Interview Dos and Don’ts
Congratulations—you got an interview! Here are some tips for the big day from recent job hunter Meredith Higgins and National MENC Collegiate Chair-Past Jill Sullivan.
DO ...
- Phrase all responses positively, even when asked about weaknesses, e.g. “I’m a first-year teacher, but I’m looking forward to more conducting experiences” rather than “I talk too much in the classroom.”
- Take a few seconds to think if you’re caught off guard by a question.
- Smile and be friendly. Show your interviewers that you’re someone they’d like to work with.
- Think about your nonverbals. Make eye contact with each interviewer, sit up straight, dress appropriately (a “power suit” works best), and give a firm handshake.
DON’T ...
- Mention money until you get an offer.
- Say anything negative about previous supervisors.
- Digress. Give specific answers and stay on topic.
- Make it about you. Instead, tell your interviewer what you can do for the school.
- Let your cell phone ring. Turn it off or leave it in the car.
Confidence Boosters
“Getting an interview should be a confidence builder,” says Sullivan. A positive attitude and confident demeanor are a must. Your lack of experience doesn’t necessarily give you a disadvantage. “It could come down to a financial decision by the principal to pay a first-year teacher salary rather than a veteran-teacher salary,” says Sullivan.
Follow-Up
“Don’t accept the job at the interview even if you know it's the one. Give yourself a day or two to make sure it's the job you want,” says Higgins. Always send a follow-up letter. See a sample follow-up letter (pp. 12–13).
References/Resources
McLean, Barbara Payne. A Career Guide for Music Education, 2nd ed.
Sullivan, Jill. “Mock Interviews for Student Teachers.” Teaching Music, February 2007, pp. 22-25.
Find interview guidelines and sample resumes and letters on Jill Sullivan’s Web page.
Part 1: Getting Started on Your Search
Part 2: Networking and Creating a Portfolio
Part 3: Resumes, Cover Letters, and Applications—Oh, My!
Part 4: Preparing for Your Interview
Part 6: Preparing for Your First Year of Teaching
Jill Sullivan, PhD, is an associate professor of music education at Arizona State University and National Chair-Past of MENC Collegiate. Read about her student teaching mock interviews in the February 2007 issue of Teaching Music.
Meredith Higgins is a recent music education graduate from Indiana University-Bloomington. She recently accepted a position teaching music to elementary students at the International School of Trieste in Italy for one year.
--Anne Wagener, July 15, 2008, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education