| There are a few steps you need to follow if you want | | | | A common interview question for teachers is, "How do |
| to secure a job. First, you need to land the interview. | | | | you feel about team teaching?" |
| Second, you need to "nail" the interview. And, third, you | | | | There are three steps to answering this interview |
| absolutely must follow-up on the interview. This article | | | | question, yet most candidates only follow the first two. |
| will focus on the second part of getting a job...the | | | | Step One: Tell them you love the idea of team |
| interview itself... | | | | teaching. (This is to some extent a rhetorical question |
| There are many things you are going to need to do in | | | | as there is only one correct response in this case...no |
| order to nail the job interview such as making a great | | | | one is going to hire a teacher who is against team |
| first impression, paying attention to body language, | | | | teaching.) |
| maintaining eye contact etc., but none of these are | | | | Step Two: Give the theory behind why team teaching |
| more important than how to answer the interview | | | | is worthwhile for both the teacher and student. |
| questions. | | | | Step Three: Give a specific example from an actual |
| In order to really excel during the interview you must | | | | lesson or unit in which you were involved in team |
| be able to answer the interview question in a manner | | | | teaching. This is the step that most people interviewing |
| that portrays confidence, diligence, and experience. | | | | fail to do. |
| The best way to do this is become as familiar as you | | | | Step Four: (Yes, I know I said three steps, but this is |
| can with the most common interview questions in your | | | | the bonus step...the icing on the cake.) Show examples |
| field. I suggest simply doing a Google search for | | | | of student work from that specific lesson/unit. |
| interview questions for [insert job title here]. | | | | Again, this works for any profession...just change the |
| However, while knowing the interview questions will | | | | examples. Let's say you are applying for a real estate |
| help, knowing how to answer the interview questions | | | | position and are asked about working as a team...say, |
| will put you way ahead of your competition. | | | | "yes you love it"...followed by why you thinking teaming |
| As someone who as interviewed countless people for | | | | is so important, followed by how you have teamed in |
| teaching positions I am always shocked at how many | | | | the past AND an example of what that produced. |
| potentially great teachers fall short when it comes to | | | | Obviously this is easier if you are experienced in your |
| interviewing and the big reason is because their | | | | field, but even if you are not, you must have some |
| answers are all too often based on theory...their | | | | type of training that prepared you for the job...use |
| answers to the interview questions just seem too | | | | examples from that training and explain what you plan |
| general and too vague. | | | | to do if given the chance. |
| The biggest job interview tip I could ever give anyone | | | | I guarantee that answering interview questions in this |
| in any field is to answer each interview question with | | | | manner will put you light years ahead of the |
| specific examples. | | | | competition. However, you can only do this if you |
| Again, it does not matter what profession you are | | | | research the most common interview questions and |
| interviewing for, but since my experience is mostly with | | | | practice how to answer the interview questions. |
| teachers I will give an example from that profession... | | | | |