Help! First interview in a decade!

All I will say is make sure you read up on the schools safeguarding policy as there will be a question. If you get it wrong, even if you shine in every other way, you won’t get the job.
Task will probably be prioritising - a child’s welfare always come first, take a phone call before a visitor as they can see you’re on the phone.
Most interviews are competency based now so think of some examples when you’ve used your skills.

No advice about schools but some general tips I picked up from my HR days...

Is there a job description or list of skills on the advert? Think of an example for each, they don't all have to be from your last job, it can be from a volunteering position, helping on a pta or committee etc. When you give the example, be specific, especially with regards to your role in the situation and it's outcome.

If you get asked the "what's your biggest weakness" question that we all hate, pick something that is not absolutely essential to the job but something you've worked to improve. For example, "I've sometimes struggled with spreadsheets if I'm not using them every day, so I printed out a crib sheet of formulae to put by my desk to refer to, and I've found that really helped". The question is designed to test self awareness and self improvement, so a generic answer about being a workaholic is a wasted opportunity to stand out.

Try and relax, as hard as that is. Their time is precious and they wouldn't bother to interview you if you weren't a good candidate. Recruitment is time consuming, so they want you to get the job. They're not trying to trip you up, they're looking for reasons to hire you, not reject you.

Good luck!

Good luck OP I'm sure you'll do great, remember eye contact and smile lol.

Smile at everyone - you would be the face of the school so you should be pleasant and approachable, calm and unflustered.

Tasks will include you being given a number of things to do at once (phone ringing / visitor arriving / parent complaining / student behaviour / SLT issue for example) and needing to prioritise; in what order you would deal with them etc.

Good luck

So you don't think you're dealing with SLT or students at all?

I would be surprised but if you're sure...

Then I would:

1. Placate complaining parent, ask who they are seeing, treat them well and take them seriously
   
2. Ask visitor to wait one moment whilst you answer the phone
   
3. Keep phone call brief and make sure you have taken relevant notes
   
4. Then full attention to visitor, smile, apologise for delay

Deffo read the school safeguarding policy, safeguarding is key.

Think of things like what would you do if someone called in and claimed to be a child’s parent wanting to know if they were in school (wouldn’t give any info obvs)

Also IT skills, data protection

Recently I recruited a school receptionist. The tasks were updating a newsletter, writing up a pretty incomprehensible message from the answerphone, an “angry parent” interruption (was a teacher acting the role!) and an interruption to the interview from kids to see how candidates interacted with them.

We were also looking for someone with the commitment and potential to succeed our school business manager who isn’t so far off retirement - we didn’t test budgeting etc but we did drill down into career ambitions etc.

A school administrator job is much more than most people think it is - it’s key role as you’re often the first face people see, and you’re dealing with kids, parents, all sort, ring the gatekeeper to to SLT, making sure people are signposted correctly etc.

I would also add to the above to try saying some of the typical answers out loud to yourself to see that you can actually put some sentences together okay! Say it out loud to hear your own voice to reduce anxiety in the interview when you start to speak so you don't feel so self conscious. Make sure you have a way of actually ending what you say rather than just fade out to a stop. So answer the question, 'why do you want the job?' for example and watch out for your voice going too monotonous, keep it sounding lively, come to a halt at the end of a point. Say it to someone else if you can stand to do that. Good luck!

Could you ask what the task will include? My last job interview (not a school) said the interview would include a data task. This made me a bit nervous so I called the business and asked for more information. They didn’t totally give the task away but gave me an overview of the skills I’d need (which excel formula I’d be expected to know) so I could brush up. I’ve also worked in schools and it’s expected that teaching candidates call the school and verify what the interview will include so I wouldn’t shy away from just asking outright!

In a prioritising task (or any 'role play if work' task) talk through your reasons for your choices explicitly.

Even if you've prioritised something in a different way to the one the interviewers prefer, they can see that you are thoughtful and logical about it.

I’m sure this has been said but know about safeguarding. A recent job interview at our school had a question about what to do if a parent turned up saying they had come to collect a child for a dentist appt. A long and complicated reason for this being an issue in our school, but a very real event that lead to a hysterically distressed child due to a temp receptionist!

Are children collected from the reception area? Only reason I ask is at DC's school they’re collected from Student Services where it’s all kind of centralised if you like. Good luck with the interview. Everything crossed for you.

Sorry not read full thread so if I'm duplicating sorry.

I did see someone mentioned safeguarding - you will (well if its a decent school) get a safeguarding question. I assume you are UK based, if not these might not be relevant names but schools will have a safeguarding lead and a deputy safeguarding lead. Their names should be highlighted at reception someway and should be on their website. Learn their names and read their policy. We often ask 'What makes a school safe and supportive?' We would want to at least hear the safeguarding lead mentioned if not their name. And the answer to this question is not just the green fences! Yes i get this answer and only this all the time.

You will probably get a question about conflict or a time in your working life that was difficult and how you resolved it. So try and think if some examples to have in the back of your mind.

Please listen to a question, if a little difficult ie asking for an example of something in your past as for it to be repeated then take a drink if water to give you thinking time then answer the question they asked. So many times we ask a question and they give a completely different answer.

Your tasks - there is almost certainly going to be a priority task. A list of jobs and perhaps a couple of emergencies thrown in. One might look more urgent than it is to throw you.

Thats all i can think of right now but I'm interviewing for cleaners in a few hours so if i think of anything i will come back.

Oh, make sure you are dressed smartly, no need for a suit but no jeans or casual shoes!

I’d read up on GDPR too. Best of luck!