.
Now we come to the actual interview,
which is the exciting part.
So nervous.
But it's really fun, right?
No, it is.
When you land that interview,
so how can you as a first year teacher who was recently
hired, congratulations.
Thank you, thank you.
How could you offer tips to our listeners about how to
maximize that in-person interview so they can get hired?
So pick out your outfit the night before.
Make sure you look professional, dress professionally.
Be prepared.
Be prepared in all aspects.
Be ready.
Eat a meal.
You might not feel like it because you're nervous but you
don't want to sit there and think you're gonna pass out
because you're on an empty stomach.
True.
Make sure you come prepared.
Scout the location ahead of time.
I remember being told I had to go to like door 37.
Yeah and I was like where is door 37?
So making sure you leave yourself extra time if you don't
look up a map on your phone computer earlier.
Arriving early because you never know if geese want to
cross the road all at one time and you can't you can't make
it.
often when because I've been conducting interviews for a
long time with candidates and if if the interview happens
to take place at the very beginning of the school day or at
the end of school day when there's like parent drop-off or
pickup or You know student release or beginning of the
school day the traffic can be really hectic So the timing
of the interview also makes a difference and knowing that
Regardless arriving early is always a good tip to have
right always arriving early It's very good that will also
give you as the candidate time to feel prepared and not
rushed Which also means then you're gonna be more ready for
the actual interview.
Yes, you'll calm and prepared.
Yep.
Yep.
Okay So what else what what about when you get into the
interview?
What are some tips you have for our listeners when they get
into the actual building and they get into for that
interview?
So when you get into the building,
you check in let's say front desk, introduce yourself.
I'm here for an interview.
They'll probably tell you what to do.
And then let's say you're going towards the room.
You're like being led with people.
Make sure eye contact, introducing yourself, shaking hands.
I really enjoy.
I think it's something everyone should do and just
introducing yourself and being personable.
Yes.
Yes.
Make sure coming prepared with materials.
No computers, no computer.
That's a good tip.
Why would you say no computers?
I agree with you.
Because it becomes this like block,
it's like a screen block versus if you have a piece of
paper and even if it has a hundred questions on it,
it's flat,
it's something that's discrete and it doesn't interrupt the
flow of conversation where I have to look at a computer and
then you,
you can like glance at the paper and then look up.
I think going tech low there is a good tip because it does
not create that barrier between you and the person you're
really trying to connect with in the interview.
And you also mentioned having questions.
I love that.
I do,
especially as somebody who interviews people quite a bit.
It shows me something when you bring questions into the
interview.
Why do you mention that?
Tell our listeners why you brought questions to the
interview.
So I brought questions pre-written on a piece of paper
because I knew I would never in a million years be able to
really remember what I wanted to ask because I was probably
really, really nervous and I was.
And I sat there and I was like, oh, my questions.
And they're on the piece of paper.
And it's nice because you can take a little quick notes if
you need to, but coming with questions, if you look at,
like we mentioned previously,
the mission statements and I really love deep diving into
school websites.
There's so much to learn, activities, what's available,
students, teachers,
and that's where I generated a lot of my questions from.
there's a richness that's available for free online, right?
So do that research.
It's a really rich opportunity to find out a lot about
schools.
So developing those questions and you bringing those in,
I mean,
I know it provided you a sense of calm because you had
those pre-written and pre-prepared,
but this is what it tells me as somebody who's
interviewing.
It tells me that A, you've done your research, B,
that you care enough to ask the questions because you would
be surprised so many people when as an interviewer,
I turn it over and say, do you have any questions for us?
No, we're fine.
Ask questions, right?
It's so important to ask questions because that means you
really do care about the job.
And it also means that you have things that you want in
your job.
So you are also looking for something and then that tells
me that you are gonna be a good fit for us because you have
something that you want and I'm looking to see if that's
gonna be a match.
Is that gonna be a match for us?
So really good to have those interview questions prepared.
What else?
There's whole many things in that interview, right?
There's so many things happening there.
questions.
They're going to be asked multiple questions about all
sorts of things.
It's really important to make sure you answer questions
fully, but not with an overflow of words.
Being able to just take a second,
even if it's a question you don't know,
sit for a second and just process what is the most
important thing that I have to say about this question.
Because it's really easy to start yapping and then it's
five minutes later and you just yapped about the first
question.
But staying concise and specific because there are a list
of questions that they do need to get through.
They do, and often interviews are on a time schedule.
They really are.
I like the idea of taking a pause.
If you're not quite sure and you need a moment to think,
it's okay to tell the interview panel or the interview
person, that's a great question.
Can I think about that for a moment?
It's also appropriate to say, could you ask that again,
please?
Because sometimes your brain is going a mile a minute and
maybe you didn't really hear that question fully.
There's oftentimes in interviews where there are multi-part
questions that they're asking.
And so you're not going to retain every part of that
question as it is asked.
So it's perfectly acceptable to say,
could you either rephrase or repeat the question, please?
Yeah.
Good ideas.
Good ideas.
I think I did that with the standards question.
You did! Yeah, yes,
could you tell our listeners a little bit about that
question?
That's a good one
So in all the questions I was being asked,
there was one that stood out to me and kind of stumped me.
And I was like, oh.
And it was to list a specific standard that's important in
my instruction.
And I- A learning standard.
Learning standard, yes.
And I literally was trying to think of the actual,
like on the website learning standard, like what it is.
And I just needed a second.
And I was like, that's a really great question.
Let me think for just a moment.
And-
That's a great way to handle that, by the way.
Because I was just processing and you have to take the
second to process because if you try to answer in that
moment my answer wouldn't have been good and finding a way
where I didn't really know exactly how to answer that
question but connecting it to mentioning some of what I
already do in the classroom and I think I talked about how
like writing was really important.
You did, you talked about writing.
That's what I thought and I talked about writing.
About argument writing, if I remember correctly.
Yes,
so even though I couldn't probably be as specific as you
were looking for,
but still being able to narrow in a little bit more than,
I'm not really sure, because you do know,
and just taking a second to process.
Good.
And it is okay to take a moment and gather your thoughts
before responding because taking that moment will give you
a better response.
Good advice.
Another thing that I remember about your interview was that
your personality really shined through.
And I think that made a real difference in the interview
because you can't really hide who you are, nor should you.
Tell our listeners a little bit about that.
I feel like when it comes to interviews,
especially like post-college, first career step,
it's really thrown onto people that you need to be as
professional as possible and you need to answer these
things a certain way and while I agree in some ways,
it's really important to be yourself and especially in the
aspect of teaching,
your personality is forefront to the classroom that you
create and if you try to hide that in an interview,
they're not going to really know who you are and you don't
want to sound monotone or like a robot and they're not
going to know everything about you or who you are from one
interview but even just a little scope into who you are
really makes a difference.
So that personality is of value because it's going to come
out sooner or later and you don't want to have to hide who
you really are.
And the person hiring you wants to know who you really are.
Make sure it's a good fit for both of you.
So what about the end of the interview?
What is your recommendation?
At the end, thank you for the opportunity and the time.
Shake hands once again with everyone in the room as you're
leaving if you're in like the main office and there's other
people in there say bye as well even if it's just to have a
good rest of your day and just thank you for the
opportunity and walk out those doors.
Main office administrative staff,
they also share their impressions of candidates, too.
And so, they'll often give a thumbs up or kind of like a,
ehh.
So, yes, they're like, oh, that was a great candidate,
such a kind person.
And so,
it's really important to make an impression to everyone in
the school, not just the people in the interview panel.
Yeah, agreed, good.
Okay, interview's over.
Deep breath.
Deep, deep breath.
So, after that interview,
what are the recommendations you would have because you
know the adrenaline might be flowing,
but the process really isn't over yet?
No, it is not.
So,
what are your suggestions for the follow-up after the interview?
Sending a quick follow-up email keep it formal just because
you've met them doesn't mean you were best friends
And it's not a text message either.
No, it is not.
No, it's no formal emails.
Formal email keep all lines of communication open.
Like we said previously whether it's emails phone calls
after a first interview You're more likely to get a phone
call than an email,
but still pay attention to both keep all lines of
communication open Continue checking job openings as well.
You never know what's out there and if this interview
doesn't go well there are more opportunities out there,
so just being aware and Send that follow-up email sooner
rather than later
I have had candidates that I will receive a thank you email
10 minutes after they've left,
which means they're sitting in their car sending an email
from their phone right in the parking lot.
So I know it's like immediate after they've left the
interview, which I give them kudos.
They're sending it, they're thankful,
and they've mentioned something specific about the
interview, which I also really like,
that they're reflecting on the interview and they've shared
something that they've learned about the school or
something that we've talked about in the interview that
makes it personal.
Yeah.
I also want to mention that some interview teams have some
more lengthy processes.
It's very common that the system that we have is we have at
least two interviews, two rounds of interviews.
Some schools have teaching examples.
So they'll have kind of like a model teaching example that
happens, whether you're teaching to the interview panel.
I'm usually not in front of students,
but kind of like a mock teaching experience.
But there could be multiple interviews, demonstrations,
tours of the school building that sometimes can happen as
well.
Just be prepared that there could be a variety of ways
schools might handle that interview process.
Yeah, I agree.
But part of that is also, and you mentioned this earlier,
and making sure that your references are ready.
Yes, we're ready to go.
Yeah those are good things.
So obviously there are likely two outcomes from that
interview process, an offer or no offer.
Yeah so if you don't get the job what are your
recommendations?
Be graceful, be thankful for that opportunity.
A lot of people would wish to be in that position and it's
really good experience.
Education is also a small world.
It is a small world.
It's a big world, but it's also small.
And you don't know who knows who and you never know if
you're gonna come back to where you once interviewed
before.
You never want to burn a bridge.
People know people in education.
And it's very surprising how small that world of education
is in terms of people's relationships and communications.
So for example,
I knew a couple of people that reached out to me and said,
you need to hire Isabelle Wildman.
She's fantastic.
So there were a couple of people that reached out,
three actually.
It's a small world.
But it's a small world, right?
So that kind of reference,
that kind of connectivity happens.
And there's also that kind of connectivity of the
references that people give,
the communication of this person is good or this person is
moving and needs a different job or this person was looking
for something different.
Whatever it might be, the world is a small place.
So keep those bridges intact.
Put together.
Don't burn them.
Do not burn them.
Right?
It's a small world.
But hopefully, cross your fingers, you do get the job.
Yes.
What's your recommendation there?
Exciting.
If you do get the job, be thankful,
stay professional again,
but start asking all the questions.
That's when things become available to you.
Curriculum, what that looks like,
just honestly like next steps.
What are the next steps?
What do I need to do?
A lot of paperwork,
get all of my credentials and get a badge.
Yeah.
A key fob or something.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Exciting.
So this is really the exciting part.
So once once that hiring, once the offer is out there,
once the verbal offer is out there,
there are a lot of next steps that come into play.
But there are good questions to ask, right?
So I ask about curriculum,
ask about all the things you mentioned.
When can I assess the building?
When can I come in?
Who can I meet?
Do I have a mentor?
Who can I talk to about this new role?
What is my space?
Do I have a space?
I have multiple spaces.
What is all this gonna happen?
But there's also going to be hiring paperwork and lots of
things to sign and probably fingerprints and registering at
the regional offices of education or a variety of things
like that.
So it's good to ask more questions and become informed and
write things down and make sure you're detail oriented and
so you are timely with those.
Being timely is really important.
Really, really good tips, Isabel.
Thank you so much for sharing that experience.
Yeah, it's not too far, right, right?
Well, about a year ago.
A year ago, and it goes by so fast.
You sit and you feel like you're in this process for a long
time and it might be for a little bit but once it's done
you can sit there and breathe and you know what's meant to
be will be.
I definitely believe that there is a place for people in
education.
We have so many different needs in our field.
So I believe that there is a place for people in education.
We'd have to find the right one.
Yes.
So thank you so much for sharing the tips with our
educators out there that are looking to get hired in this
hiring season.
It is about that time, right?
Yes, you got it.
Spring is yes.
Yes.
We do want to wish our listeners well.
Yes.
We do want to wish you the best of luck as you approach the
spring hiring season and education.
It really is an exciting and also very busy time of the
year.
So we want to thank our listeners at New Teacher Talk.
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