Interviewing Questions. Halp.

[pinkcat]

I think that is definitely acceptable, and very beneficial. I interview people frequently, and someone showing initiative by asking a question like that shows that they really care and want the job. This would interest me and make me remember this candidate, and I would be more inclined to consider them for any future openings. Also, even if they have someone else lined up, you never know what can happen and things can fall through. If something does open up, you will be fresh in their mind and they will feel more of a relationship with you than with other new interviewees- so I say, go for it!

[PepperPottsJ]

100% +1
Well said pinkcat

[penguin129]

I think it is acceptable to ask. When I was looking for a job the principals told me why they went with someone else. The reasons were usually I didn't have any prior teaching experience or even when I had a year of teaching experience it wasn't enough. Also I didn't have extra endorsements on my certificate for ESE and ESOL. I had the most luck with Charter Schools. Both years I taught were at Charters. Don't give up. I interviewed at 8 different schools before I got hired to teach in FL.

What age level are you certified to teach (can't remember)? Have you taught before?

[penguin129]

Maybe instead of "that you've contacted me upon completion" appreciate you contacting me upon completion". I remember that is not good to use in writing.

[penguin129]

Also you could do this in the form of a thank you note. I was always told thank you notes were good because they help the schools remember you and set you apart from other candidates.

[penguin129]

May 18, 2015 7:55:48 GMT -5 W said:

May 18, 2015 7:54:31 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Maybe instead of "that you've contacted me upon completion" appreciate you contacting me upon completion". I remember that is not good to use in writing.

I knew it sounded too long! Thanks.

Instead of "you contacting me" maybe it should be "your contacting me" not sure...

[penguin129]

You could still do a thank you note via email.

[pinkcat]

I think that's a great start! I just tweaked around a few words that I would change, sorry for the unsolicited edit! I just think it's important to make it clear that you are asking for her help in getting a position at HER school rather than just any school, I think she will be more inclined to answer that way.



Good Morning,

Thank you for taking the interest and time to review my resume. I really appreciate that you've contacted me upon completion of finding a candidate that is a good fit for your district and school.

Because I am very interested in working for your school district, is there anything that you would suggest I should do to make myself a better candidate for future openings? Are there specific qualifications or qualities that you require or respect for your teachers and candidates? Any advice that you can provide would be greatly appreciated, and I will strive to improve these areas.

Thank you again for your time and enjoy your summer!

[penguin129]

According to that maybe "you" then.

[penguin129]

Sounds great pinkcat!
ETA: I'd just fix the "that: sentence"

[teraiin]

Wow pinkcat that sounds awesome. I wish I was that good at formulating letters like that!

W I think responding and asking about what you can do is a great idea. I also think it gives the principal examples of your dedication and interest. It might make you more memorable to them and give you a better shot at future jobs

[♪♫choppinbroccoli♫♪]

Is "respect" supposed to be "expect?" If not, I guess I haven't heard it in that context before.

[pinkcat]

May 18, 2015 8:04:15 GMT -5 W said:

May 18, 2015 8:00:47 GMT -5 pinkcat said:

I think that's a great start! I just tweaked around a few words that I would change, sorry for the unsolicited edit! I just think it's important to make it clear that you are asking for her help in getting a position at HER school rather than just any school, I think she will be more inclined to answer that way.



Good Morning,

Thank you for taking the interest and time to review my resume. I really appreciate that you've contacted me upon completion of finding a candidate that is a good fit for your district and school.

Because I am very interested in working for your school district, is there anything that you would suggest I should do to make myself a better candidate for future openings? Are there specific qualifications or qualities that you require or respect for your teachers and candidates? Any advice that you can provide would be greatly appreciated, and I will strive to improve these areas.

Thank you again for your time and enjoy your summer!

i could kiss you. Thank you!!

No problem! :-)

[pinkcat]

May 18, 2015 8:14:09 GMT -5 ♪♫choppinbroccoli♫♪ said:

Is "respect" supposed to be "expect?" If not, I guess I haven't heard it on that context before.

I didn't catch that, yes I agree it should be expect instead of respect.

[requiressnacks]

My 2 cents:
I wouldn't start a sentence with "because." I think you can just say "I am very interested in working for your school district...."

And I believe that you could make this edit as well: "Are there specific qualifications or qualities that you require or respect for your teachers and candidates?"

Otherwise, I don't mind when people ask me (the interviewer) for feedback. As long as its not done in a cocky way I say go for it! I would also ask a couple people to take a look at your resume to make sure it looks good. I've had candidates from great schools with great qualifications submit resumes with typos, etc. and I don't let them past the first round. (Not saying that yours does, but since you asked!)

[frankenboom]

I haven't read all of the responses, but as the daughter of an elementary school principal - I say that yes, it is 100% acceptable to ask those questions. I know that my Mom really likes helping potential teachers out, even if she's unable to hire them. Remember, that principal was once where you are - everyone has to start out somewhere. Good luck, Whit!

[requiressnacks]

May 18, 2015 8:33:33 GMT -5 W said:

May 18, 2015 8:25:19 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

My 2 cents:
I wouldn't start a sentence with "because." I think you can just say "I am very interested in working for your school district...."

And I believe that you could make this edit as well: "Are there specific qualifications or qualities that you require or respect for your teachers and candidates?"

Otherwise, I don't mind when people ask me (the interviewer) for feedback. As long as its not done in a cocky way I say go for it! I would also ask a couple people to take a look at your resume to make sure it looks good. I've had candidates from great schools with great qualifications submit resumes with typos, etc. and I don't let them past the first round. (Not saying that yours does, but since you asked!)

thanks! My resume was edited by 4 professors and 2 peers and 2 elementary teachers. :-)

Awesome! Sounds like you're ahead of the game.  

[teraiin]

Best of luck finding a job! Sounds like you're already off to a great start.

[rablissful]

I agree with all of the above. Definitely ask the questions, but tailor the email to that school district in particular.

I've found that elementary positions are the hardest to get. In MA over 100 people sent in resumes for one position. It took my friend 3 or 4 years to get a full time job, and she has her Master's degree. She had to take a para and special ed job to get the extra experience before getting an actual classroom teaching position. You might want to look into para and permanent substitute jobs on top of classroom positions if you continue to luck out on classroom positions. It looks much better than just day to day substituting.

If you can lock down some principal letters of recommendation letters from the schools you have substituted at, that's also great.

Do you have a binder of work you have done to bring to interviews? It won't help to get the interview, but it will definitely help at the interview, even if it's just work examples from your student teaching. I put one together and every interview I've been to was amazed by it. I included resume, my teaching licenses, copies of my degrees, my transcripts (both undergrad and grad school), a mock syllabus, several lesson plans and corresponding assignments/rubrics, student examples, a student survey (from my student teaching), and all of my recommendation letters. I have a table of contents in the front and everything is in page protectors.

Also, definitely don't count that position out. I got my position for last semester a week before orientation started because the original person they picked backed out at the last minute. Then I rocked that position so hard that the principal practically offered me a job next year because they have a teacher leaving.

[longhornwino0907]

I second rablissful's thoughts about the portfolio, if you don't already have one. When I was going for teaching positions, I had a folder on my computer called "Portfolio," and it included a philosophy of teaching, a cover letter that I could customize for the school/position, my resume, mock lesson plans, photos of student work, my transcripts, and a few other things. When I got called for interviews, I would find out how many people would be there, and I would print out enough for each person to have one, put them in those presentation thingies that I can't remember the names of now (with the see-through cover and binding that slipped on to hold the papers together... ugh, Mondays!). For some positions when I was first getting my foot in the door, I would actually apply online, and then snail-mail my portfolio to the principal of the school I was applying for. I know interviewers were always impressed that I brought in a portfolio.

My lack of a current portfolio is the only thing keeping me from applying for teaching positions for next school year. A large part of me wants to get back into the classroom, but it's a lot of work to get that together, and I've been out of the classroom for years now... But I miss it so much!

Good luck, W!

[PepperPottsJ]

May 18, 2015 8:25:19 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

My 2 cents:
I wouldn't start a sentence with "because." I think you can just say "I am very interested in working for your school district...."

And I believe that you could make this edit as well: "Are there specific qualifications or qualities that you require or respect for your teachers and candidates?"

Otherwise, I don't mind when people ask me (the interviewer) for feedback. As long as its not done in a cocky way I say go for it! I would also ask a couple people to take a look at your resume to make sure it looks good. I've had candidates from great schools with great qualifications submit resumes with typos, etc. and I don't let them past the first round. (Not saying that yours does, but since you asked!)

+1 possibly with 1 tiny adjustment:
"I remain very interested in working for your school district...."

[risscaboobs]

You've gotten all the answers. I just want to say good luck with the job hunt and I hope you get some great advice from this principal!! This will definitely go a long way to help you stand out in her mind.

[rablissful]

longhornwino0907, totally forgot about my philosophy of teaching! I have one of those too!

I never print enough of my portfolio for the interviewers though. I just have a nice binder and they flip through it during the interview. I usually give them all the required stuff (transcripts, license, resume etc) plus my philosophy of teaching and ONE lesson plan though.

[rivers and roads]

Just echoing the good advice PP's have covered.
Yes to asking what you can do to make yourself a better candidate. They might not always have time to write back, but they'll at least remember that you cared enough to continue to develop yourself.
Yes to the teaching portfolio. I bring one to interviews for them to review, but I've also uploaded the same things onto an online portfolio and put that link on my resume. It gives them a chance to go back and review things in detail (no one wants to spend 10 minutes in a 20 minute interview reading papers) without me having to spend the money for copies and binders to leave with each person.
Letters of rec. from any sub positions you've done long term would also be great!


Out of curiosity, how do you manage nannying and subbing? Do you only nanny certain days and leave other days open for subbing opportunities?

Good luck-- this process is tedious and kind of tormenting, but it will be worth it in the end!

[rablissful]

May 18, 2015 9:42:54 GMT -5 rivers and roads said:

Just echoing the good advice PP's have covered.
Yes to asking what you can do to make yourself a better candidate. They might not always have time to write back, but they'll at least remember that you cared enough to continue to develop yourself.
Yes to the teaching portfolio. I bring one to interviews for them to review, but I've also uploaded the same things onto an online portfolio and put that link on my resume. It gives them a chance to go back and review things in detail (no one wants to spend 10 minutes in a 20 minute interview reading papers) without me having to spend the money for copies and binders to leave with each person.
Letters of rec. from any sub positions you've done long term would also be great!


Out of curiosity, how do you manage nannying and subbing? Do you only nanny certain days and leave other days open for subbing opportunities?

Good luck-- this process is tedious and kind of tormenting, but it will be worth it in the end!

I don't know how old her kids are, but I did both because they were elementary aged. I got them on the bus in the morning and off the bus in the afternoon. During the day I was able to substitute. It SUCKED hardcore, but I wouldn't sub every day to so that I could keep of my sanity.

[rivers and roads]

May 18, 2015 9:48:35 GMT -5 rablissful said:

May 18, 2015 9:42:54 GMT -5 rivers and roads said:

*snip*

Out of curiosity, how do you manage nannying and subbing? Do you only nanny certain days and leave other days open for subbing opportunities?

Good luck-- this process is tedious and kind of tormenting, but it will be worth it in the end!

I don't know how old her kids are, but I did both because they were elementary aged. I got them on the bus in the morning and off the bus in the afternoon. During the day I was able to substitute. It SUCKED hardcore, but I wouldn't sub every day to so that I could keep of my sanity.

Yikes! Were you just making it in the door for subbing by the minute? Bus rides around here are usually only 10-15minute rides, and then the kids arrive at school as it's starting. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of getting them on the bus and then actually getting to a school in time to be ready for the students and I just can't wrap my head around that.
Kudos to you though, that sounds like it was sucky!

[shadesofgold]

You've gotten some great advice. I did a big round of interviewing before I got my current job and I read all the "how to interview" guides on the internet. Following up to ask for feedback is a common suggestion and definitely not unusual. Do it!

And good luck!!

[BurritosAtEveryMeal]

+1 for not starting a sentence with"Because." You can use "Since" instead. Best of luck on your job hunt! Are you able to start subbing in different schools/districts to get your foot in the door? Sorry if you answered this already- I skimmed responses. It's all about WHO you know in teaching.

[rablissful]

May 18, 2015 9:54:39 GMT -5 rivers and roads said:

May 18, 2015 9:48:35 GMT -5 rablissful said:

I don't know how old her kids are, but I did both because they were elementary aged. I got them on the bus in the morning and off the bus in the afternoon. During the day I was able to substitute. It SUCKED hardcore, but I wouldn't sub every day to so that I could keep of my sanity.

Yikes! Were you just making it in the door for subbing by the minute? Bus rides around here are usually only 10-15minute rides, and then the kids arrive at school as it's starting. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of getting them on the bus and then actually getting to a school in time to be ready for the students and I just can't wrap my head around that.
Kudos to you though, that sounds like it was sucky!

I subbed in a different district that started later than the one I nanny'd in. It was at the elementary school I went to and had volunteered/subbed in for several years before nannying, which is great because I always walked in right on time but nobody really cared since I was an established presence by then.

[longhornwino0907]

May 18, 2015 10:44:50 GMT -5 W said:

May 18, 2015 9:00:00 GMT -5 longhornwino0907 said:

I second rablissful's thoughts about the portfolio, if you don't already have one. When I was going for teaching positions, I had a folder on my computer called "Portfolio," and it included a philosophy of teaching, a cover letter that I could customize for the school/position, my resume, mock lesson plans, photos of student work, my transcripts, and a few other things. When I got called for interviews, I would find out how many people would be there, and I would print out enough for each person to have one, put them in those presentation thingies that I can't remember the names of now (with the see-through cover and binding that slipped on to hold the papers together... ugh, Mondays!). For some positions when I was first getting my foot in the door, I would actually apply online, and then snail-mail my portfolio to the principal of the school I was applying for. I know interviewers were always impressed that I brought in a portfolio.

My lack of a current portfolio is the only thing keeping me from applying for teaching positions for next school year. A large part of me wants to get back into the classroom, but it's a lot of work to get that together, and I've been out of the classroom for years now... But I miss it so much!

Good luck, W!

Yes. I have a portfolio. Typically I ask the interviewer if they'd like me to drop it off a day or two before the interview. It has student work, recommendations, awards, a DVD of me teaching, a sample lesson plan spreading over 3 content areas, photos of the work, and recommendation letters from students


I also snail mail my resume in. I've sent out a few already. I've been applying online, emailing the principal, and contacting the BOE.

Great advice!

I figured you would already have one

I usually just took mine to the interview, but I would hand it out to the interviewers with a line basically saying it was for their perusal at their convenience, and then I would reference things during my answers to let them know that they could find more info about what I was saying in the portfolio, should they want to.

And yes yes yes to emailing the principal. A lot of postings I saw a couple of years ago when I was on a hunt for a job closer to my now-H that said not to contact anyone regarding the position, but I always did. I know typically you should follow the posting's instructions to the letter, but I always figured there would be some people who would appreciate my enthusiasm assertiveness. And there were quite a few