New Teacher Interview Tips

We’re quickly coming into hiring season for new teachers.  In Watertown we will likely have fewer positions available than in previous years, but we do expect we will be hiring – we have already posted Director of Athletics, Head Football Coach, Teacher of High School Mathematics, and Elementary Guidence Counselor/School Psychologist for the 2007-2008 school year.

While we have some interview tips available on the regular personnel site, there are some others I would like to add.

 Jim Pawlak has a regular column on the Worcester Telegram & Gazette website.  In the one I’ve linked to, in particular, deserves the attention of the newly credentialed teacher or, any teacher for that matter, who is seeking a job.

 Some of these characteristics are represented on the “Tips” page: for instance Mr. Pawlak’s “PREPARED” equates to knowing the district & community in which you’re interviewing; his “PUNCTUAL” is spoken directly to by our advice to arrive early, especially if you’re not familiar with the traffic patterns in the community.  Mr. Pawlak brings a couple of other suggestions we haven’t made, but perhaps should. 

“PERSONABLE”  Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the teaching profession, the school, the community.  While stating you love kids is certainly admirable, we’d really like to know how you bring that love of kids and of teaching to the table.

 In his “POSTSCRIPT” he also talks about “professional” email addresses.  I could not agree more – remember everything you submit is being reviewed for professionalism and decision making.  Having an “inappropriate” email address demonstrates an apparent lack of understanding of the seriousness of the work of teaching, and “cute” letter materials obscure the important message that you’re a professional.