Interview prep

[eltsihT]

How do you actually prepare for an interview? Or any interview tips?

I have one on Thursday and really need to do some prep but never know where to start, I have sort of Forrest Gumped my way into jobs in the past

[cuggles]

what sector..primary, secondary..teaching? or non-teaching? what subject? Give us some more details and I for one, will come back later with some interview questions that might come up!

[eltsihT]

It's secondary biology, no lesson. Thank you

[eltsihT]

Should also say I am in Scotland so am prepared for curriculum design and questions on the new national exams.

[cuggles]

ok I am not in scotland but am secondary and was recently involved in interviews....we ask the following sorts of areas? -
why this school? this job?
tell us about a lesson that went well/ not so well (looking for reflective practice)
tell us about time dealt with a challenging student/pupil?
strengths/weaknesses
five words to describe yourself..what would students use? colleagues? friends?
why is science important? or biology?
outside of classroom what is your passion?
etc.

try to think f one or two questions to ask them too.

[eltsihT]

Thank you, it's good to have something to focus on.

[Roseformeplease]

Am in Scotland:

Monitoring and Tracking
Specific questions on Added Value
how to introduce choice alongside breadth and depth
Classroom management
Questioning / ways of engaging pupils
Coping with different learning styles (I think this research has been somewhat discredited but the powers that be still bang on about it)

[cuggles]

yes monitoring big..how do you check student progress during a lesson? etc. How might you use data to inform your planning and teaching? How might you engage a student who says science/biology is boring? Good luck!

[Hobnobissupersweet]

No lesson
Do you really want to be at a school that is not interested in how you teach?

[eltsihT]

Teaching a lesson as part of the interview is not something commonly done in Scotland most jobs want a head teachers report submitted alongside the application though.

Thanks all for your input, it's really helpful to have some things to focus on

[Hobnobissupersweet]

Eye opener OP, how different things are. Good luck

[eltsihT]

Well didn't get that job as I didn't answer the whole question, i.e. How do you increase pupil motivation and how would you deal with teaching more than one level in a class and I missed out the seconds half completely, but you live and learn and I have another interview on Monday so hopefully that ones a winner and I will be re reading over everyone posts again!

[Beveridge]

I have never head of a HT report?Am also in Scotland. Latterly I have had to put down 2 referees that only get contacted if you are identified as the 'preferred candidate'. It is utterly ludicrous - so jobs are decided solely on how you 'perform' in a 30 minute interview with no other information. Presumably if you got a terrible reference they would retract the job offer but then, if you were that much of a nightmare your school would be glad to see the back of you and would reference accordingly.

It is a ridiculous system. I don't interview well but I really think if I had a lesson to do as part of the process it would let me show how well I can do the job. As it is, it's those who can 'talk the talk' that get the jobs.

I missed out on an interview today too OP so am feeling particularly negative tonight. Hope your next one is better. It could be worse, you could teach Humanities - no jobs and horrendous competition for each one.