How to Prepare for Your Teacher Interview and Land Your Dream Teaching Job

Any elementary teacher will tell you that springtime is a busy time of year. There are so many end-of-the-year events, state testing, field trips, fun activities, plus all the regular day-in and day-out teaching that still has to be done.  In addition to all of the things happening in the classroom, if you are a teacher looking for a new position, spring also brings about “hiring season.”

If you are new to elementary school, “hiring season” is the time of the year when schools, principals, and teachers start making plans for the next school year.  This is when the first wave of teaching jobs gets posted and interviews start happening. It is so funny to think about the hiring season in March and April, after all, August is still 5 months away.  But, hiring starts early and sometimes snagging your dream teaching job requires being ready to apply for your next job almost half a year early!

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How To Get Ready for a Teaching Interview

In my 15+ years in education, I have been through many hiring seasons. I have experienced years where jobs are sparse, and interviewing and finding a job is cutthroat. I have also been through years when jobs were plentiful, and there were SO MANY offers coming in.

Currently, I think that we are living in a teacher's job market. There are fewer teachers applying for jobs, and districts are constantly unable to fill positions with qualified candidates. This means that there are many options for teachers who are qualified and able to shine in their interviews.

With that being said, I do think that currently, we are going to start seeing a little bit of a job market shift. I anticipate budget cuts and position cuts due to the fear of a recession.  In my own state, the budget is not looking promising, and many districts are announcing deep position cuts, upwards of hundreds of employees. 

Now more than ever, it is important for teacher candidates to be prepared for their interviews. Being prepared and thoughtful about what you want to highlight in your interview not only helps you sell yourself, but it also helps the interview team create a clear picture of who you are and what to expect in your classroom. I have interviewed for several different teaching jobs, and I have sat on several interview teams. Today I want to share all of the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way so that you can nail your teaching interview and land the teaching job of your dreams.

Teacher Interview Tip #1- Paint a Picture

The top advice I can offer to anyone interviewing for a teaching position is to use your responses to create a vivid image for the interview panel. The role we play as educators is crucial and influential, yet the team interviewing you probably won't witness you in action. Therefore, it's essential to illustrate your teaching approach, management techniques, and the dynamics of your classroom.

One of the best ways to do this is to use real-life stories to help illustrate who you are and how you teach.  Of course, always remember to protect student privacy and never name a student in an interview, but you can always say things like, “One time a student was having a hard time learning this skill, so I retaught the skill in a small group over five days during the reading block.  By the end of the fifth day, the student was finally able to grasp the skill.” This answer illustrates that I can do multiple things: I know what my students know and what they still need help with. I can utilize small group instruction to help support their learning needs.  I differentiate my instruction for students.  I monitor their progress towards skills and adjust my instruction to help support the learners in my classroom.

That answer is much stronger and communicates so much more than, “I use small groups when kids don’t learn a skill right away.”  

Sharing stories and anecdotes enables your interview team to perceive you as a compassionate individual who genuinely cares for their students. Witnessing a teacher discuss the successes in their classroom and with their students is akin to a parent cherishing their child's achievements—these simple and heartfelt stories convey love and admiration, allowing the committee to sense your affection for children.

Teacher Interview Tip #2- Anticipate Teacher Interview Questions You Might Get Asked

When getting ready for a teaching interview, there are definitely questions that you can anticipate are going to be asked.  I have interviewed for several teaching jobs and been on interview committees for several hirings.  I can assure you, there are always a handful of questions that are always asked in some form or variation.

Teaching is a heart and people profession, so many of the questions include things that relate to how you nurture young people, collaborate with others, implement teaching practices to help students grow academically, and partner with parents.   

Here are the most commonly asked questions I have seen in teaching interviews (or some variations of these questions):

1. Tell us about yourself.

2. What does a literacy block look like in your classroom?

3. How does math instruction look in your classroom?

4. How do you handle a difficult or challenging student?

5. Tell us about a time you handled an upset parent.

6. What does working on a team mean (or look like) to you?

7. How do you communicate with parents?

8. Tell us about your classroom management style.

9. How do you integrate technology into your instruction?

10. How do you differentiate instruction?

I like to reflect on my own practice ahead of the interview so that I have my thoughts, my examples, and the things that I want to say about each of these questions already in my mind.

Teacher Interview Tip #3- Research, Research, Research

One of the most important things you can do before your interview is to research. Research the school, research the district, and if you know what grade or position you are interviewing for, research the grade level team on the school’s website. While oftentimes teachers interview and apply for jobs for reasons that serve themselves, it is also important to communicate in the interview why you are choosing their school. What is unique about the school? What is your personal interest in the school? How does this particular school stand apart from other schools that you might have considered applying to?

Of course, there might be the reality that for many applicants, there might be personal reasons to apply for a job—a grade you love or a job closer to home. But it is also important to notice and note in the interview the things that make the school unique.  This will help your interview team see your true commitment to their school.

It is also important to do your research because every school is unique.  An interview is as much an interview for the school as it is for you as the candidate.  I remember I once taught at a school that had an arts program.  Each teacher was responsible for teaching an arts class.  Well, we interviewed a candidate who was not aware that they would need to teach an arts class (even though “Fine Arts Education” was in our school name).  Anyway, in the interview, a question about “what arts classes would you be comfortable teaching” came up. The shock and uncertainty for the candidate indicated that they hadn’t done their research and didn’t know they would be expected to teach an arts class.  Needless to say, it wasn’t a good fit all around. 

Teacher Interview Tip #4- Be Concise

One of the mistakes that I see most often in interviews is teachers who ramble on and on.  Sometimes it is hard because job interviews can make you feel nervous.  However, most interviews have time limits, and not being able to be concise will cause you to also not get through all of the questions.  

When I am interviewing, I like to answer questions strategically to help me fully answer the question but also stay concise.  First, I like to answer the question.  Then, I like to follow up with an example or illustration of how it would look in my classroom. Finally, I like to revisit the question in my final statement (which also helps me confirm that I have fully answered the question).  

An example of this might look like:

Question: Tell us about how your literacy block would look if I walked into your classroom.

My Answer: If you walked into my classroom, you would notice several different components of my literacy block. First, you would see our mini lesson, which would include a phonemic awareness warm-up, the introduction and practice of the phonics skills we are learning, which would include both encoding and decoding opportunities. You would also see a shared reading opportunity with comprehension or fluency practice. Then, once we were done with the mini lesson, students would work in small groups to rotate through learning centers. These centers would provide various opportunities for students to practice literacy skills aligned with the Science of Reading, like phonics, decoding, vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency. While students were working on their learning centers, I would be pulling small groups of students to work on specific skill-based needs. These are the components of literacy instruction you would see if you walked into my classroom.

Teacher Interview Tip #5- NEVER Skip Asking a Question

One of the MOST COMMON interview questions is, “Do you have any questions for us?”  NEVER skip this question.  Interviews are about far more than just determining if we want to hire you. Interviews are a chance for us to see if you fit into our school culture, our teaching team, and our community.  Interviews are also a chance for you to decide if you think you are a good fit for our school culture, community, and teaching teams. 

The final question is a great way to strategically ask something about a school and showcase more of who you are as a teacher.  Did you not get a chance to showcase that you are a lifelong learner? Ask a question about professional development. Are you feeling a little uneasy about what the team might be looking for? Ask them about who they are hoping to hire.

There are so many unique questions that you can ask to not only gain more information to help you make the right choice, but also to help your interview team know even more about you.  My favorite questions to choose from at the end of the interview include:

1. Who are you looking for in a teacher?

2. If you could describe your school/community/team in one word, what would you pick?

3. What is the most important thing you want someone to know about this position?

4. What is your favorite thing about working at this school?

5. What opportunities for professional development does your building offer?

Bonus Teacher Interview Tips

There are so many pieces that make a good teacher interview; these are just a few more general, good rule-of-thumb type tips to help you nail your interview.

Dress professionally

You do not need to interview in a three-piece, business-style suit, but a teaching interview is a time to showcase professional dress.  

Follow Up with a Thank You

The interview committee is likely giving up time after school to stay and be available for your interview.  It is also kind and polite to follow up with a handwritten or emailed thank you note to express gratitude for the time they gave up for your interview. 

Be Confident and Show Your Passion

Schools want to hire teachers who they know will be passionate about working with students every day.  We want to see that passion in your interview so that we know it is authentic and you genuinely love teaching kids. 

Be Honest

Above all, schools want teachers who are honest and authentic, but there have been far too many times that I have seen teachers lie or bend the truth in a teaching interview.  If you are asked about something you do not have experience with, a curriculum, or a certain population of students, it is okay (and better) to express that you don’t have experience with that situation and that you are eager and excited to learn from your team and other teachers in the building.  If you are not honest, it will come out eventually, and it will be far more disastrous than just admitting you might need to grow in this area. 

Landed Your Dream Job? Now What?

Have you already found your dream teaching job? Check out some of our other blog posts to help you plan for your best year yet in the classroom. We have so many great blogs to help support teachers with reading, math, classroom management, and more! 

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Interviewing for a Teaching Job- Final Thoughts

I hope that these tips will help you feel more prepared for your teacher interview this spring hiring season.  The most important tip for having a successful teacher interview is to simply be yourself.  Each and every teacher has something unique to offer a school community, a team of teachers, and their future students—let your passion shine and show the interview team who you uniquely are.