Creating Personal Learning, Development and Change

bespoke creating personal learning, development and change coaching • facilitation • training Top Tips for a Successful Interview From the exercises in the programme, remember to... Be Your ‘Best Self’ An interview is a bit like a blind date – you’re both finding out whether you’d like to see each other again! Offer the interview panel what they’re looking for as much as you can without compromising your values, beliefs and opinions. If you are usually passionate and enthusiastic about your subject, let them see and hear this! It may be just what they’re looking for. Plan The Interview Mentally Visualise yourself arriving at the school, walking to the interview room and in the interview itself. Play the film in your mind like it’s a DVD. See yourself sitting confidently, smiling at the interview panel etc. Hear your voice sounding like it does when you’re most confident – is it expressive and well paced? (rather than a boring monotone delivered at 1000 miles per hour!). Imagine yourself feeling calm and confident. Play the movie in your mind lots of times so when you arrive, you ‘act as if’ you are confident. Structure Your Answers Firstly (and crucially!), make sure you listen carefully so that you answer the question the interviewer has asked (and not the question you wanted to be asked/thought they’d asked!). Next, explain your thinking and give an example or two to support what you’re saying (eg the impact of an initiative you’ve been responsible for). Finally, when you’ve answered the question in full, stop! Speak About The Job You’re Aiming To Get Answer the questions by talking about how you would do the job if you got it (rather than only telling them what you have done). Let them hear how you can bring the leadership qualities, experiences etc they want for role. Choose Your Words Carefully Use positive and professional language wherever possible. Instead of saying: ‘I wouldn’t forget to be on the case about checking up what’s happening’, tell the interviewers: ‘I would be proactive in monitoring exactly what is happening’.