Andrew’s top interview tips!
Meet Andrew! Andrew is one of our fantastic Education Consultants working on our London desk and has provided us with some top interview tips for TA/teacher interviews!
Prior to joining i-teachers, Andrew worked both within the education sector and the recruitment industry. He is delighted to be able to combine this experience to put our graduates, teachers and clients first and deliver an exceptional service. We have a unique approach to recruitment which was one of the reasons why Andrew was drawn to join the team here at i-teachers. He is extremely passionate about the education sector and truly wants to make a positive impact and help graduates and teachers move into their dream roles.
We asked Andrew to give us his top interview tips for people preparing for a teaching/TA interview!
My top 3 interview tips for TA/teacher interviews
Do your research!
Nothing puts an interviewer off like somebody who has not done their research on the school. They do not expect you to know them inside out but look at their mission, values and ethos. It’s incredibly important that you can align yourself to that school’s way of life. One of my top interview tips would be to spend some time and look at the background of your interviewers to see if there are any crossover between you. It’s also a nice idea to check out what is happening in school that particular week – it could spark a conversation!
Be prepared to talk about yourself
You will almost certainly be asked about your background and your personality as your interviewers will need to see if you are a good fit for school. Try to memorise a small paragraph in your head that summarises what you have done so far that highlight your experience and personality traits. Try to make yourself sounds as interesting as possible and it’s also worth doing your research on the school’s individual cultures and values beforehand. By aligning this to your personal traits you are showing the interviewer why you will be such a good fit for their school!
Have questions to ask your interviewer!
One of my top interview tips would be to have questions prepared for your interviewer. It’s really important to make sure you have some questions prepared for your interviewers. It’s a great opportunity for you to ask them about the role and about their school. It’s a good opening for you to really see if the role is right for you, whilst also demonstrating your genuine interest in the role to your potential employer. Here are some useful examples of questions you could ask:
- What is the school culture like?
- What’s the average classroom size?
- What do you enjoy about working at the school?
- How do you measure teacher success?
How can we help you at i-teachers?
Are you interested in a teaching or teaching assistant role? At i-teachers we have a wide variety of teaching assistant roles available! From Primary TA roles, secondary subject specific roles to SEN roles – we may have the perfect opportunity for you. If you’re a graduate looking to gain some classroom experience and learn first hand what makes a good teaching assistant, take a look into our unique ‘Step into Teaching’ programme!
Our education consultants are with you every step of the way and we provide specialist interview support to prepare you thoroughly before your interview. Get in touch with us for more information!