Feeling beaten down

Hi there! While at times the best laid plans, don't work out, always remember that you have given it the attention and the efforts that you could give. That counts for as much as getting an interview and indeed getting a job. The number of interviews you had is actually pretty good. It means that your applications address what a school district is looking for in a candidate/potential teacher. It sounds like, you are doing everything you need to do. So pad yourself on the shoulder!

From the sounds of it, you are still in the running for one position. Try not to give up hope, or let everything that has happened, beat you down. Plus, you still have a month and it is possible that something could still come up. Plus, I would encourage you to take a break, take a time out and try to re-energise.

When you are an interview, how do you feel they are going?

 

Hi!

It is good that you are proud of your accomplishments, in terms of getting the interviews. You should be!

It sounds like you are doing everything you need to do when it comes to preparation, ensuring you are ready for it. It also seems that you have learned from past mistakes and try to implement what you have learned during subsequent interviews. I am wondering, have you asked the interviewers directly for feedback after an interview?

I'll cross my fingers; hopefully it will be the news you are waiting for.

It might be worthwhile not worrying about what happens after the interview. As you are getting closer to the beginning of the school year, it is possible that you will still get some interviews; worrying about what happens after, might make you more nervous or perhaps rob you of the very concentration you might need during an interview. While it does create some pressure, I am sure you can handle it. If teaching is something you love doing, you'll be fine, even if you are missing some prep time at the beginning or won't have as much as free time as you would like.

Not sure, I would draw the same conclusion because sometimes, people do take a break, or even just go and travel for a while before taking on a position or a job. I think often times success depends on what one makes with what one has. Let's say if nothing works out for the end of the summer or beginning of autumn, take a couple of weeks to have a break and then go at it with a fresh mind, fresh start. I'd agree it would be good to do something (even if it is volunteering in an after school program) but one thing that would be good to avoid is to start a job being burned out from the job search itself, especially if it comes to jobs that are higher energy in nature.

 

Give them a few days to make a decision. It's great that you have a further interview; hope it goes well.

Ah okay. It is good that you are speaking with the retired superintendent - family friend; that said I can only encourage you to complete follow-ups and to ask for feedback. While the competition can be stiff, and of course there are a limited number of positions going around, thinking about the number of interviews you have had to this point, I am almost willing to bet that there is something that is preventing you from getting to the next step. You mentioned that you have worked on your mannerisms - would you mind elaborating on it?

To ask for feedback, e-mail the person that interviewed or is the contact person in the interview panel (typically the person that also sent you the invite). In your e-mail, thank them again for inviting you to the interview and indicate that you would like to have some feedback on the interview, specifically on the answers you have provided, if there is something you can improve and/or if there was information that they were looking for, but you did not provide.

For example a follow-up could look like this:

Understandably, asking for feedback is not easy, but it can potentially give you some insights that you might not get through the mock interview (as important as it is when preparing). Asking for feedback could potentially open doors in the future, because it shows that you are interested in self-improvement, are not shy of asking for feedback, and the information you gain, you can apply to a future interview.

Related, think about your body language. Sometimes, we get so caught up on answering a question, without realising that our body language gives a different picture or might not be aligned to what we are trying to communicate. 50% of our communication is done with our body language, including eye contact. In an interview, try to check in with yourself about your body language.

Try to take a step back. If you find yourself becoming nervous or worried about things, take a deep breath and try to ground yourself, as much as you can. Being a bit nervous and worried is okay, but I do wonder, if the pressure, the worries you are experiencing are creating a barrier for you to get to the next stage. When we are frustrated about things, worried about falling behind, all that (unfortunately) can make itself known in an interview - even without you realising it.

When you walk into an interview, try to think about the fact that you would be thrilled to have an opportunity to teach; think about what allows you to enjoy teaching, the feelings you have when you know that you make a difference in the lives of the children/youths you are teaching.

 

If you haven't heard back by the end of today, or tomorrow morning, and knowing that there is a deadline for hiring approaching, you could send them a follow-up e-mail and ask if they have made a hiring decision. As you may know, you could take this opportunity to re-iterate your interest in the position as well. Sometimes, this helps to make a difference.

Ah okay. It sounds like you have identified some of the things that could be a hindrance to getting to the next stage, and it is good that you feel you are getting better at it and I suppose are more mindful of your body language and making eye contact.

I am curious, do you need to answer behavioural interview questions as part of the interview, thus needing to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action and Results) method, when answering? In other words, walking the interviewers through a situation while describing what you did, and how you solved an issue or overcame a problem in the classroom or with a student.

If I am honest, and the way it is stated, this would be a red flag for me. How do you define 'controlled chaos'?

"What does a typical day in your classroom look like?" is of course a broad question, but it is also a question that could easily trip one up, similarly to the question, 'tell me about yourself.' I can see a potential answer being connected to some of your teaching methods, in particular keeping in mind student engagement and the differences in how individual students learn.

While you are likely answering a question on teaching methods and how you engage students, an answer could potentially also reflect aspects of your lesson plans, or be an opportunity to add more information on how you engage students in the learning process.

In some respects, this question, in conjunction with others on your interpersonal skills, would give the interviewers good insights into how well you would fit in the existing teaching staff.

Plus, at the end of the interview, do you have an opportunity to ask a couple of questions as well? If so, do you have 2 to 3 questions for the interviewers?

One of the major reasons why potential employees are not getting a job offer or are invited to the next round/stage in an interview process is that they don't provide sufficient examples, information on how they would implement the responsibilities of the job or do the job.

I would start with it going forward. Don't worry about the interviews that happened some time ago. If you had an interview last week, or the week before and have just recently heard back, you could still try it, but it would be really more for going forward, as mentioned.

That's good. Feeling good about it, is a good sign. When you think back on the interviews you have had, and thinking critically about it, is there something that would stand out as "I could do [this], or answer [this]" differently?

 

First things first, never ever make something up in an interview. The interviewers will know. If you wanted to have a reason as to why you are not getting to the next round, that could very well be it. Chierro, you are shooting yourself in the foot, every time you make something up. Even though you might feel that they are not noticing it, they are because your body language is telling the story to the interviewers. Your body language will change the moment you start embellishing things, or being dishonest/making things up.

Using too many examples, or not providing enough information for an example, could most likely be another reason.

The example you provide for the moral dilemma, and depending on what the end result is, or how you handled that, could potentially (inadvertently) give a picture of an unethical practice - which would be a dead end in an interview. Did you change student grades? If so, how did you change them? Did you have them do additional assignments to help them to improve their grades? Or did they get to redo an assignment?

I would very much encourage you to prepare three or four examples (maximum) that allow you to highlight how you meet the requirements for the position, and that you can draw on to answer questions. You can use an example to explain different tasks, responsibilities and how you have used your skills as a teacher. Think about the situation and then about the things you did to solve the situation. It does not matter what it is. But it has to be true. If you start making things up, and even if you get to the next round, it will come out sooner or later. Nothing is stopping an interviewer during a reference check for example, to probe some of the things you mentioned during an interview.

Use examples that in some way or another, not only highlight the very requirements for the position you have applied to but also provide insights into related skills. As you know, as a teacher some of the skills you need to have are:

• Patience, mentoring, teamwork, empathy, problem solving skills, organisational skills, creativity, adaptability, communication skills, active listening, leadership, continuous learning and self-improvement, self-reflection, classroom management skills

The questions that you are being asked, including behavioural questions, will touch on one or a combination of these skills, which your answers need to speak to.

The questions of "Tell us about a time you struggled," "Tell us about a time you used technology....." are classic behavioural interview questions for your career field. These types of questions you need to answer using the Situation, Task, Action and Results (STAR) method. Interviewers ask these types of questions to get insights into how you handle different situations. It also allows them to judge your decision making, critical and analytical thinking skills, empathy, and understanding of your job as a teacher overall - among a range of skills.

Preparing for these kinds of questions might take a bit longer but they also allow you to "show" to the interviewers, why you are a good fit for the position you applied to.This is crucial in any interview.

In order to prepare for them, you need to place yourself back in the situation that you are using as an example. When you start drafting an answer, describe the situation, by starting with "While doing my practicum or co-op at [name] school and teaching [grade...], - provide the context for the situation, problem, issue that you encountered. Think about, where, when, who, what.

From there, describe the aims you had, and what was the problem, issue. Then mention the 'Action,' specifically indicate what you did. How did you solve an issue, problem or overcome a challenge? The "how" part being in many ways the most important piece - what did you do? Once you have that, end the example with the results. The results can be for example something positive, they can be an accomplishment, or they can be something you have learned about yourself.

Always remember, the most important questions that interviewers want to have answered in their minds are: are you a good fit for the school? How do you manage yourself? Can you apply what you have learned and build on your experience?

I'm wondering, would this teaching style fit every school you are applying to? If I were in your situation, I wouldn't use the terminology you are using (if you are using it). You can describe a classroom where you want students to be lively in a way that adds value, benefits to students' learning in so many different ways, but you also need to be mindful as to how you are describing your teaching methods.

Not asking questions can be a reason for sure, and I am glad that you have started asking some questions; however, and as you know, some questions are better than others. Try to think strategically about the kinds of questions you want to have answered. If you don't mind me asking, what are the questions you have asked so far?

This is where working on answers to behavioural interview questions could potentially really help you because they force you to think about a situation in its entirety before you get down to the core of it. This could help you in not forgetting things (perhaps important ones) when answering questions.

Even though you feel ready for the interview with a school that is not your first choice, try not to go into it with these thoughts, i.e. the school is not my first choice. At this point, don't worry about first, second, third, etc... choices.

I would really encourage you to make sure that your passion for teaching, working with foster kids, etc.... comes out in most, if not every answer you provide. I really do hope that the interview goes well for you.

 

Hi

How did the interview go?

I'll respond to the above post later today as there a few things to consider and think about.

 

Glad to hear that you feel it went well and it seems that you were able to provide more information this time around. Which is a good step.

That said, every time I read a response on how the interviews are going for you, what you say, what you do, more red flags are going up. I know you are trying to give it your best but something curious keeps popping up. While you feel an interview went well, at the same time you do provide glimpses into the fact that the interviews haven't been going well, or as well as they probably could have gone.

There is a reason why you have had the number of interviews you had without having the chance to participate in a second round, or a job offer. I can sense how this is slowly eating away at you because you are realising that the pool of possibilities is getting smaller. You definitely have learned a few things from previous interviews, some of the things that are vital and can make or break your interview, but now you need to take this to the next level.

Being able to self-reflect, deconstruct what went wrong, is an important skill that teachers need to have, and use on a regular basis. Related, being able to be humble is an important trait/characteristic for the very profession you would like to pursue. Strangely enough, this is not coming through when you highlight how you are answering interview questions. In fact, I am getting the opposite impression - just with what you have said so far.

What sparked the impression I got first and foremost, is your description of the "controlled chaos" and the related quote below:

If you know that this style doesn't fit every school, and that everyone tells you that "first-year teachers can't be picky," and you are (still) using it as an example, you are basically telling them 'I have a method that works better than what you do." .... in so many words. Essentially, you are saying to the interviewers, "Even though I have limited experience, I already know what I am doing."

As a teacher who is starting out, you need to communicate that your learning has just begun and that while you have a preference in a method that you have seen works well, you are still willing and quite open to considering different methods, different possibilities of teaching, that you are flexible, adaptable. If you provide one answer speaking to that, and then you provide the "controlled chaos" answer, you are contradicting your answers - you are sending the wrong message.

This is where being humble and self-reflective comes in. When you think about the behavioural interview questions you had to answer, most of them will probe in some way or another exactly that, in addition to what I have mentioned previously.

In other words, when you use an example to explain how you have used a skill, how you have managed a classroom, how you have engaged with students, your answer by default will shed light on related skills, abilities, and the very traits that you have or hold to be important.

Let me add and related to the above, while you need to come across as being confident, believing in yourself and your abilities, please keep in mind that there is a fine line between being confident and being overconfident - in particular when communicating accomplishments or the very things one is proud of. The former is something every employer (including school boards, and individual schools), wants to see in an interviewee, while the latter is unfortunately a turn off, as it communicates unwillingness to learn, not being flexible and/or adaptable, not being able to listen to others or engage in active listening. However, for a wide range of professions, including education, these are also part of the core skills that are required to succeed.

Try to be very mindful of the intended and the (potentially) unintended messages that your answers are sending to the interviewers.

One question to ask yourself, when you prepare for an interview and also when checking in with yourself, during and after an interview is "how am I coming across"? "Am I showing that I am willing to do what it takes to learn and be successful in my job, career"? "Am I coming across as believing in myself, my abilities but also show that I understand that I have areas that I need to improve in, and learn"?

I am mentioning all of this, because I do want you to succeed, knowing how important teaching is to you. Your passion, enthusiasm despite the hard, long days at times, are clearly there. Plus, I am also saying all of this, because a friend of mine and others I know, approached things in a very similar way in which you seem to be approaching things, and ended up missing out on opportunities, and even lost their careers. You don't strike me as someone who wants to be in the situation of having lost a career that they have worked hard for.

This sounds a little better, but it still might not be the best example to use as the interpretation of it, could go both ways. If you are using it, and to be on the safe side, you need to place an emphasis on the ethical side, because another school might have an issue with it (have you done that in your answer?). If this is the school you wanted to be at, and you provide a hint that you could potentially be unethical, even though you might not intend to, your application most likely won't be considered further.

While the new questions you have are better, I wonder, if you could phrase the first question differently? The reason being is that it could be something that you can find out by doing research on the school's or the school district's website. Plus, you are potentially setting yourself up for pretty much saying to them "this is something I was not looking for." As you are just starting out in your career field, looking for your first real job as it were, can you afford to send that message?

What is, or what would be, your response when their answer is, "we only have the academic support." How do you, or would you, engage the interviewers afterwards? They could always come back to you and ask a follow-up question of their own.

 

Okay... let's take a step back here, and I am going to be upfront with you as it is concerning as to what seems to be happening.

Are you aware that you are coming across as being arrogant? - One of the major reason why job seekers are not successful in interviews or even their jobs.

Reading over your last post, you are placing yourself on a pedestal, even though you don't have any real experience in your field yet; you are trying to start out, to learn what it means to be a teacher. Your (real) learning begins now. You have an education and some practicums, in class experience, but this is just the base to begin with.

If you go in with this:

and everything else you have mentioned about teaching methods, how you approach things, thus far, the chances of even a school or district outside of your state hiring you is going to be slim - even if you wanted that. The moment you are starting to talk about the "controlled chaos," you are telling the very people that you are asking to hire you, to give you a chance to prove that you can be a good teacher, and to supervise you, "I am using a better teaching method than what you are using at this school, and it is tried, tested and true." In addition, you are actually telling them "I am not going to be a good fit for this school or district." This is essentially what you are communicating.

It does not matter what else you say in another answer, including being able to adjust lessons, being flexible, having ideas, being able to make changes to your lesson plan to ensure you are meeting the needs of students, and everything else is going to get lost. Even if you ask a good or even great question at the end, and even if you made sure that it is a question you can't find an answer to online, it doesn't matter anymore.

Yes, you need to find a school in which you feel comfortable, but when you start out in your field you also need to need to build experience, you need to build vital connections, and you need people to take you seriously. Everything I know about what it means to be a middle school and/or secondary school teacher, what that profession entails, you don't build these with walking into your field, the way you seem to be walking into it.

It is great that you have a method that seems to be working well, and that you are trying new things, willing to take chances, but the way you explain this, and the context in which you provide it, needs to be different. Taking initiative and being willing to take risks, are great skills to have and they certainly have a place in education but you need to be aware of how to communicate these skills.

Indeed, you are sabotaging yourself, and possibly, your career as a teacher with it.

Interviewers are going to be professional, and often times, they are not going to let on that they have already made a decision half-ways through the interview. If by chance your answers are scored against other candidates' answers and how they have conducted themselves in the interview, having someone on the hiring committee who could put in a good word for you, might not be sufficient anymore.

Chierro, you need to reset how you a) prepare for interviews, and b) how you go into one, how you communicate your skills, abilities and (limited) experience. You had nine to ten interviews, and by your own admission, you haven't had one invitation for a second round yet. It is time to let go of what you want, and begin to address what the school you have applied to needs.

Let's see what happens with the last interview that you had, but I highly encourage you, and recommend that you start thinking critically as to how you are approaching everything, including your very profession in which you want to start out in.

 

It is good that you recognised it; I wonder though, is it something that happens in an interview or in the interviews as well (by chance)? It is easy to fall onto the wrong side of being confident, in particular when you know you have a time limit, perhaps are a bit nervous, know that with every interview passing the pressure mounts, etc....

One way to figure this out, would be to write out the answer you have provided so far (including any variations). Doing that, it should reveal on which side the answer is falling. Also pay attention to the very words you are using to describe how you teach. What do the words you are using communicate? And when you look at the entire paragraph, ask yourself, how is this coming across?

When you talk about your teaching philosophy, how much context are you providing, and how much emphasis are you placing on the structure and typical lesson compared to doing things a little differently?

It is true that you won't have all the insights, and that others have their own teaching philosophy. That would hold true for others who applied to the same position(s) and have been invited to the next stage or perhaps have been successful in getting the opportunity. Throughout your education, you learned about different teaching methods, philosophies. It is quite possible that the interviewers are more interested in wanting to know (in greater details perhaps than you are providing), whether you can apply what you have learned during your education and practicums. You can talk about what you have noticed has worked well for you, and how you have incorporated it into your teaching philosophy while also making sure you address the question of "how did you apply the very concepts, ideas you have learned to your teaching?" I wonder, if some of it is getting lost in related answers.

To help yourself to gain some insights on preferred teaching methods, teaching philosophies used by teachers who are currently teaching, try to do some career research interviews, prior to an interview. Basically, you set up a meeting with a teacher who is teaching at a school to which you could be applying to, and ask that teacher about what teaching is like at the school, what are some of the values of the school, how are the classrooms typically set up. You could even ask a teacher, if they would allow you to sit in a class and observe. Once you have done that, you can incorporate the fact that you spoke with a teacher or teachers, and observed how they taught a class/subject, and what you have learned from it, in one of your answers.

Doing that, could potentially provide you with a wealth of information and more insights into what is missing when you answer interview questions, or indeed if there is something you are saying that is not what they would be looking for in a candidate. Try to get to know the workplace culture as it were; get to know, what's happening in the school or district you want to apply to.

When it comes to the weaknesses, and as you know, you need to be able to turn them into strengths or you need to show that you have improved on something. You need to show to the interviewers what you have learned from your weakness using your experience, a situation that has happened - so using your limited experience itself (i.e. saying :I don't have a lot of experience) as a weakness, which the interviewers would have already been able to see from your resume/application, might not be the best choice.

Think about a situation that you encountered while doing your practicum - what have you learned about yourself? Is there something you could have done better? And then turned around and done it better? Do you still remember what you have learned from it, when you face a similar situation today, or would face a similar situation? In other words, have you engaged in self-improvement, and what would you do to keep engaging in it?

You can use an aspect of your experience, such as having only taught the same class or one grade. While it seems that you are starting to show that you can adapt, maybe have another look at the answer, and see if you highlight enough of your transferable skills, abilities and knowledge, in your answer. You want to show that you can handle challenges, situations that you haven't encountered or are new to you - essentially, turn a negative into a positive.

If by chance you are using the term "weakness" in your answer, try not to do that, as using the term will diminish the positive aspects that you are trying to convey.

If you think about the last couple of interviews, what are some of the other answers where you feel you could have answered them better?

Also, are you practicing answering interview questions with someone before every interview?