Interview advice

InterviewAdvice · 2023-08-04T09:28:15+00:00

I'm a teacher going for a non-teaching interview. I've taught at the same school for 10 years. I'm totally institutionalised and have no idea how other places work let alone what 'normal' (non-teaching) interviews are like. What sort of questions am I to expect and do you have any hot tips?

Summer2424 · 04/08/2023 10:46

Hi @InterviewAdvice i would re-read the job description and anything else they provided in the job advert and highlight what i call the 'buzz words'
Those words are important to them. This could be 'teamwork' 'stakeholders' 'spreadsheets' 'database' 'analyse'. Try and throw these words in at your interview.
Hope all goes well at your interview xx

Original poster

InterviewAdvice · 04/08/2023 10:50

Summer2424 · 04/08/2023 10:46

Hi @InterviewAdvice i would re-read the job description and anything else they provided in the job advert and highlight what i call the 'buzz words'
Those words are important to them. This could be 'teamwork' 'stakeholders' 'spreadsheets' 'database' 'analyse'. Try and throw these words in at your interview.
Hope all goes well at your interview xx

Thank you. Thanks also for taking the time to reply.

OP posts:

AlizeeEasy · 04/08/2023 10:58

I like to think up different scenarios I have dealt with and put them into categories that could come up as questions. For example you could be asked about times you’ve been a leader, team player, taken initiative, dealt with conflict, made a mistake and how you resolved it. If you can think of one or two scenarios per category of potential question it really helps rather than trying to come up with it on the fly.

also if the job has anything to do with safeguarding / data etc, just brush up on any legislation, GDPR is a good one to have a passing knowledge of.

Good luck!

Original poster

InterviewAdvice · 04/08/2023 11:00

AlizeeEasy · 04/08/2023 10:58

I like to think up different scenarios I have dealt with and put them into categories that could come up as questions. For example you could be asked about times you’ve been a leader, team player, taken initiative, dealt with conflict, made a mistake and how you resolved it. If you can think of one or two scenarios per category of potential question it really helps rather than trying to come up with it on the fly.

also if the job has anything to do with safeguarding / data etc, just brush up on any legislation, GDPR is a good one to have a passing knowledge of.

Good luck!

Great. Thank you.

OP posts:

DontBeAPrickDarren · 04/08/2023 11:01

Competency based are still very common. One I had recently was tell us about your career history and how it has made you suited to this role. Think about a “why you want this job” answer and a “why we should give you this job” answer. Then use the person spec and job description to do a bit of detective work. If they talk about being organise you might have a question like “Good organisation is key to this role. Tell us about a time you have had to manage competing priorities/remain organised on the face of competing demands/what tools do you use to remain organised”.

STAR approach is also recommended For structuring your responses - tonnes of advice online about that.

My line manager likes to throw in a question that shows candidates have researched the organisation too.

AlizeeEasy · 04/08/2023 11:03

Oh another tip is to have a couple of questions ready to ask them at the end. It could be something specific about the role or the company. I recently had an interviewee ask about what we liked most about working there, I really liked the question because I believe it’s important for the interview to work both ways, it’s not just us picking someone it’s also for them to pick the right company to work for