I have a teaching interview tomorrow. I am almost prepared now (I have to teach a lesson as well as be interviewed). I am terrified. It's my first interview and I need to get rid of these nerves so I can perform tomorrow instead of messing it up because I'm shaking. Any useful advice?
2006-09-12 20:41:16 · 70 answers · asked by helly 6 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
Remember being nervous is good. It keeps you on your toes, and alert. It's when you are not nervous that you should worry. Secondly to help calming the nerves is in the preparation for the interview: ask yourself the what, who, where and how.
What am I going to wear to create a good impression? This is the first step, you need to present your best image, and dressing takes careful planning. Choose an outfit which is appropriate to the situation without being "over the top", or too sexy. The whole interview can be blown with bad choice of presentation.
What is the lesson I'm going to present about? This is the biggest preparation factor, remember to ensure that you meet all learning objectives, what is the message you need to transfer to the learners? Remember the learning forum is dynamic and you can never predict the situation, so try to infuse humour and where you get difficult questions, open the question to the floor, ask other's what they think, giving you enough time to think it through before offering a hopefully logical answer. Try to make the lesson an interactive one, and not a monolog.
What are they looking for? A teacher with potential. Show them you have enthusiasm and potential and you are on your way.
Who am I trying to impress? The assessor, but also the learners.
Who is the target audience? The learners, try not to present a lesson for the assessors, but aim you presentation at the learners who are going to decide whether you are good enough.
Where is the interview? Always be sure you know where to go, and make sure you don’t get lost, or go to the wrong venue. Phone ahead and arrange for someone to meet you to take you to the right venue.
What time should I be there? In this case always make sure you are at the venue 15 minutes before your time to give you time to check out the venue and familiarize yourself with the environment.
How am I going to present myself? Deliberately, looking your interviewers in the eye and answering in a considered and measured manner. Try to slow yourself down, answer truthfully and avoid being too gushy or smiling too much as this is serious, and the assessors have a long day ahead of them. Smile when you come in to the interview and when you leave.
How am I going to present the lesson? Show you have prepared, and a great ice breaker is to introduce yourself to the class and ask them to introduce themselves, then pick a few bright kids and use them to make the lesson interactive
Write down their names if you can, try to have an informal relationship with the kids.
Then relax. You have done everything you can, what will be will be. Use this interview to learn and improve marketing yourself. Each interview is an exciting challenge, never allow yourself to feel down if you are not selected but rather see it as a brilliant way of gaining invaluable experience for the future. All the very best for your interview. Grendel.
2006-09-13 02:56:56 · answer #1 · answered by Grendel 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You will not get rid of your nerves completely and they will be expecting you to be nervous. Take your nerves with you and have a laugh about it.
The people interviewing you very much wan to find the best person for the position and you need to put yourself in their shoes. Focus on them instead of yourself, you will be able to listen better, some people are more skilled at interviewing than others, they are nervous as well, they don't want to miss out on a good person.
As this is your first interview, have an attitude of 'I will use this as a practise interview and will come away from the experience having learnt more about what is required to do well in an interview'....Actually every interview, every day teaching will be a learning opportunity for you.
Good luck, most importantly - have fun, enjoy your time with them and the children.
2006-09-12 22:39:12 · answer #2 · answered by Jane B 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First of all this is not going to be your last interview. I wish it was but, for the majority is only the beginning. Some useful tips could be the following:
-think that you're not going to get the job; it has always worked for me because it helped me do my best without feeling nervous.
-any mistakes you happen to make are chiefly a result of your inexperience so, to a certain extent justified. If anyone tells you that these are things you ought to have known (s)he is simply trying to play smart with you so don't feel bad. I'm a would-be teacher myself and I'm going to work in a school-for the first time-in a few days. The people there are very kind and supportive and have shown me everything I need to know before I get to teach in class. They've also allowed me to ask them anything I don't understand. My point is that since your would-be employer is aware of your lack of experience (s)he should also be willing to teach you certain things, otherwise have in mind that (s)he is looking after something For example, I had a very bad experience with my first interview. They had asked me to prepare a demo-lesson but, not as to evaluate my potential but, to convince me of my "uselessness and ignorance" so as to make me attend some teacher training seminars costing around 300 euros each! What a nerve! These people took advantage of me and my dreams just to earn themselves some money! How immoral is that! Anyway, I recovered and found myself some people who appreciate hard work and conscientiousness enough so as to overlook my inexperience. Now about the interview, it would be a good idea to prepare about the answers you will give, by reading a book about the usual questions the candidates are asked along with suggested answers according to each case. Personally, I've read "The Complete Q&A Job Interview" (Fourth Edition) by Jeffrey G. Allen and it helped me a lot, I assure you! Knowing what to expect and how to answer properly certainly does boost your confidence! This way you can make a better impression to the interviewer. I wish you all the best with all my heart since a couple of months ago I was in the exact position you are now so, I completely understand how it feels like. Good luck with your career! Hope you find a job soon and do well! Take care.
2006-09-13 04:51:43 · answer #3 · answered by maggie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
make me attend some teacher training seminars costing around 300 euros each! What a nerve! These people took advantage of me and my dreams just to earn themselves some money! How immoral is that! Anyway, I recovered and found myself some people who appreciate hard work and conscientiousness enough so as to overlook my inexperience. Now about the interview, it would be a good idea to prepare about the answers you will give, by reading a book about the usual questions the candidates are asked along with suggested answers according to each case. Personally, I've read "The Complete Q&A Job Interview" (Fourth Edition) by Jeffrey G. Allen and it helped me a lot, I assure you! Knowing what to expect and how to answer properly certainly does boost your confidence! This way you can make a better impression to the interviewer. I wish you all the best with all my heart since a couple of months ago I was in the exact position you are now so, I completely understand how it feels like. Good luck with your career! H
2014-10-03 11:09:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This might sound silly but it will work, honest. Have a glass of milk an hour before your interview. Spend 15 mins in a quientened room before you leave to go, close your eyes and just breathe in and out. Repeat in your head or even better out loud if you can positive things about yourself and how you are the person they are looking for. This will calm the nerves down and remember how you feel at this moment if they start to creep back again.
Be honest and tell your interviewrs you are a bit nervous, use humour if you can. Getting your interviewers to laugh will change the atmosphere and give you confidence. They have all been in this situation too.
If you are teaching a class they will be looking for clarity of speech and make sure you are audible and engaging. Identify key words in your lesson and emphasise them. Practice reading the paper out loud or your lesson plan. Don't be afraid of sounding daft, be it children or adults you are teaching you still need to make sure your voice is strong and clear.
Remember, you are in charge of this class. What you are teaching is interesting and they are there to learn from you. If things get out of hand practice a couple of ideas to give you 5 minutes to think and breathe like getting them to read a paragraph of a hand out or something. This will get their eyes off you also which can be the most daunting thing.
All the very best to you.
2006-09-12 21:06:12 · answer #5 · answered by rondavous 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok take a deep breath before you start, remember that the interviewers had to go through the exact same as you are, so the know how your feeling and are really sympathising with you!!
Nerves arent always a bad thing - its only natural that you'll be scared, but just control it if you can.
Practice how you're going to put yourself forward whilst teaching - have a few pointers in your mind that you can relate back to if you get tonguetied.
Speak clearly and precisely - make eye contact - alot of people tend to mumble and examine their nails when nervous and trust me - this isnt positive.
If you dont understand a question - dont bluff through it - ask the interviewer could he explain what he is asking you.
Dresswise - be smart - not too much make up and pay attention to the small things like smart unscuffed shoes and clean nails.
Remember - this interview could be the start of a new life for you - commonsense can override nerves anyday.
Best of luck!
2006-09-13 00:26:58 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK, I've done a fair amount of interviewing and my girlfriend has been on the interview panel for a number of teaching posts. We both admit to being nervous as interviewers so just bear that in mind - It's actually just as hard to be on the other side of the fence!
If you can contribute as much as possible it eases the burden on the interviewer which will make them feel more relaxed and therefore, you will make a better impression.
On the teaching side i know my girlfriend always looks for a nice balance between you talking and the kids doing.
Apart from that you've done your research so you'll be fine.
Good luck!
2006-09-12 21:05:26 · answer #7 · answered by Grizzly 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
create a good impression? This is the first step, you need to present your best image, and dressing takes careful planning. Choose an outfit which is appropriate to the situation without being "over the top", or too sexy. The whole interview can be blown with bad choice of presentation.
What is the lesson I'm going to present about? This is the biggest preparation factor, remember to ensure that you meet all learning objectives, what is the message you need to transfer to the learners? Remember the learning forum is dynamic and you can never predict the situation, so try to infuse humour and where you get difficult questions, open the question to the floor, ask other's what they think, giving you enough time to think it through before offering a hopefully logical answer. Try to make the lesson an interactive one, and not a monolog.
What are they looking for? A teacher with potential. Show them you have enthusiasm and potential and you are on your way.
2014-10-03 10:54:04 · answer #8 · answered by ? 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Use the PPPPP rule: Prior preparation prevents poor performance...
If you're able to do the job, and know you are able to do the job, then you'll be fine, just let that ability shine through. They wouldn't be interviewing you if they didn't think you could do it in the first place.
If you're already prepared, but it's just the nerves that are bothering you, then try using 'Rescue Remedy' - it's really good for taking the edge of that 'I'm bouncing off the ceiling!!!' feeling and will let you get on with the task in hand. Harness the adrenaline and let your capability take over.
Remember to breathe deep and easy too...
Good luck!
2006-09-13 00:17:52 · answer #9 · answered by SilverSongster 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interviews are nerve racking.
Do not drink alcohol or caffeine this evening
Eat a light evening meal
Have a relaxing bath (all the works) before bed
Have an early night (not too early so as not to be able to go to sleep)
Have a light healthy breakfast
Dress smart, but not over the top and most of all feel comfortable (and comfy shoes)
Do not put too much perfume on
Get there in plenty of time (allowing for traffic etc)
Enter with a smile
Be confident and polite and shake hands firmly
Introduce yourself to your pupils with a warm smile
AND GO FOR IT!
Don't forget, all your interviewers where once interviewees themselves also!!!!
2006-09-12 20:51:48 · answer #10 · answered by London Girl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋