Essential Items to Bring to a Teaching Interview: A Comprehensive Guide

Your chance to elaborate on your educational background and further describe your abilities and teaching philosophies will come during the applying for teaching job interview. To guarantee that the interview goes well, you should prepare in advance. Researching the school and district and coming up with responses to typical interview questions are usually part of interview preparation, but it's also possible to discover what to bring to the interview. This article discusses what you should bring to your teaching interview and the benefits of doing so.

What to bring to a job interview for a teacher

A crucial component of interview preparation is knowing what to bring to a teaching interview. It's crucial that teachers carry a variety of resources. This covers some resources that are common to most interviews as well as some resources that are more focused on teaching.

The following are some specific items you should bring to your teacher interview-

• A resume

Bring many printed copies of your latest resume. Bring enough materials for several interviews, plus one for yourself to use as a reference. Make sure to bring the same CV you sent throughout the application process if you customized it for this particular job. Even though the interviewer has probably already seen your CV, having extra copies is a nice touch, and it can be helpful if the interviewer was unable to print one before your meeting. Consider asking the interviewer for a copy of your CV at the outset of the conversation. This informs them that you have copies available, indicates your level of organization, and frequently creates a favorable impression.

• The references

A crucial component of the job application process is providing references. Prepare a list of references and provide the interviewer with their phone number and email address at the conclusion of your appointment. Consider giving the interviewer a copy of any written letters of reference or recommendation you may have. However, it's crucial to get permission from your references before giving the interviewer their contact information. Also, make sure you provide the interviewer with the ability to contact the references directly.

• Statement of teaching philosophy

A philosophy of education or a statement of teaching philosophy is frequently required when applying for teaching jobs. To provide the interviewer with a hard copy of this statement, think about doing so. The interviewer can then ask you specific questions regarding the statement to better understand your viewpoints, objectives, and values as a teacher.

• An application cover letter

If you sent a cover letter with your application for the job, think about bringing a copy with you. At the conclusion of the interview, present the letter to the interviewer. Your cover letter might make them more aware of the abilities, experiences, or objectives you did not mention in your interview.

• Academic writing

You can be asked for documentation during an interview to back up the accomplishments you listed on your resume. Bring a copy of your diploma, academic record, and any pertinent certifications you may hold. This enables you to improve your preparation techniques and prevents the interviewer from having to wait for you to provide the documents at a later date. Only provide these to the interviewer if they specifically request them.

• List of training and certifications

You must obtain specific credentials before you can become a teacher, and these certifications frequently differ by state, subject, and grade level. Make a list of the courses you've taken and certificates you've obtained, and think about bringing copies of your certification documentation. This can help you show the interviewer your knowledge and abilities. It's crucial if you're seeking for a job in a new location or teaching a different subject or grade than you previously did.

• Portfolio of your work as a teacher

Create and bring a portfolio for your work as a teacher. Your teacher's portfolio, also known as teaching artifacts, contains samples of things connected to the field. Hiring supervisors could look at your portfolio to get a better idea of your teaching abilities.

The following are some examples of what to put in your teacher's portfolio-

• Lesson planning- Give illustrations of finished lesson plans that describe how students acquired knowledge and what they effectively learned from a given lesson.

• Include a copy of the statewide test grade results from your previous classes to demonstrate how your lessons and teaching approach helped students get ready to perform well and meet the required benchmarks.

• Student output- To illustrate and reinforce the effectiveness of your classes, think about including examples of work by students.

It's crucial to be aware that certain interviewers could prefer you to bring no portfolio. Before your interview, review the job description or the interview guidelines to determine whether the hiring manager prefers that you not bring a portfolio. Instead, think about creating a digital portfolio to submit if asked after the interview.

• A file or messenger bag

Bring a briefcase or folder to organize all of your papers. Bring a bag to carry your materials if presenting a sample presentation is part of the interview. Choose a suitable folder or bag that represents you professionally before your interview.

• Concerns to raise

To ask the hiring manager a question at the conclusion of your interview, prepare questions beforehand. Before your interview, do some research on the institution and the surrounding district, and prepare some inquiries about the mission and objectives of the school. Consider making a list of the questions to bring with you and go over them before the interview starts. Try to refrain from bringing up the list during your interview, though.