Interview!!!
Posted by stillflat9 on Nov 17, 2008 · Member since Jul 2006 · 464 posts
It seems like everybody on vegweb is either quitting their job or interviewing for a new one. Well, now it's my turn! Wooh! I have an interview tomorrow at 2pm for a first grade teaching position!!! I am so excited. I really really want this and I hope it goes well. Wish me luck! I am super nervous...
good luck! hope everything goes well.
whoah thats awesome!! you can join the teachers club!! theres a bunch of us. yay!
Thanks guys! I am trying to think about all the questions they might ask and how to answer. Vegweb teachers, what kinds of questions were you asked?
Good luck! I'm an elementary music teacher (just like kelsi)!
Ummmm....I feel like in almost every interview I had the principal asked me: "If you could use one word to describe yourself, what would it be?" I think that's a really lame question, but they asked nevertheless.
Good luck!
The most difficult question I was asked was to run through a typical class with me. eek. I told her my ideal classroom structure and that I would strive to meet it, but know that as a new teacher, I needed more experience. I guess she liked that! a little bit of honesty.
So, thanks to everyone who wished me luck on my interview, but I didn't get the job. :'( I feel like I might have kind of sucked at the interview. I don't really know what happened. I am such a nervous, socially awkward person. It worries me sometimes. I feel like I will never get a teaching position because the interviews are just so intense. I was interviewed by 3 people and they had this list of 15 questions in front of them and they just kept asking questions and writing down my responses. It was weird and unnatural. I couldn't get comfortable because it wasn't like we were having an actual conversation. Ughh...
Anyway, I have another interview coming up in a week and a half. It is for a kindergarten teaching position in a public school. :D I am super excited and nervous all at the same time. I know I could be a good kindergarten teacher, but I just hope that I can convey that to all of my interviewers. This time I will be interviewed by 4 people; the principal, the assistant principal, the teacher I am replacing, and my potential assistant teacher. This should be intense as well. I just don't know what to do to get past the nervousness. Help!!!
I would never worry about the interview.
Just keep at it.
You will eventually find one that fits you.
Good Luck with your upcoming interview.
I'm sorry you didn't get the job, stillflat- I'm a little nervous because I start interviewing for practicum/internship sites in a few months. My school had us do this semi-ridiculous "online interviewstream" thing where we were asked questions by a woman on the screen and were recorded. It was helpful to see how many times I said "um", and "uh" and all that jazz, but it was unrealistic because you don't get to do second or third takes in a real-life interview if you don't like the first try!
Speak from your heart and don't try to sound smart is how I'm going to approach it. I think people get too caught up in appearing to be intelligent and perfect. No interview will be perfect, but as others have said, perhaps it will just take a little time. Also, the interviewer's style may be different and more conducive to you in the future!
Good luck!
I'm sorry to hear that, Stillflat. I had the same problem when I was looking for a job. I hate those interviews with multiple people...it's so intimidating. The list of questions bothered me too. Like you said, it's just unnatural. I finally had 2 interviews with principal only...very conversational...and I was offered both jobs. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to go through a lot of crap before something finally works out.
P.S. Good to see you back Meggs!
P.S. Good to see you back Meggs!
(((lotus)))
I feel bad for teachers- so necessary but it seems so difficult for them to find employment!! A few friends of mine... man, it took them a few years to find jobs.
I will also have a job interview for a permanent job at my place of work. There is also a panel of people interviewing you and the worst part (or best, depends on how you see it), they've been my boss/supervisor/human ressource rep for the past three years now. I am incredibly nervous.
Eeeep! My job interview is tomorrow. I am super excited and scared all at the same time. I went to Barnes and Noble on Saturday and I spent $85 on books about being a new teacher. I have read two of them already. I am hoping this helps me to be prepared for any question they decide to ask. I have also been doing nothing but studying interview questions and writing out responses and talking to myself. I quit my job on Friday, so this is really all that I have been doing since then.
I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope I get this job! Apparently a kindergarten teacher at the school is going on maternity leave for the rest of the school year. So, I would teach the rest of the year in her classroom and THEN two kindergarten teachers are retiring at the end of this year. So, if I did a good job, they would hire me on as a permanent kindergarten teacher. Woooh!
I think everyone is pretty annoyed with me lately because all I can think about is this interview, but hopefully I get it and I can just shut up about it...
Thanks mdvegan!
Ugh! I just practiced interview questions with a friend of mine and I don't feel like it went very well. She asked me all of the questions that I have been practicing and I fumbled and forgot everything and got super nervous. She told me I barely smiled... What am I going to do! I feel like I am going to bomb this interview. I am scared.
I have to think more positively, maybe.
I am sending you positive vibes MDVegan!
You have to think positive. When you'll be in front of the potential employer, I am sure that the adrenaline will kick it and that you will then be kicking some serious interview ass!
My job interview is in 40 minutes. I need to relax myself...
Good luck!
I'm done with the interview! I think it went well, it could have always gone better, but I don't have a ... oh I should have said that ! or a I shouldn't have had said that! moment. I wish I could have said more, but according to the questions they asked me, it was hard. But hey, it's done and whatever happens happens. I would like to have the job, but I'm not losing anything if I don't get it, so...
Hope everything goes well for you stillflat19. You'll do great!
That's great that your interview went well, Melthibs. ;)b
Good luck Stillflat! I forgot to mention earlier that I always take a list of questions in with me. I don't know if that has been mentioned or if it was something you thought about already. In every interview I've had, the principal has ended with "Now, what questions do you have for me?" and I was always like..."ummm....welll...uhh." So, yeah, I made a reference list of things to bring up during the interview. My current principal told me that was one thing she liked about our interview.
Good luck stillflat! Let us know how it goes.
I think in every single interview for a teaching job I've ever had, I've been asked what my philosophy of education is. Whatever that means.
I think kelsi had a great idea - definitely play up what your strengths are, but mention that you are excited to and committed to learning how to do things even better with experience.
If all else fails - I work at an AWESOME all kindergarten school - if you want to move here, I'll put in a good word for you!
My interview is in a little over 4 hours. I might vomit! Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement!
I am definitely trying to figure out the best answer regarding my philosophy of education. I know that I want to talk about the following:
- importance of the individual (what are the strengths, interests, experiences of each child?)
- getting to know each student as a learner (how does this child learn best? one-on-one, peer-to-peer, large group, small group? are they auditory, visual, kinesthetic? are they writers, musicians, artists?)
- creating learning experiences that children can relate to and succeed in
- the importance of hands on activities
- my role as a guide
- children's need to explore and make discoveries and connections on their own in addition to the instruction that I provide
Any other ideas that anybody can add? Am I on the right track?
I think I will introduce this by saying something like, "First, I believe that all children have the ability to succeed in the classroom... " and I might sum all of that up by saying, "I feel that this is the way to develop lifelong learners."
I know how you feel! But you seem really prepared. You are going to ace it!
For my job interview, we will only know on Monday who got it.
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